Scaling United Way’s Mission Through Adaptive, Equitable Learning Experiences.
As Director of Learning & Development at United Way Worldwide, I lead the design and delivery of high-impact learning experiences that drive our transformation strategy forward. I develop modular onboarding programs, microlearning aligned to the Thriving United Way Framework, and learner-centered infrastructure that connects staff across the global network to our mission and to each other.
From entry-level staff to new CEOs, I equip learners with the tools, mindset, and confidence to lead for equity, collaboration, and community impact.
Welcome to United Way
This hybrid onboarding experience orients new staff, volunteers, and partners to the mission, impact, and brand of United Way. It includes five engaging, asynchronous modules—narrated by the warm and witty “Phil Anthropic”—and culminates in a live session that fosters connection and shared purpose across the network. Learners create personal Impact Statements to build brand fluency and storytelling confidence.
New Executive Leader Onboarding
NELO is a five-week blended program that equips new United Way CEOs with strategic clarity, peer collaboration, and a roadmap for their first 60 days. Each weekly session is grounded in the Thriving United Way Framework, focusing on themes like equity, revenue diversification, and brand leadership. Through pre-work, live sessions, and small group reflection, new executives develop actionable plans tailored to their local context. NELO is now a flagship leadership experience for the network, onboarding 90+ executives in early 2025 and earning praise for its practicality and peer learning design.
Welcome to United Way and NELO are more than onboarding—they’re strategic activators. Designed to unify new staff and CEOs around a shared mission, brand promise, and framework for action, these programs embody the next generation of learning at United Way. They create space for reflection, connection, and purpose—and ensure that from day one, every learner sees themselves as part of something bigger, leading change in their community and across the world.
Thriving United Way: Learning the Framework
Designed as an entry point into the Thriving United Way Framework, this series introduces learners to the six focus areas that define high-performing, equity-driven United Ways. I led the design of four foundational courses, creating interactive microlearning that translates strategy into everyday behavior. Each course reinforces TUW language, benchmarks, and network priorities—serving as an essential tool for self-assessment, alignment, and action planning. These courses are now used network-wide to build shared understanding and capacity across staff roles and organizational sizes.