In this episode, I chat with Linnéa Sjögren and Melanie Martinelli about their sessions at IDTX Online 2026, both live on 19 February.

Linnéa is speaking to anyone in L&D who’s tired of waiting for “a seat at the table”, and wants to operate as a strategic learning partner, focused on business outcomes, not just training requests.

Melanie is tackling one of the biggest gaps in workplace learning: transfer. Her session uses a practical card game to surface common transfer barriers, create shared language with stakeholders, and plan for application before a programme even rolls out.

Whether you’re joining live or catching the recordings afterwards, it’s worth listening to what they have to say. IDTX Online is free to attend, so if you haven’t already, head over to the IDTX website and book your ticket. If you’d like to join us in person in May for the Evidence Informed Practice Conference, tickets are available but strictly limited.

Creators & Guests

1. Stop waiting for permission. Become a strategic learning partner (Linnéa Sjögren)
   Day 2, 19 February, 12:00pm UK time

2. Let’s play cards and make transfer a hot topic, exploring the 12 levers of learning transfer (Melanie Martinelli)
   Day 2, 19 February, 5:30pm UK time

What we talk about

• Why “waiting for a seat at the table” has kept L&D stuck for years, and what it looks like to move anyway
• Shifting from “deliver the training we were asked for” to “solve for the business outcome”, including saying no to training when it isn’t the answer
• Designing for reality as it is, messy, complex, and full of constraints, rather than oversimplifying problems into neat course shaped boxes
• Why transfer should never be an afterthought, and how to surface barriers before you launch a programme
• Using a card game to make transfer discussions safer, more concrete, and easier to run with stakeholders who would otherwise push back

One thing to try after listening

• Linnéa: stop oversimplifying. Assume the problem is complicated, and let your approach reflect that.
• Melanie: take a first step into transfer by learning what the 12 levers of transfer effectiveness are, then use them as a lens to spot blind spots and prioritise what to improve.

Tickets and what’s next

IDTX Online (18 and 19 February) is free to attend, and sessions will be available as recordings afterwards. Book your ticket on the IDTX website.

If you’d like to join us in person on 29 May for the Evidence Informed Practice Conference in Birmingham, tickets are available but strictly limited. Learn more on the website.

• (00:00) - Intro