Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+ • Connecting systems, soft skills, and emotionally intelligent leadership • Bilingual Educator • Bestselling Author

The future of leadership demands more than intelligence - it demands adaptability, empathy, and courage.

I help HR, L&D, and visionary CEOs future-proof their leadership pipelines with 360° Capability Audits that uncover hidden gaps, align development to real performance needs, and benchmark readiness for AI-driven change.

With a background in leadership development, instructional design, and organizational strategy, I partner with companies to redefine how leaders think, connect, and perform in the age of automation.

My work spans four pillars that turn insight into measurable growth:

🔍 360° Capability Audits – Data-informed assessments that reveal blind spots, skill gaps, and alignment gaps across teams.

🧠 Leadership Training & Workshops – Programs that blend emotional intelligence, adaptive strategy, and behavioral science.

📘 Curriculum Design & Development – Custom frameworks that make leadership development scalable, sustainable, and story-driven.

🎤 Speaking & Panels – Talks that challenge leadership norms, ignite change, and make “soft skills” powerfully strategic.

At the core of my work:
👉 I help organizations strengthen the ‘people layer’ - so leadership, collaboration, and culture scale with innovation, not behind it.

Career highlights:
• TEDx Speaker
• Brand Partners: Synthesia, GoStudio.AI, iSpring Solutions, Tavus, and Notion.
• Named one of the Top 50 Global Influential Women to Follow in 2026
• Featured thought leader on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and The CW.
• Published bestselling author on emotional intelligence and adaptive leadership.
• Former Sales Enablement UX Researcher in big tech, designing learning experiences for 35K+ global professionals.
• Multiple award-winning Thinkers 360: 
1. Top 10 Behavioral Science 
2. Top 50 Transformational Leaders
3. Top 100 Careers Thought Leaders

➡️ If you're building a people-first organization that needs to scale with clarity and heart — let's connect.
📩 DM “AUDIT” or reach out at acasiano@growingyoureq.com

For podcast interviews, features, speaking, or collaborations:
📬 acasiano@growingyoureq.com

**Please send professional requests by email only. No DM pitches will be reviewed.

📩 Get insights + tools to grow agile, emotionally intelligent leadership – Join the Beyond IQ newsletter: https://www.beyondiqnewsletter.com/

Alinnette Casiano

Thank you to David Soberal for the spotlight! And to Tyray Mollett for the Cameo shout out!

LinkedIn Standouts Creator | Customer Success Lead | 15+ Years Driving Impact with Creative Solutions & Exceptional Service. Let’s turn Minutes into Moments & Ideas to Action. Together, we’ll Revolutionize Hospitality 🌐

LinkedIn Standouts: October Spotlight!

As Oct came to an end, let’s recognize 4 professionals who truly stood out by making an impact through insight, consistency, care & leadership.

🎤Alinnette Casiano 🎤
 
At just 8 yrs old in Puerto Rico, Alinnette faced challenges that forced her to raise herself & her 2 sisters. Years later she earned multiple degrees & built a successful life, yet still felt something missing, until she realized her purpose: to connect, teach & transform others through emotional intelligence. Today she’s one of the top leadership coaches on LinkedIn, a TEDx speaker, & will be featured in Titanium Magazine as one of the Top 50 Global Inspirational Women of 2026. She has impacted millions across LinkedIn, takes deep pride in the Latin community, & will be part of a Hispanic Heritage cultural event on Dec 3. Info & tickets below.👇 

🌎 Hispanic Event: https://lnkd.in/eVtyWKiE


💼 Sam Struan 💼

Sam is one of the top résumé writers on LinkedIn & has helped dozens of career coaches become who they are today. His daily short videos give step-by-step tips on resumes & LinkedIn profiles. 4 months ago he was diagnosed w/ a detached labrum & lost major function in his right arm & yet he still showed up to help professionals, worked w/ one arm, communicated delays, & offered discounts. That’s real dedication. He also shared a great line for your About section: “I also welcome the opportunity to network & exchange ideas.”
3 weeks ago he joined a LinkedIn Live w/ 3 top recruiters, demonstrating tools & navigating the job market. Link below.👇 

💼 Job Event: https://lnkd.in/e9pFtQGu


✨ Shannon McCallum  ✨

Shannon is known for recognizing hospitality leaders & major brands in the Vegas market. She’s deeply involved in the local hospitality community & attends multiple events weekly. She was featured in Global Hospitality Magazine as one of the most inspirational people in the industry. Shannon brings together tech, AI & innovation, but always leads w/ human connection. She is one of the most respected leaders in hospitality, that deliver memorable guest experiences. She’s also organizing a new technology conference on Dec 3. Link below.👇 

🏨 Hospitality Event: https://lnkd.in/g-Chszqk


🎪 Dean Fisher 🌎 GLOBAL EVENT SOLUTIONS 

If you’re planning an event in Vegas, whether it’s a meeting or large corporate or conference events, DeanO is the person to call. He posts daily about the events he & his team run, & they’re trained so well they can fit large groups into small spaces while still keeping everything smooth. His posts carry energy, care & love for what he does.
Dean is also known as a hidden leader & hosts a YouTube podcast helping professionals navigate the toughest hospitality challenges as well as finding joy and shine within his leadership alignment across the nation. Link below.👇 

🎙️ YouTube Podcast: https://lnkd.in/ekpb2Gaz

🎥 Tyray Mollett gives a shoutout to the 4 honorees on Cameo: https://lnkd.in/egYDzXxq

The future of leadership isn’t about IQ.
It’s about emotional clarity.

