Learning & Talent Development Leader
Learning That Sticks | Strategy That Scales
Learning & Talent Development Leader
Learning That Sticks | Strategy That Scales
Background & Experience
Executive Summary
Bold. Engaging. Corporate Learning Solutions.
I don’t just build learning cultures—I architect performance ecosystems that make mediocrity sweat. As a corporate learning and HR renegade with a flair for turning complexity into clarity, I specialize in designing strategic talent development strategies that actually move the needle (and occasionally blow the roof off it).
I’ve led transformative initiatives across a kaleidoscope of industries, including:
- Transportation, Logistics & Supply Chain
- Residential & Commercial Moving
- Call & Contact Centers
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Healthcare & Medical Devices
- Managed Office Space & Professional Services
- Commercial Printing & Digital Marketing
- Franchising & Retail
- Point-of-Purchase (POP) & Merchandising
Education & Professional Credentials
My Learning Obsession, Professionally Justified
I’m a lifelong learning junkie with a Master of Science in Management, Strategy, and Leadership from Michigan State’s Eli Broad College of Business (yes, the top-tier one). Add a BS in Psychology from Madonna University, and you’ve got a potent mix of brain science and boardroom savvy.
As a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and ATD Master Trainer, I don’t just teach—I transform. Adding SHRM’s Senior Certified Professional (SCP) credential enhances my expertise in strategic talent development and keeps me unlocking human potential like it’s my job (because it is).
I’ve also stacked up associate degrees in Accounting and Business Management, plus certifications as a Change Management Specialist and Six Sigma Lean Professional—because why settle for one toolkit when you can have six?
expertise
P&L/Budget Management
P&L/Budget Management
P&L/Budget Management
Strategy Meets Spreadsheet
From scrappy start-ups to global giants, I’ve wrangled budgets and owned P&L with the kind of accounting fluency that makes finance teams weep with joy. Revenue growth? Check. Expense control? Double check. Vendor wrangling and contract finesse? Let’s just say I negotiate like it’s an Olympic sport because sometimes, it is.
Learning Design
P&L/Budget Management
P&L/Budget Management
The Intersection of Psychology & Performance
I’m a lifelong student of how people learn—and why they sometimes don’t. Armed with cognitive psychology and a flair for strategy, I design strategic talent development programs that don’t just check boxes—they create competitive advantage.
Team Leadership
P&L/Budget Management
Leadership Development
The Kind That Inspires Loyalty (and Repeat Employment)
Building high-performing teams from scratch? Been there. Reviving existing ones into powerhouse units? Done that. Whether launching start-ups or reshaping legacy departments, I lead with clarity, empathy, and just enough irreverence to keep things interesting.
I’m lucky to have a core crew of brilliant professionals who’ve followed me across multiple companies. I’ve cultivated a talent pool that’s as capable as it is loyal, focusing on strategic talent development to enhance our workforce enablement.
Leadership Development
Organizational Design & Strategy
Leadership Development
A Continuous Process, Never a One-and-Done
Real leadership development is a long game. It should align with corporate values, spotlight high-potential talent, and challenge current leaders to evolve—not just manage. I design programs focused on strategic talent development that do all that and more, incorporating effective learning and development strategies to keep things fresh.
Organizational Design & Strategy
Organizational Design & Strategy
Organizational Design & Strategy
Because Your Org Chart Shouldn’t Look Like a Jenga Tower
Not all org designs are created equal—and some should come with a warning label. I specialize in transforming outdated structures into sleek, purpose-driven engines of productivity focused on strategic talent development.
Performance Management
Organizational Design & Strategy
Organizational Design & Strategy
Less Dread, More Drive
Let’s face it: most performance management systems are about as beloved as a surprise root canal. They’re clunky, outdated, and somehow manage to deliver feedback that’s both vague and irrelevant. Sound familiar?
A great performance management system not only sparks growth but also enhances workforce enablement, avoiding groans—and yes, it will still come with metrics, dashboards, and all the good stuff execs love.
