Tenacity, Transparency, Accountability and the
Willingness to Try.
Tenacity, transparency, accountability and the willingness to try. These are the attributes that underlie my way of working and being and have propelled my success in everything I set my mind to achieving.
About Me
How my career has taken shape has felt like an atypical path; yet, a very linear progression. For the first 11 years of my career I designed for Users as a graphic designer and digital marketing professional (samples of this work can be found in my portfolio on Behance). During part of that time, I discovered a love for teaching as a part-time professor and curriculum developer at two publicly-funded Ontario colleges (while working full-time for an employer and/or myself). When the covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, that launched my curiosity about educational technology (e.g., specifically learning management systems and inclusive online teaching & learning strategy).
I realised I wanted to design for Learners, essentially blending my two careers together, leading me to where I am now—a graduate of UBC’s Master of Educational Technology (MET) program and Senior Learning & Development Specialist at my current corporate workplace.
What I Bring to the Table
The expertise learned and experience gained in the first part of my career is utilised everyday in my L&D profession. Courses, programs, job/learning aids all need design and need to be marketed to participants/learners/staff. All of the digital accessibility standards I came to know and grow a passion for, I use regularly. The ability to read and write HTML code and CSS allows me to solve technical challenges and make design customizations. Most of all, I’m a greater asset to the teams I work with and the projects I work on; I arrive at the table with a full box of tools.
I enjoy thinking critically about strategy; developing, planning, implementing, and assessing its success. What makes me a strong strategic thinker is the ability to envision big picture goals and then stepping back to outline what’s needed to get there; and doing both of those things while considering the influence of those plans on people.
Areas of expertise:
Consulting and Advising: 15 years experience partnering with 300+ clients and executives; recognized for my ability to gain buy-in, drive tech adoption and earn trust. Consulting and advising on work that involves strategy, development, purchasing, and implementation including, but not limited to the following: marketing strategy, website design, technology and software, curriculum and programming, and instructional design.
Project Management: 15 years experience practicing an iterative project management approach (agile methodology), in a wide variety of industries that include government, corporate, creative, small business, non-profit and finance. Highly experienced in managing multiple projects and people with competing deadlines and evolving requirements.
Instructional and Learning Experience Design: building a course/program from scratch from start-to-finish, project management, lead workshops with SMEs and stakeholders, develop program methods of assessment, gather and utilize feedback.
Learning Management Systems: analysis and assessment of the system and in relation to the organization its for, implementing a new system, designing onboarding experiences, system management and training.
Motivating and Influencing Teams: demonstrate a growth mindset and utilize practices that promote a positive and constructive work dynamic to maximize the effort and results from the whole team.
Accessible and Inclusive Practice: consider who is excluded when developing new learning materials and experiences; taking the time to implement accessible-forward methods as part of the development process, adhering to government-mandated accessibility practices and then some.
AI Technology Knowledge: how to use it, implementing AI tools organization-wide, considerations around ethics, safety, sustainability.