My Journey.  My journey from the classroom to IBM has been fueled by a love for learning and a drive to make a difference. As a Social Studies teacher, I discovered the joy of guiding students through hands-on projects and seeing them thrive when learning felt authentic and meaningful. That same passion led me to instructional design, where I could take my creativity and commitment to education to a global scale. At IBM, I’ve had the privilege of designing innovative courses, building strategies to empower learners worldwide, and collaborating with incredible teams to solve complex challenges. Each step of my career has reinforced my belief that great learning experiences can transform lives, and I’m grateful to contribute to that mission every day.

 

My Process and Approach to Education.

I believe that education is most effective when it connects with learners on a personal level, sparking curiosity, building confidence, and equipping them with practical skills they can apply to real-world challenges. Learning should go beyond memorization; it’s about fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving through experiences that are engaging and meaningful. For me, education is about more than preparing for a test—it’s about empowering students to achieve their full potential.

​

Throughout my career, I’ve championed a learner-centered approach, whether in the classroom or in instructional design. By scaffolding concepts from foundational knowledge to advanced application, I ensure that learning is accessible to everyone while challenging them to grow. I’ve seen firsthand how hands-on projects, real-world scenarios, and thematic approaches empower learners to think deeply, draw connections, and solve problems in innovative ways.

​

My Approach to Working with People. Collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. I believe the best ideas emerge when diverse perspectives come together to co-create and solve problems. As a teacher, I worked to unite colleagues in the development of a shared curriculum, fostering a spirit of collaboration that valued everyone’s expertise and ideas. At IBM, I carried this philosophy into hosting design thinking workshops, where teams engaged in creative, user-focused problem-solving to guide UX design before building a course. For me, collaboration isn’t just about teamwork—it’s about creating spaces where innovation thrives and solutions are stronger because they are built together.

​

My Approach to Leadership. My philosophy on leadership focuses on balance—combining clear goal-setting and expectations with mentorship and support. I believe a leader’s role is to provide their team with the tools, guidance, and environment they need to succeed. This means not only empowering individuals to reach their potential but also actively working to break down barriers that hinder progress. By fostering a culture of trust and collaboration, I aim to inspire my team to take ownership of their work while knowing they have a reliable mentor and advocate by their side. Leadership, to me, is about building pathways to success and celebrating the collective achievements of the team.

​

What We Can Accomplish. Creativity and problem-solving are at the core of what I bring to every project. Whether it’s designing innovative learning solutions, bridging complex ideas with practical applications, or fostering collaboration across teams, I thrive on tackling challenges with fresh perspectives. Let’s work together to create impactful, learning experiences that inspire curiosity and engage critical thinking.