Because the leaders people trust most
aren’t the ones who know everything,
they’re the ones who understand what people need.

They read the room before they read the report.
They regulate before they react.
They connect before they correct.

If you lead people in any capacity, these 10 skills matter more than any title:

✅ Self-awareness
✅ Listening to understand
✅ Reading the room
✅ Turning conflict into connection
✅ Setting boundaries that protect energy
✅ Giving feedback as a gift, not a blow
✅ Celebrating small wins
✅ Modeling calm under pressure
✅ Investing in recovery, not just productivity
✅ Remembering names, and stories

Because leadership isn’t about control.
It’s about connection that drives change.

💭 Which of these are you strengthening right now?

📌 Save this for your next 1:1 or team reflection
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more on emotionally intelligent leadership

Design: Muhammad Husnain

Progress isn’t made in the big leaps.

It’s made in the micro-decisions you make before the day even begins.

The leaders who grow (even through the messiest seasons)do one thing differently:
👉 They choose intention before action.

Before your feet hit the floor, ask yourself:

✔️ Who am I choosing to be today?
Not the stressed version. Not the reactive one.
The intentional one. The resilient one.
Write it down.
Identity shapes direction.

✔️ What’s the ONE outcome that makes today meaningful?
Not 10 priorities. Not a frantic checklist.
One clear aim. Straight lines are built from single points.

✔️ How do I want people to feel after interacting with me?
Your presence is your reputation.
Leave people steadier than you found them.

✔️ What boundary protects my focus and peace?
Every “no” you give creates the straight path you keep wishing for.

✔️ When pressure hits, what story will I choose?
“This is data, not danger.”
“This is learning, not failing.”
“This is a detour, not a dead end.”

Because those first moments of your day?
They’re not small.
They’re alignment.
They’re direction.
They’re the difference between spinning and moving forward.

The path to success will never be linear.
But here’s the truth:
Those ups and downs that are so uncomfortable aren’t detours; they’re data. They sharpen your direction and help you build the right path faster than a “perfect” plan ever could.

So ask yourself:

👉 Will I live today by default?
or
👉 Will I design it on purpose?

💭 What’s the intention that straightens your path today?

DM ‘AUDIT’ to future-proof your 2026 learning & development roadmap • Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+

Some people think resilience is a personality trait.

It’s not.
👉 It’s a practice.

Built in the quiet, unglamorous moments no one sees.

The days you show up when it’s uncomfortable.
The mornings you choose discipline over distraction.
The nights you give yourself rest instead of guilt.

The truth?

You don’t become unstoppable all at once.
You become unstoppable one small habit at a time.

Here are the daily choices that build a different kind of strength, the kind that stays with you when life hits hard:

1️⃣ Replace “I can’t” with “I haven’t yet.”
That tiny shift rewires your brain for possibility.

2️⃣ Start before you feel ready.
Readiness is a feeling that follows action - never the other way around.

3️⃣ Make failure your teacher, not your enemy.
Every “no” carries information. Mine it.

4️⃣ Build systems, not just goals.
Goals motivate you. Systems sustain you.

5️⃣ Protect your mornings like your future depends on them.
Because it does. One intentional hour changes everything.

6️⃣ Say no like a leader.
Every yes steals capacity from something that matters more.

7️⃣ Track tiny wins.
Your brain builds confidence from evidence - give it proof daily.

8️⃣ Find your power hour.
Do your most important work when you’re naturally sharpest.

9️⃣ Choose hard today over harder tomorrow.
Avoidance compounds. So does courage.

🔟 Rest like you mean it.
Recovery isn’t weakness - it’s strategic leadership.

The habits that build resilience aren’t dramatic.
They’re small, consistent, and even uncomfortable.
But they change your trajectory.

If you want to feel unstoppable, start with one habit - not all ten.

💬 Which one are you choosing today?

🔁 Repost to remind someone who’s rebuilding their strength brick by brick.
🔔 Follow me for more content like this, Alinnette

Design by: Muhammad Husnain

Leaders lose clarity for one reason: they skip the small habits that keep their emotions steady.

Clarity isn’t a mindset. 
It’s a series of tiny choices you make all day long.

Not big breakthroughs.
Not deep healing sessions.
Small shifts you practice until your nervous system learns a new way to lead.

Here’s what I see in the leaders who grow the fastest:

• They name one emotion a day.
• They breathe before they respond.
• They pause long enough to hear what wasn’t said.
• They track their patterns in one sentence, not a journal.
• They notice when they betray their own “no.”
• They label the trigger instead of the person.
• They listen to tension before it becomes reaction.
• They repair small ruptures instead of letting them harden.
• They replace assumptions with curiosity.
• They return to center with one small grounding action.

That’s emotional intelligence.
Not perfection → awareness.
Not control → choice.

If you want to build EI, don’t start with a big blueprint.
Start with one micro-habit you can repeat today.

Which one speaks to your leadership right now?

🔁 Repost to help others
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

Being agreeable is often mistaken for being professional.

