Hi!

I’m Danielle. I have 12 years of experience implementing learning and training solutions in global corporations of all sizes across a variety of industries. I hold a masters degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and am expected to complete my MBA in 2024.

Let’s start from the beginning.

I began my career as an Organizational Development intern in 2012 while I was finishing my masters degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in Chicago. Beginning my career as an intern, I was able to start from the bottom and learn the ins and outs of my field, the corporate world, and just life. Realizing that I wanted to focus in learning/training, I moved into a training coordinator role, where I gained an intimate understanding and respect for all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a successful training program. In this role, I was able to get bits of experience facilitating and realized that I really had a knack for it! After 2 years and yearning for more, I moved on to an L&D Manager role at a new company where I had the opportunity to combine my coordination and facilitation skills with strategy and learning design in a whole new industry. This gave me the confidence that I could not only take someone else’s training and facilitate it well, but I could build impactful trainings, too. I realized how much fun having a hand in all the pieces was! Two years in and really in the groove of things, I heard the words “your role is being impacted by the layoff.” A punch to the gut. I was six years into my career, loving what I did, working for a company and a manager who were fantastic. What now?

The pivot.

I could have thrown my resume out to all of the corporations in the big towers in Chicago and landed in a good L&D role with benefits, a steady income, and maybe even a ping-pong table and free La Croix. But I thought… hey, let’s try this independent contractor thing. I began contracting within an L&D team at a Big 4 consulting firm, project managing their Engineering training programs and adding my input to their process. Going from a start-up in Chicago to flying to Dallas to work with an experienced L&D team at a Big 4 was a whirlwind. That six months forced me to grow so much professionally. After that, I relocated to Denver and began contracting within the L&D function at another large consulting firm, continuing to learn more about that industry and how I could add value as an external consultant to an organization. That year of my career was both chaotic and incredibly valuable. I got a taste of what it meant to be independent, choose what projects I worked on, and be confident in the advice and guidance I was giving. But I wasn’t quite ready to take the full leap.

Where I am now.

In 2017 jumped at the opportunity for a full-time position at an established Space Technology company, building the Learning and Development function for global sales from scratch. This would combine my love for consulting and building something of my own with having the benefit of being a part of an organization and team. So, this is what I’ve been lucky enough to have been doing for the past 5 1/2 years. I love working for a company that does neat stuff and employs great leaders. I’m still there and I’m still thriving and I still love it every day.

But.

I love to consult. I love making an impact on businesses through learning and training. I love developing talent across a multitude of industries. I love helping businesses and teams solve problems. (And, my dad was an entrepreneur which is a blessing and a curse of a trait that I inherited from him.) So, this is my side gig. A side gig does not mean I put anything less than 100% into my clients and our working together. I want to give you a hand in leveling up your workforce through training and learning that lasts.