Allow me to introduce myself

Let's start in the middle somewhere

In 2009, at 26, I left my job in journalism and moved to South Korea to teach English.

I didn’t like that particular writing gig, I wanted to get out, so decided to answer an ad that said “Teach English in South Korea” that popped up on my screen while researching a story about Lindsay Lohan or Amy Winehouse.

I thought it would be an easy gig and that I would simply teach English classes, travel around Asia, party, and have fun.

The job was not easy and there was a lot more than "teaching English classes" involved.

I had no teaching experience whatsoever, it was sink or swim and so I swam.

That's how I accidentally started falling into learning and development. 

Now let's go to the bottom

After completing my teaching contract, it was scary going back home to no job and knowing I would be changing careers. 

I had zero L&D qualifications, with no real corporate experience, and felt anxious about having to start a new career at 28.

It took me 13 long months to find a job, and what I found was a 3-month internship unrelated to L&D. I didn't earn much money, I started feeling depressed, and people started saying I should go back to journalism or teaching English in South Korea.

Then, just as I was losing all hope, I got a job as a content editor, and that changed the game.

Once I established myself at the company, my manager listened to my suggestion of creating a mini-onboarding program for new joiners.

This was hugely significant because it got me back in front of the "classroom" again and I loved it!

Even though I struggled and was jobless for over a year, I persevered. I went back to school part-time to get an education in learning and development practices.

The theory, together with the experience I was gaining at work, made me feel confident in my skills and abilities. 

I knew that trusting in myself would lead to the right decision. 

Finding my way to the top

It was not easy getting into L&D and gaining enough trust from my manager to create an onboarding program. 

Besides going back to school, I had to learn things on the fly. 

I spent lots of time doing research, studying, reading, and asking loads of questions to friends and people in the industry. 

I used all the knowledge and skills I acquired to show the value of L&D and an onboarding program. 

Why am I telling you this?

A career change is completely possible at any age if you want it enough. Or, even if you want to just gain a new skill, there is still time. It’s never too late. 

I've worked at many organisations over the last 14 years, and folks both outside and inside of L&D (young and old) are always asking me how they can get into the industry, specifically learning/instructional design.

I wish I had someone to teach me these things, it would have benefitted me greatly as I transitioned into L&D and learning design. 

So I've decided to be the person I didn't have. Someone who can use their knowledge, skills, and expertise, to guide those who want to move into instructional design and L&D. For those folks who want to gain some new skills and learning something different. 

So what exactly I am putting there?

Each week you will receive a newsletter called "The Saturday Designers Club", and it will be filled with information, theory, knowledge, and tools to help build the skills necessary in the world of L&D, and learning experience design.

You will be able to take these skills, put them into practice, and start creating e-learning solutions on your own, developing a portfolio, problem-solving, learning about training needs analysis, and so much more. 

See you next Saturday