For years, that was me.
Never rock the boat.
Say yes when my gut screamed no.
Smile through decisions that made my values cringe.

I thought respect came from being liked.
That harmony meant avoiding hard conversations.
That good employees stayed quiet.

Until I learned the most expensive lie of my career:
Being liked and being respected are not the same thing.

After years of working with leaders across industries, one truth keeps showing up:
The ones who create real change aren’t the pleasers.
They’re the truth-tellers.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about approval-seeking 👇

→ It shrinks your impact.
When you chase everyone’s approval, you stand for nothing.

→ It erodes trust.
People can feel when your “yes” doesn’t mean yes.

→ It delays growth.
Every avoided conversation is a missed opportunity to evolve.

→ It attracts the wrong people.
Those who need you to stay small will never celebrate you getting big.

So if you’re ready to trade approval for authenticity, start here:

✔️ Know your non-negotiables.
Write down your top 3 values. If a request violates them, that’s your answer.

✔️ Master the kind “no.”
“I appreciate you thinking of me, but this doesn’t align with my current priorities.”

✔️ Schedule your boundaries.
Protect deep-work time like it’s a CEO meeting (because it is).

✔️ Choose your circle wisely.
Surround yourself with people who respect your no as much as your yes.

✔️ Embrace the discomfort.
Not everyone will like the real you. The right ones will respect you for it.

Here’s the paradox about boundaries:
They don’t push people away.
They pull the right ones closer.

Because the moment you stop performing for approval,
you start attracting people who value authenticity.

The shift from pleasing to leading isn’t comfortable.
But comfort was never the goal.
Impact was.

💭 What boundary have you been avoiding that would change everything if you set it today?

For years, companies handled leadership development the same way:

Run a workshop.
Share self-paced modules.
Offer a toolkit.
Hope managers “get it.”

That cycle broke.

Teams want leaders who stay calm under pressure.
Managers who speak with honesty.
Directors who hold steady in tense moments.

But most companies cannot see where the real gaps sit.

Here is what I saw this year:

A high-potential manager avoided hard talks because she felt unprepared.
A director with strong experience lost trust because he felt strained with no place to say it.
A department stalled because leaders were unsure what mattered most.

Workshops alone do not fix this.
Leaders need a clear map.

So I’m opening 𝟯 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 for a January kickoff.

You walk into Q1 of the new the year with:

• A view of what slips
• A sense of what works
• What your team leaders need
• A roadmap for a strong start to the year

If you’re tired of guessing where leadership slips, DM “AUDIT.”

🔁 Repost to spread the word
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

The hardest part of change isn’t the change. 
It’s staying yourself while everything is shifting.

Clarity doesn’t show up on its own, you create it.

Here’s what I’ve seen in all who made it through a season that shook their foundation:

They start by noticing what’s actually shifting.
Not the stories.
Not the fears.
The real movement beneath the surface.

Then they look for what isn’t changing.
A value.
A strength.
An anchor they can hold when the ground moves.

Next, they plan from calm, not chaos.
One right step.
Not ten.
Not the whole staircase.
Just the next move that keeps them aligned.

They reach out before the weight gets too heavy.
Not to be saved,
but to stay human.
Because isolation is where clarity goes to die.

And when the dust settles, they sustain small practices that keep them steady.
Tiny habits.
Simple routines.
Consistency over the illusion of control.

This is resilience.
Not toughness.
Not perfection.
Not pushing through at any cost.

Resilience is learning how to stay yourself while everything around you shifts.

If you’re in a season of change, ask yourself:

Where am I sensing?
Where am I stabilizing?
Where am I planning?
Where am I supported?
Where am I sustaining?

You don’t control the pace of change.
You control the way you move through it.

Which part of your resilience is asking for attention today?

📌 Save this framework for your next transition
🔁 Share to help someone navigate their change
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more on resilient leadership

Design by: Muhammad Husnain

You don’t always get the outcome you hoped for.

You can give your best.
Show up fully.
Pour in the hours, the heart, the belief.

And still…
life takes a turn you didn’t choose.

I used to think that meant I failed.
That the disappointment said something about me.
That if it didn’t work out, the effort somehow didn’t matter.

But life has a quieter truth:

Even when the result slips through your fingers,
the growth stays with you.

The wisdom.
The resilience.
The clarity about who you are and what you want.
Those things don’t disappear.

Not every hope becomes a destination.
Some hopes become teachers.
Some become turning points.
Some become the strength you didn’t know you were building.

That’s why taking care of yourself isn’t optional.
It’s the foundation.

Because when plans fall apart,
your well-being is what holds you together.
Your wisdom is what carries you forward.
Your hope, even the fragile kind, is what keeps the next chapter possible.

So take care of yourself first.

Not because it guarantees the outcome,
but because it guarantees you will still be whole
no matter how the outcome unfolds.

And here’s what I know for sure:

You don’t walk away from any season empty-handed.
You walk away with lessons that sharpen you.
Strength you earned the hard way.
And hope that learns to rebuild itself.

Life won’t always go as planned.
But you will always have what you gained becoming the person who tried.

💭 What’s one lesson a difficult season gave you that you’re grateful for now?

Every year, I see the same pattern.

Teams enter January with the strain they carried from the year before. 

Team Leaders walk into the first week unclear. 
Directors try to guess what matters most. 
And HR is expected to fix it overnight.