Coaching
Workforce & Employee Engagement
Change Management
"Figure It Out" Isn’t a Strategy
Despite its buzzword status, coaching remains one of the most underdeveloped superpowers in corporate leadership. Many managers find themselves thrust into the deep end with a title and a to-do list—but without the necessary skills for effective coaching. The outcome? Missed opportunities, unclear feedback, and teams running on fumes.
leveraging a mix of proven coaching models and insights from learning and development, I assist new managers in building coaching capabilities that stick and guide seasoned executives in enhancing their impact.
Change Management
Workforce & Employee Engagement
Change Management
The Secret Sauce of Successful Transitions
When change is managed with intention, people don’t just adapt, they accelerate.
As a certified Change Management Specialist (CMS), CPTD, and SHRM-SCP, I bake change management strategy into all projects from the start. My solutions don’t just teach—they transition. I develop workforce enablement interventions that anticipate resistance, optimize impact, and make job transfer feel less like a leap and more like a glide.
Workforce & Employee Engagement
Workforce & Employee Engagement
Sales Methodology, Process, Technique, and Training
Where Learning and Loyalty Collide
Engaging employees is one thing. Engaging them as learners in a robust learning and development environment? That’s next level. I specialize in designing learning experiences that don’t just inform, they ignite. When employees feel invested in, they invest right back.
Sales Methodology, Process, Technique, and Training
Sales Methodology, Process, Technique, and Training
Sales Methodology, Process, Technique, and Training
Beyond the Gift of Gab
Sales success today demands a structured approach, strategic talent development, and skill; yet most sellers are hired, handed a quota, and left to wing it. That’s not just risky; it’s expensive.
I’ve led the charge at multiple organizations to define sales processes, codify language, and build sales training ecosystems centered on learning and development that not only work, they get integrated into the flow of work.
Technology
Sales Methodology, Process, Technique, and Training
Technology
Fluent in Platforms, Fearless with Innovation
Whether it’s a legacy system or the latest AI-powered tool, I dive in, decode it, and deploy it to drive performance in learning and development. Call me tech-savvy, tech-adaptive, or just plain unstoppable, I have yet to meet a platform I couldn’t master.
Examples of the tech stacks I've lived in:
- AI & Enablement Tools: ChatGPT, OpenAI, Yoodli, DALL·E, OpenArt
- Performance Coaching Platforms: Brainshark, and other AI-driven feedback tools
- Sales Enablement Systems: Gong, HighSpot, and more
- Learning Management Systems (LMS): Cornerstone, Axonify, 7Taps, to name a few
- HR, HRIS, ERP & Talent Platforms: SuccessFactors, Workday, and many, many more
- Applicant Tracking Systems: Modern Hire, WorkDay, and others
- CRM Systems: Salesforce and its many cousins
- Virtual Training Tools: Zoom, Teams, GoToMeeting, Google Meet
- Productivity Suites: Microsoft Office (all versions, all quirks)
Professional summary & objective
Learning that sticks. Strategy that scales.
I’m a learning and talent development leader who builds systems that help people grow and help organizations benefit from that growth. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve led L&D, OD, and capability‑building work across industries, turning complexity into clarity and learning into real performance. My background blends psychology, strategy, and hands‑on leadership, and I’ve built teams, learning ecosystems, and culture‑shaping programs that make work better for the people doing it.
At my core, I help organizations move from “training as a task” to learning as a strategic engine.
I’m looking to partner with progressive organizations that see talent development as a strategic catalyst, not an order‑taking support function. I’m open to fractional engagements, strategic partnerships, or full‑time leadership roles where I can help build the systems, behaviors, and experiences that move people and businesses forward.
Endorsements:
A few of the reasons I've earned more than two dozen recommendations on LinkedIn:
“I needed someone who could empathize with the Account Executives and the challenges they faced in the field but also drive accountability and performance through the C-level leadership and everyone level in between. I got that and more when we brought Lana onto the team. Lana showed up from the first day in the role with a level of professional grace and enthusiasm that I have rarely encountered in my career.” – Julia N., Former Vice President, Learning and Development, XPO Logistics
"As a leader, Lana was one of the biggest influences in my career. Her knowledge in Learning and Development provided structure and strength to programs we had worked on. Lana's career has allowed her to network and accumulate vast resources that make her not only an outstanding leader but an inspirer to those around her." - Alex K., Former Direct Report, Infinity
professional affiliations & memberships