On this episode of the AXIOM Insights Learning and Development Podcast, host Scott Rutherford speaks with Jenessa Dowe Jacobs about what it takes to build an L&D function from scratch. Jenessa shares her framework of the “three Ps” (People, Process, Products) plus a crucial fourth—Politics—along with strategies for securing early wins and stakeholder alignment. She also explains how to turn grassroots learning into a sustainable system, apply Jim Collins’ Hedgehog Concept to culture, and position AI as a tool that frees L&D professionals to focus on people. This conversation is a practical guide for anyone looking to launch or refresh an L&D function that drives real business impact.