By the following months, the cracks show:
- Slow decisions 
- Mixed signals 
- Missed cues 
- Pressure that spreads 
- Training that doesn't land

Not because leaders lack skill. 
But because they start the year without a clear map.

A leadership audit fixes this early in the year, before the pace climbs.

It shows you:
- Where leaders felt strain last year 
- Where communication broke 
- Which skills need attention 
- What should guide Q1

December isn't the time to do the work. 
It's the time to secure the clarity.

I’m opening 𝟯 audits for a January kickoff at a 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚.

If you want leaders who start 2026 steady instead of strained, 
DM "AUDIT."

🔁 Repost to spread the word
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

How to Spot Leadership Gaps Before Turn Into Team Strain

If you ever doubt whether your kindness matters, read this slowly:

Every time you choose patience over impatience, someone breathes easier.
Every time you soften your tone, someone feels safer.
Every time you pause before reacting, someone learns it’s possible.

People remember how you made the moment feel.
Long after the words are gone.

And here’s the part most people overlook:

Kindness strengthens you just as much as it supports everyone around you.

It expands your emotional capacity.
It sharpens your self-awareness.
It trains your nervous system to lead from clarity instead of reactivity.

It’s not about being nice.
It’s about being intentional with your impact.

Because whether you realize it or not:

Someone is watching how you navigate pressure.
Someone is learning from the way you handle conflict.
Someone is healing because you spoke to them with respect.
Someone is staying because you made them feel seen.

Kindness doesn’t change the world in one moment.
It changes the moments that shape the world.

And if you lead people:
at work, at home, in your community,
your presence becomes their weather system.

Your calm becomes permission.
Your patience becomes guidance.
Your compassion becomes courage.

So today, if you have the choice between reacting fast
or responding with intention...choose the version of you you’d want someone else to learn from.

Choose the one who leaves people a little safer,
a little steadier,
a little more hopeful than before.

Because emotional leadership isn’t built in big speeches.
It’s built in the micro-moments you think no one notices.

💭 Agree, Disagree?

🔁 Repost to share with others
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

The future of learning isn’t more content.
It’s deeper connection.

For years, we taught people what to do.
Now we need to guide them on how to think, choose, and lead in real time.

That’s why I’m obsessed with what We Are Learning is building.

Their Stories aren’t just videos,
they're immersive learning experiences shaped by decisions.

Learners don’t just watch…
 👉 They choose.
 👉 They react.
 👉 They see consequences.
 👉 They build judgment.

All through connected content nodes that create:
• Linear paths for consistency
• Interactive paths for decision-making
• Branching scenarios that feel like real-world leadership moments

This is the future of training:
Not passive consumption.
Active transformation.

Imagine onboarding, leadership development, 
or customer training where people experience the journey, 
not just memorize slides.

Because the leaders we’re developing tomorrow
need more than information.

They need practice. 
Perspective. 
Presence.

And that is exactly what this platform delivers.
👉 If you design learning, lead teams, or guide others how to think, you need to try it today.

Start building your first Story in minutes here: https://lnkd.in/gdyWRMJD

#WeAreLearning

Everything you already carry is enough to build something real.
Even against the odds.

Even when the ground shakes.
Even when nothing looks clean or perfect.

You grow because you move.
You move because you’re ready.
You’re ready because you’re you.

Growth doesn’t wait for better timing.
It doesn’t wait for more confidence.
It doesn’t wait for the perfect plan you keep rewriting.

It starts with what’s already in you:

• The strength built in quiet rooms.
• The insight earned from mistakes no one saw.
• The softness you held onto when the world told you to harden.
• The fire you kept lit on days that gave you no reason to keep going.

Nothing has to be polished for you to rise.
Nothing has to align for you to take the next step.

And yes, your growth might unsettle people who liked you smaller.
People who felt safer when you doubted yourself.
People who depended on the version of you who stayed quiet.

Well, it's okay to let them question and sit with their own discomfort.

Your focus is simple:
Keep growing in the direction that calls you.
Not away from who you are,
but deeper into it.

Which part of you is asking for more space right now?

🔁 Repost to inspire others
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

Credit: I do not own the copyright claim to this video

Sharing with you my favorite last-minute gift of the season.
And it took less than a minute to make.

Synthesia just launched a free Santa video generator!
And it creates a personalized message faster than you can make a cup of tea.

No setup.
No fuss.

Just choose the template you like, type a custom script, and Santa delivers a message that feels sweet and a little magic. 🪄 
And totally love the option to add the script in any of the 140+ languages available. 🗣️ 

I made this one as a surprise greeting for my family and plan to mirror it on our living room big screen TV.
I can already picture the reaction.

If you want to try it, do it now!

Access it here 👉  https://lnkd.in/eVSPB9-r

Send a bit of joy to someone who needs it. 🎄 

#MadeWithSynthesia

Brand partnership • DM ‘AUDIT’ to future-proof your 2026 learning & development roadmap • Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+

Most people think authority comes from having all the answers.

It doesn’t.
Real authority comes from how you carry your answers.
With clarity, honesty, and enough humility to stay human.

Because here’s the truth:

People don’t follow the leader who knows everything.
They follow the leader who makes them feel something.

Safety.
Respect.
Seen.
Included.
Invited in (not talked down to)

And that’s where the real power lives:
👉 the blend of confidence and vulnerability.

