About Me

I’ve worked in learning and development for over 20 years as an external consultant and heading up the sales training department for North America at Foresters, a life insurance company in Toronto.

Over that time, I have been focused on performance – helping L&D professionals/ the L&D function create training programs that change behaviour and support the organization’s strategic goals.

I’ve recognized over the years that no matter how well designed or how well aligned training is, it only seems to go so far. As a profession, we continue to struggle in providing meaningful evaluation and determining the return on training dollars spent. There are two reasons for this ongoing struggle:

  1. Learning professionals lack business acumen skills.

Without awareness and knowledge, they struggle to understand their client’s world and view their challenges and priorities through their L&D lens.

  1. Leaders don’t take ownership for their employees’ development.

Employee learning and development is not the sole responsibility of the training department. Leaders need to take responsibility for developing their employees, develop skills, and create an environment to support their employees’ growth.

I help organizations close the gap between the formal training created by the L&D function and the role leaders have in developing their employees.

When employees grow and succeed, organizations grow and succeed.

Background

2023
2023

HannahBrown.co

Rebranded to reflect dual focus on learning and development effectiveness and the leader’s role in employee development.

2022
2022

Training that Clicks: Virtual Design Playbook

Published, Training that Clicks: Virtual Design Playbook for people who design virtual training and who don’t have a learning and development background, or who are looking for ways to elevate their virtual courses, so they’re more engaging and have more impact. 

Available for purchase on Amazon. 

2021
2021

Training Design award from the Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL)

Received award for program, Design for a Digital Age, which provides a practical process and hands-on skill building to design and deliver virtual courses more effectively and efficiently

2019
2019

DISC and Five Behaviors Partner

As a distribution partner, I am certified to facilitate, certify others and distribute the full suite of DiSC and Five Behaviors of Cohesive Teams assessments and programs. 

2019
2019

Training Design award from the Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL)

For program, Blended Learning to Mitigate Risk for Shad Canada, which included an elearning course for newly hired staff to decrease risk in their summer programs, and recommendations for a learning management system to host the course.

2018
2018

Certified Coach

Certified Associate Coach through Integral Coaching Canada (ICC), which is recognized by International Coach Federation (ICF).

2015
2015

Volunteer Recognition Award from the Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL)

Recognized for executive role on Waterloo Wellington chapter over a seven year period and providing expertise to enrich the I4PL and the learning profession.

2011
2011

Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP)

Obtained Canadian professional designation for Workplace Performance and Learning from the Institute for Performance and Learning.

2010
2010

Performance Matters

Founded Performance Matters to provide consulting on learning program and course design to change performance.

2006
2006

Life Insurance License

Obtained license through Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO).

2004
2004

Director, Sales Training, North America at Foresters

2002
2002

Masters Adult Education M.Ed.

Obtained Master’s degree focused on Workplace, Learning and Change from O.I.S.E. University of Toronto.

2000
2000

Sr. Consultant and Learning Designer at Benchmark Performance