― Maya Angelou
The Maya Angelou quote beautifully captures the essence of human interaction and the lasting impact of emotions. As a trainer and instructional designer, this quote emphasizes the significance of creating a positive and memorable learning experience for everyone. It underscores the idea that while the content and activities I include are crucial, the emotional connection and engagement I can foster with learners and stakeholders are equally important to me.
When designing training courses, mentoring programs, or facilitating in-person classes, I consider not only the transfer of knowledge, but also the emotional experience of the learners in response to new information. This means creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where learners feel valued and motivated. By focusing on how I can make my learners feel, I can enhance their overall learning experience, increase their retention of information, and create a more positive and productive learning journey.
Incorporating elements of interactive learning, understanding adult learning principles, and being mindful of cognitive load are all strategies that help me engage learners and evoke positive emotions around learning in the workplace. Ultimately, the emotional impact I have on my learners can leave a lasting impression, making training efforts more effective and memorable in the long run -- and making learning transformational.
I am a learning strategist that partners with organizations to grow a learning and professional development culture. Over the past 18 years, I have worked as a learning and development leader in a variety of different sectors including higher education, healthcare, labor- management, and the non-profit field. My experience includes helping organizations develop coaching academies, design mentoring programs, build professional development systems, and convene training professionals’ workgroups.
In 2012, I founded Adult Learning & Workforce Education Group, LLC. and serve as the Director of Learning. I completed a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at California State University Northridge in 2025. During my graduate program, I had the opportunity to work as the Mentor Team Lead with the Parent Scholar Resources Center, funded under the Campus Quality Free Grant which I helped co-author.