Authority without vulnerability feels cold.
Vulnerability without authority feels uncertain.
But when you put them together?
You build trust faster than any title ever could.

If you want to lead in a way people remember, try this:

✨ Speak from what you know and name what you’re still learning.
It shows strength, not gaps.

✨ Share the mistakes that shaped your wisdom.
People learn more from your honesty than your perfection.

✨ Acknowledge fear without feeding it.
Presence > performance.

✨ Ask for perspectives, not permission.
Collaboration strengthens your voice, not weakens it.

✨ Stay firm in your values, flexible in your thinking.
That’s maturity, not indecision.

The leaders who create the deepest trust aren’t performing confidence.
They’re modeling humanity.

Because when you communicate with authority and vulnerability, you’re not just leading the room - you’re elevating it.

💭 Which of these do you want to practice more in your own leadership voice?

🔁 Repost to share with others
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more content like this

Design by Muhammad Husnain

Thank you Helen, it was a great pleasure! I look forward to the full feature.

Owner @ Himaja Retreat | Community Builder @ Fuzia Talent | Curator of Humans of Fuzia | Advocate for Impactful Storytelling

✨ Coming Soon on Humans of Fuzia! ✨
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Alinnette Casiano, Founder of Growing Your EQ, for our Humans of Fuzia series — and her journey is nothing short of inspiring. From being the first in her family to pursue higher education to leading with emotional intelligence and authenticity, Ali’s story reminds us that impact isn’t always loud — sometimes it happens quietly, with heart and purpose. 💫
Stay tuned — her full feature will be published soon on humansoffuzia.com
!

#HumansOfFuzia #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #FuziaTalent #WomenEmpowerment

Check out my published article from Featured!

The Moment Three Simple Words Reframed My Career https://buff.ly/lkAmNAF via Alinnette Casiano of Growing Your EQ on @Thinkers360 #Careers #Leadership #Transformation 📣 Thought Leader? Amplify your voice here: https://buff.ly/5v9yqjq

Open article: The Moment Three Simple Words Reframed My Career - Featured by buff.ly

The Moment Three Simple Words Reframed My Career - Featured

Honored to join Saahil Baxi on his podcast to talk about the work that has shaped my life: emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and helping people feel seen, understood, and empowered.

From the classroom…
to UX research at Amazon…
to mentoring leaders internationally…

Grateful for the chance to share my story, the practices that keep me steady, and the mission that continues to pull me forward.

Thank you Saahil for the thoughtful conversation and the space to dig deeper.

🎧 Full episode in comments.

How Emotional Intelligence Shapes Success https://buff.ly/UVToq3a via Alinnette Casiano of Growing Your EQ on Thinkers360 #Education #GenerativeAI #Leadership 📣 Thought Leader? Amplify your voice here: https://buff.ly/12Kt83x

Open article: How Emotional Intelligence Shapes Success — A Conversation with Alinnette Casiano | Future Millionaires by buff.ly

How Emotional Intelligence Shapes Success — A Conversation with Alinnette Casiano | Future Millionaires

Cara North

JPMorganChase

Vice President, Product Management

Vice President, Digital Learning

Boise State University

Organizational Performance & Workplace Learning masters program

Adjunct Professor

Association for Talent Development (ATD)

Facilitator for ATD certificate programs including Learning Technologies, Project Management, Articulate Storyline, and Instructional Design
Also serve as SME for various programs in development.

Course Facilitator

The Learning Camel

Founder & Chief Learning Consultant

Medical Mutual

Learning, Performance and Customer Experience Manager

Circulo Health

Director of Learning and Development

Silfex, Inc. - A Division of Lam Research Corporation

Operations Training Manager

The Ohio State University

Senior Learning Experience Designer

Learning Experience Designer

Interim Director, Academic Technology

Trained and co-managed a 20-person Service2Facilities team in achieving the mission of the Facilities Operations and Development organization—to support the university’s academic facility needs while protecting physical assets. Received facilities requests, assessed priority, and dispatched appropriate resources to address the needs of 450+ academic, residence hall, and medical center buildings. Reviewed and updated department policies, procedures, and systems.
Drove continuous performance improvement through analysis of processes and identification of process gaps, diligently investigating issues and recommending corrective actions to improve efficiencies and effectiveness.
Hired, onboarded, trained, and developed a dedicated service team, leading the group in delivering exceptional customer service and support to diverse clients.
Received the Star Bucks Award for exceeding expectations during a campus emergency; facilitated staff coaching and development on best practices in emergency preparedness and response.

Information Associate; Service2Facilities Supervisor

Amazon

Earned rapid promotions to play a key role in the development of a robust knowledge center for the launch of the Kindle Fire, collaborating with peers in Seattle to apply educational theory to design global training materials. Met with SMEs to create training across disciplines, facilitating train-the-trainer training on the Kindle product to support rollout.
Received a continuous improvement award for identifying an issue with the second-generation Kindles, initiating the corrective action process to mitigate risks, prevent customer concerns and issues, and ensure optimal service delivery.
Served as an LMS (Moodle) administrator and troubleshot problems with grade books and student accounts for clients across North America, Costa Rica, India, and the Philippines.

