From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner: Building Influence and Impact in L&D
4 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Transform from L&D order-taker to strategic business partner using proven frameworks that secure executive buy-in.
From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner: Building Influence and Impact in L&D
4 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Transform from L&D order-taker to strategic business partner using proven frameworks that secure executive buy-in.
Currently With
Course overview
Transform from L&D order-taker to strategic business partner with C-suite access
Break Out of the “Order-Taker” Role in L&D
Most L&D professionals get stuck as “order-takers”—handed requests for training with no seat at the table where strategy happens.
Even with strong technical skills, they struggle to
• Connect learning to business results executives care about
• Get buy-in or budget for their ideas
• Navigate organizational politics and influence decision-makers
• Break through the ceiling that keeps them in tactical roles and limits career growth
This course gives you the strategic tools and language to break through.
In 4 weeks, you’ll learn to audit learning ecosystems, build executive-ready business cases, map stakeholder influence, and design phased implementation plans that prove impact.
What to Expect
This 4-week cohort program combines self-paced learning with live interaction:
Week 1: Deep dive into the 4-Layer Learning Ecosystem Audit (4 modules + Project 1)
Week 2: Building executive-ready business cases (3 modules + Live Session discussing Project 1)
Week 3: Stakeholder influence and implementation planning (3 modules + Project 2)
Week 4: Capstone Live Session (Project 2 presentations and career positioning)
Two Strategic Projects
Project 1: Conduct an Ecosystem Audit on a real training request
Project 2: Develop a comprehensive Strategic Implementation Plan
Two Live Sessions (1 hour each)
End of Week 2: Discuss Project 1 findings and business case development
Week 4: Present implementation plans and develop positioning statements
(These are interactive sessions designed for feedback and applied practice — not just lectures.)
Weekly Asynchronous Lessons
-Short videos and text modules that break down each framework into practical, easy-to-apply steps.
-Portfolio-Building Projects
Create a real artifact each week—ecosystem audit, business case, influence map, and implementation plan—that proves your ability to operate as a strategic L&D partner.
Community & Instructor Feedback
Get ongoing feedback and discussion in the cohort community, with direct access to the instructor between sessions to keep you moving forward.
Outcome
By the end, you’ll have a portfolio of deliverables and a personal positioning statement that demonstrate your readiness for strategic roles in L&D.
For senior IDs, L&D managers, and learning professionals ready to become strategic business partners with organizational influence.
01
The Frustrated Senior ID Senior instructional designers tired of being order-takers who want strategic influence and leadership advancement.
02
The Ambitious L&D Manager L&D managers seeking C-suite access and organizational influence to drive business impact.
03
The Strategic Learning Professional Learning professionals ready to transition from tactical execution to strategic business partnership.
What you’ll get out of this course
Strategic Ecosystem Mastery
Go beyond surface-level needs assessments. Use the 4-Layer Learning Ecosystem Audit to analyze infrastructure, culture, business alignment, and sustainability. Learn to spot organizational vulnerabilities and systemic opportunities others miss.
Executive-Level Business Case Development
Build persuasive business cases using the 3-Pillar Model. Learn to quantify learning impact in business language executives understand, frame initiatives as essential business investments, and secure both budget and C-suite support.
Organizational Influence and Coalition Building
Map stakeholders, navigate organizational politics, and build the coalitions that make strategy stick. Apply influence mapping to identify key decision-makers, understand their success criteria, and design engagement strategies that win allies across the business.
Strategic Implementation Leadership
Develop phased implementation plans that reduce risk while delivering early wins. Create metrics linking learning to business outcomes, and craft a positioning statement that advances your career as a strategic L&D partner.
What’s included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Dr. Christie Vanorsdale, Ed.D, Ms.Ed. in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
Course syllabus
2 live sessions • 30 lessons
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 4 Final Live Session Only
Dec
15
Live Event #2
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Meet your instructor
Dr. Christie Vanorsdale, Ed.D, Ms.Ed.
Dr. Christie Vanorsdale is a Learning Ecosystem Architect and fractional CLO who helps organizations move beyond one-off training to build sustainable, evidence-based learning systems. With a doctorate in education and 15+ years of experience spanning ESL teaching, instructional design, and corporate learning strategy, she specializes in applying learning science, design thinking, and human-computer interaction principles to create impactful programs. Christie has designed national leadership development initiatives, rebuilt LMS governance for regulated industries, and guided Fortune 500 teams in shifting from order-taking to strategic partnership. Her work blends research with practice, giving learners practical tools they can apply immediately while modeling what good course design looks like.
Career highlights
Led national initiatives — including designing a leadership development framework for 600+ Executive Directors with a national non-profit.
Advised Fortune 500 companies — guided LMS governance, compliance, and scaling projects in healthcare, utilities, and tech industries.
Designed global learning ecosystems — built sustainable L&D systems for FDA-regulated research and high-growth international startups.
Served as fractional CLO — coached executives and built governance models that enabled long-term L&D success and scalability.
Published researcher and Conference Presenter— published research in top tier scientific journals and presents at industry conferences.
Founded Vanorsdale Learning Lab — a consulting practice advancing L&D from tactical training to strategic business partnership.
Join an upcoming cohort
From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner: Building Influence and Impact in L&D
Cohort 1
$425
Dates
Payment Deadline
Course schedule
4-6 hours per week
Week 2 and Week 4, on Friday
5:00-6:00 pm EST
We will meet live on Friday Week 2 and Friday Week 4.
Weekly projects
2 hours per week
Each week you will have a new hands on project with provided tools and templates to help you apply what you have learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Join an upcoming cohort
From Order-Taker to Strategic Partner: Building Influence and Impact in L&D
Cohort 1
$425
Dates
Payment Deadline