Instructional Designer/Digital Specialist

Hi there, I'm Cara (care-uh, like “karaoke,” minus the okie) and I've been working in learning and development for all of my professional career. Over the years I’ve built learning strategies and experiences for higher education, corporate, and consulting. Since then, I’ve been the one people call when training goes sideways, tech implodes, or someone forgets we are in the business of supporting the complex creatures called humans.

Along the way I’ve collected the kind of stories that double as icebreakers:

The Porta-Potty Standoff: Showed up to a new-hire orientation to find a row of porta potties in the training room. We had people to onboard and enough stuff to deal with and was able to get the porta-potties banished. 

One-Woman Software SWAT: Got “Hey, we’re changing core software, train the entire org in a week” with zero team, zero prep. I caffeinated, white-boarded, and lived to meme the tale.

eLearning ER: Performed emergency-saving surgery on eLearning so ugly they triggered OSHA concerns.

If you are a teacher or someone who is new to instructional design, welcome! I hope you find as much joy in this work as I have. If you want some recommendations to get started with books & tech, I've created an Amazon storefront with some of my favorites: https://www.amazon.com/shop/unfilteredid 

DMs are always open (but my inbox is a spicy chaos goblin). Please note this year I've started to set boundaries for my time so if you are immediately asking for me to hop on a call, do something for you, etc without trying to build a relationship, I'll refer you to my services calendar.

Excited to be going back to Los Angeles in 2026!
I didn’t think I’d be headed to Association for Talent Development (ATD)’s 2026 International Conference and Expo but now I am! I’ll be facilitating the pre-conference project management certificate program. I appreciate the good folks at ATD trusting me with this program. 

The last time I was in LA was 2024 for the Apex Legends esports world championship and I got to see some things (the Jonas Brothers star in the walk of fame was a must see) but not everything I wanted to. 

My brother-in-law did find an incredible Chinese restaurant on our trip, so I’d love to go to it again and bring some folks with me (Jonathan Rock, MBA).
Who will I be seeing in Los Angeles?
 #atd26

Learning & Development Leader, Speaker, & Author of Learning Experience Design Essentials

Picture of Cara North standing by the Jonas Brothers Star on the walk of fame 

Over the last few years, I’ve lost two people who shaped my career more than any book, conference, or certificate ever could: my mentors.

Grief is a strange thing in your career. You still hear their voice when you make a tough call… and then you realize you can’t send the follow-up text or book the “talk me off the ledge” call afterward.

Their loss has made one thing very clear to me:
I don’t want to navigate the next stage of my career alone.

So, I’m putting this out there publicly:
I’m looking to fill seats on my advisory board.

Not a “pick your brain once” conversation.
 Someone who is genuinely invested in my long-term growth and willing to build a consistent relationship.

Why mentorship matters so much to me:
I value honest mirrors, not just cheerleaders. My mentors have challenged my thinking, called out my blind spots, and helped me separate noise from signal.

I move fast and juggle a lot. I need someone who’s been where I’m trying to go and can help me make smart, strategic choices, not just more “busy.”

I care deeply about impact. I want my work to matter: to teams, to products, to learners, to organizations. Mentors have always helped me zoom out and stay anchored to that bigger picture.

What I’m looking for:
A senior leader who has navigated complex, messy environments and still leads with integrity.
Someone who understands (or is curious about) learning, product, and/or people development.
Willing to connect periodically (e.g., once a month or once a quarter) for real conversations about strategy, trade-offs, and growth.

If this sounds like you or if someone comes to mind who might be a fit, I’d be grateful for an introduction or a DM.

Also I'd like to open my own calendar up for this kind of work if I can help others but I want to limit the number of folks so I have the time to invest in you. If you are interested in me mentoring you, comment or send me a message. 

And if you’ve also lost a mentor, I see you. It’s a quiet kind of grief that doesn’t show up on a performance review, but it absolutely shapes who we become.

Thank you for reading. 💛

From my family to yours, happy Thanksgiving! 
Thankful for all the wonderful folks I’ve met because of this platform.

A cartoon of a turkey and Cara and Mathew north with their four cats Sid, Bib, Saffron, and Pollock 

Honored to be on this list, thank you CLN!

Open article: CLN's Top 25 L&D Influencers of 2025 by corporatelearningnetwork.com

Hey everyone!

Community has been on my mind lately, especially coming off of several conferences. In that spirit I've decided to pilot building a once a month, 1 hour community of practice where we focus on a topic and build connections and strategies. I'm calling it The Monthly 60.

I'd like to start this in December with the topic of beyond level 1 evaluations. Metrics are top of my mind right now thinking about 2026 OKRs and planning. 

If you are interested in joining, it's free and open to all, however, I reserve the right to remove those who may spam or solicit. 

https://lnkd.in/e7tngf5U

PS- If you can't access Google forms due to organizational firewalls, please PM me your email address and I can add you to the list. 

#instructionaldesign
#community

Community is Strength! Be Strong! Let's look out for one another. Stock art from Unsplash.

I’m so proud of my friend Lauren Waldman being featured in Forbes Magazine!! Huge kudos to her and such an important topic. My favorite quote:

 “The brain is not a bonus feature. It’s the seat that’s been empty for far too long.”

How many of our teams are now being asked to peddle AI slop instead of focusing on what really helps people in our orgs?

Open article: Why Corporate Learning Is Failing, And The Neuroscience That Could Fix It by forbes.com

Why Corporate Learning Is Failing, And The Neuroscience That Could Fix It

Happy Wednes-Yay! You can find past posts by searching #hotidjobs and follow me for future lists by selecting the bell by my name on my profile. If you want to share these with your network, please use the repost button. Also a friendly reminder I’m not a recruiter or a restaurant, meaning don’t send me your resumes or requests/demands for me to make a special list just for you. Get a head start on your wellness goals. Consider joining the L&D Active Club I started on Strava, lots of good folks over there sharing their wellness journeys. Free and open to all current, aspiring, or retired L&D professionals: https://lnkd.in/gBE73HHV

Training Manager, Chime (remote)
https://lnkd.in/ecQAgxUG

Senior Training Manager, RTX (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eKqm-e-N

ID Lead, Progressive Insurance (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eZ_-TrPb

Training Consultant, Livingston International (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eEprmmtS

Senior Training Ops Manager, Dandy (remote)
https://lnkd.in/ekddg-A6

Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Sheetz (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eU5CATPq

ID, Willow Bridge Property (remote)
https://lnkd.in/e_ae7XY3

Lead Program Manager, Very Good Ventures (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eKXr_Pnt

Sr Manager Global Memberships, YPO (remote)
https://lnkd.in/efJhfzq8

ID, Bluebird Staffing (remote & contract)
https://lnkd.in/eMH3ZbHx

Learning Specialist, Onebrief (remote and great salary)
https://lnkd.in/eda2yHyW

ID Intern, WTA (remote and great for tennis fans)
https://lnkd.in/eAaGB_xr

If you made it this far, thank you. I’ve just passed year 5 of doing this kind of content and I really appreciate everyone who comments, shares, and comes up to talk to me at conferences and such. We never know when it could be our turn to look for another opportunity so I’m just doing my part to try to help others as others have helped me. 

To further boost the post, respond to the following question in the comments: what is a tiny thing you’re giving yourself permission to enjoy this December? For me, we’ve been working on our house and it’s moving at a snail’s pace and I’m just going to slow down and enjoy it. Tell someone you love them today and have a genuine day.
#jobs #instructionaldesign

A sincere thank you to the kind folks at Canvas LMS for the sweet little panda I brought home from #devlearn for my boy, Sidious. He carries it around the house and is one of his new favorite toys. Since the panda is wearing a shirt, Sid agreed to wear his sweater for this quick pic.

Picture of Sidious (Sid) a black cat wearing a cream sweater with bold lines sitting on a walking pad next to a small panda plushie wearing a Canvas shirt 

Happy Fri-Yay! You can find past posts by searching #hotidjobs and follow me for future lists by selecting the bell by my name on my profile. If you want to share these with your network, please use the repost button. Also a friendly reminder I’m not a recruiter or a restaurant, meaning don’t send me your resumes or requests/demands for me to make a special list just for you. Also I am starting a community of practice called The Monthly 60. Our first topic will be beyond Level 1 evaluations and it’s free and open to all. Learn more and sign up if interested: https://lnkd.in/e7tngf5U

Bilingual ID, Colorado Stare University (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eeKScCxM

ID, Colorado State University 3 open recs!  (remote)
 https://lnkd.in/eE5KQFJs

ID, UMass Global (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eCex3zBN

Senior Learning Professional, Humana (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eB2vyEDF

Senior Communication and Learning Professional, Nature Conservancy (remote) https://lnkd.in/ebA7YQDt

People Development Manager, Stambaugh Ness (remote)
https://lnkd.in/er4bhmpU

ID Lead, Constant (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eDiKYZBP

ID, SMM Health (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eDj2crkd

If you made it this far, thank you. I’ve just passed year 5 of doing this kind of content and I really appreciate everyone who comments, shares, and comes up to talk to me at conferences and such. We never know when it could be our turn to look for another opportunity so I’m just doing my part to try to help others as others have helped me. 

To further boost the post, respond to the following question in the comments: Your life has a commentator, who is it? For me, I’d want the voice of James Earl Jones like Darth Vader explaining simple tasks in an evil way. Tell someone you love them today and have a genuine day.
#jobs #instructionaldesign

Putting the finishing touches on the Mural board I plan on using for the first meeting of The Monthly 60 kicking off on Friday. I have really been looking for a community that isn't just networking, but isn't someone talking at you. I haven't really seen anything I like so I decided to build it by piloting this method for our first meeting. Also it will be exactly 60 minutes a month. We will start and end on time. No exceptions :) The agenda is 15 minutes of networking, 45 minutes of discussion of the topic. I took inspiration from ESPN's Around the Horn to keep the conversation moving and giving everyone an opportunity to share.

The topic is Beyond Level 1 Evaluations and it will be facilitated by yours truly along with my incredible colleague Nathan Coey. It isn't too late to sign up if you want to join us.

If all goes well, I plan on launching this fully for 2026.

Join us: https://lnkd.in/e7tngf5U

#instructionaldesign
#community

A Mural canvas with The Monthly 60 written on it with the December topic: Beyond Level 1 Evaluations

Happy Mon-Yay! You can find past posts by searching #hotidjobs and follow me for future lists by selecting the bell by my name on my profile. If you want to share these with your network, please use the repost button. Also a friendly reminder I’m not a recruiter or a restaurant, meaning don’t send me your resumes or requests/demands for me to make a special list just for you. Consider following The Monthly 60: a learning and development community of practice that meets once a month to talk about a topic. We have a meeting this Thursday Dec 11 for EMEA and India time zones if you want to join fill out the form on our page https://lnkd.in/eBPNskSW

Head of ID, Alexander Group (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eR7Rm4DC

ID Specialist, VSP (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eKP5dK8J

Director of Learning, Mosaic (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eS5AfweF

ID, Sand Cherry (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eymtBiqy

Senior ID, ChenMed (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eGPvC9ar

ID, Haskell (remote)
https://lnkd.in/evTKEP6s

If you made it this far, thank you. I’ve just passed year 5 of doing this kind of content and I really appreciate everyone who comments, shares, and comes up to talk to me at conferences and such. We never know when it could be our turn to look for another opportunity so I’m just doing my part to try to help others as others have helped me. 

To further boost the post, respond to the following question in the comments: if you could have one super boring corporate superpower, what would it be? For me, I’ll go with instantly finding calendar slots when a meeting is needed* (I argue most meetings are not needed btw) . Tell someone you love them today and have a genuine day.
#jobs #instructionaldesign

Open article: The Monthly 60 | LinkedIn by linkedin.com

Happy Wednes-Yay! You can find past posts by searching #hotidjobs and follow me for future lists by selecting the bell by my name on my profile. If you want to share these with your network, please use the repost button. Also a friendly reminder I’m not a recruiter or a restaurant, meaning don’t send me your resumes or requests/demands for me to make a special list just for you. Consider following The Monthly 60: a learning and development community of practice that meets once a month to talk about a topic. Our next event is January 16, 2026 and covers AI! If you want to get added to the invite, add your information to our form: https://lnkd.in/eYx6dKPr

Learning Leader of Platforms, Cisco (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eWPsf6Zz

Associate Director, Abbive (remote)
https://lnkd.in/e2EeuvFw

ID, Infuse  (remote & contract)
https://lnkd.in/eSwHV7dD

LXD, Floquast (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eppwAq2J

Senior Manager, Trulieve (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eMnRuaDT

Program Manager, Figma (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eqCiTMxp

Sr ID, CNO Financial (remote)
https://lnkd.in/ewWq7ezj

ID, Wasserman (remote US & Canada)
https://lnkd.in/ePQKRRvm

Senior ID, Prudential (remote)
https://lnkd.in/ee5vqMxb

ID, Snorkel (remote)
https://lnkd.in/eaEW-xfs

Senior LXD, Endeavor (remote)
https://lnkd.in/etTMKWKj

If you made it this far, thank you. To further boost the post, respond to the following question in the comments: what is one of your niche subject expertises? For me, I’ll go with Apex Legends esports (go Team Falcons)! Tell someone you love them today and have a genuine day.
#jobs #instructionaldesign

Thank you to everyone who showed up for today's first ever The Monthly 60! We've had a lot of interest in EMEA and India so we will do another session on Dec 11 at 5:00AM ET. If you are interested in joining us, please fill out the form for an invite and follow The Monthly 60 page for updates about our next sessions! 

https://lnkd.in/e_bJgp86

#TheMonthly60

We are having an encore of our session today for our friends in EMEA and India. If you are interested in joining us December 11 at 5:00AM ET, please fill out this form to be added to the invite.

The topic will be beyond Level 1 evaluation, looking forward to welcoming you.

https://lnkd.in/ewMn3gYx

Open article: The Monthly 60: EMEA/India by forms.gle

Excited about the conversation for EMEA folks tomorrow! This will be fun!

PSA: Your Level 1 evaluations are lying to you. 😂

In our December North America Monthly 60 session, we asked a very serious, highly academic question:

“What’s an example where Level 1 evaluation data told you something completely useless or misleading?”

The responses did not disappoint:

🙃 “Agree/disagreed to ‘it helped my understanding’.”
🙃 “As a facilitator, a learner said they didn’t like my hair.”
🙃 “My very first feedback form for my very first ILT was a full rant about the catering.”
🙃 “I am not a frontline fundraiser and I don’t know why I was here”
 (…note: the audience description very clearly said frontline fundraisers 😅)

This is why we can’t have nice things. Or at least why we can’t only have Level 1.
If you read these and could relate
…then you are exactly who The Monthly 60 is for.

What’s The Monthly 60?

A one-hour, once-a-month community of practice for L&D folks who want:
Real talk (not 47-slide vendor decks)
Peer brains > performance gaps
Actual tactics you can steal and ship on Monday
We’re hosting a special EMEA-friendly Monthly 60 on December 11 at 5:00 AM ET (10:00 AM UK / 11:00 AM CET).

We’ll be:
Dragging misleading Level 1 data lovingly through the mud
Swapping war stories
Sharing alternative ways to get feedback that’s actually… useful

If you want in:
Follow this page page: The Monthly 60 so you don’t miss future sessions.

Join the December 11 EMEA event (link in comments)

Bring your spiciest, most unhinged Level 1 comment. The catering complaints are absolutely invited.

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Alinnette Casiano

Cara North

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The Battle

Alinnette Casiano

Cara North

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Posts

Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Alinnette Casiano's LinkedIn Performance

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