Talent Mastery Quest
An interactive portfolio exploring the six masteries of talent development
Play
Dear Strategist, Our kingdom finds itself at a crossroads. Fortune has been kind to us, and our business has flourished. However, we've been growing at such speed that our people can't keep up. Our leaders are overwhelmed. Citizens are disengaged and leaving to rival kingdoms. On top of it all, our people aren't learning skills fast enough to keep growing our kingdom at this scale. We need your help! Can you unlock the highest potential of our people and guide them to grow?
Queen Marie
Accept the Queen's request
The kingdom's people are stuck
With no structure and no strategy, the kingdom can't grow any more. Its citizens just can't keep up everything they're expected to learn and do. Your quest is to unlock growth for the Queen's citizens as her kingdom grows. To achieve this, you'll need to travel across the kingdom and solve its people's growth challenges.
Continue
Collect the six badges of mastery
As you help the kingdom's citizens and leaders, you'll collect badges to recognize your mastery in six areas: Strategy Design Facilitation Connection Engagement Change navigation
Continue
Follow in Anna's footsteps
You'll also collect lore from a fellow Strategist, Anna, who has solved similar challenges during her journey. Inside the Quest Logs scattered throughout the kingdom, you'll read about Anna's approach and successes. Ready to start your quest?
Embark
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
The Wisdom Wood
As the population of the forest people has grown, many new leaders have emerged from within their ranks. However, their growth has been scattered. New leaders ask you to run a workshop to teach them the basics, but the more experienced leaders want to build more advanced skills.
Before jumping into training delivery, it's helpful to understand the needs of each group and how their paths connect. Mapping out a journey can identify common foundations and avoid an approach that feels random. You might also discover that training isn't the best way to grow leaders at each stage.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Grassland Village
You step into the town square and find an older man instructing a group of young workers on his carpentry techniques. They look just about ready to fall asleep. After he wraps up his lecture, he catches your eye and sighs. "They need to know these skills, but I just can't get them to pay attention."
Real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and sharing, not just listening. By weaving in short activities that get people active, you not only accelerate skill development, but you engage learners and hold their attention more effectively.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Grassland Village
You step into the town square and find an older man instructing a group of young workers on his carpentry techniques. They look just about ready to fall asleep. After he wraps up his lecture, he catches your eye and sighs. "They need to know these skills, but I just can't get them to pay attention."
Real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and sharing, not just listening. By weaving in short activities that get people active, you not only accelerate skill development, but you engage learners and hold their attention more effectively.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Windmill Town
One of the merchants offers you a ride to the nearby hillside town. As you're pulling into the stables, he turns to you with a request. "I've been trying to get our local farmers to try some modern techiques that should increase their production. Better harvests means I have more products to sell to other villages, leading to more money for both me and the farmers. They're interested, but they're too busy in the fields to take time and learn."
You're likely to have the most success meeting the farmers where they are. Designing ways for them to learn and test in the flow of work gets them actively applying what they just learned. Keeping these demos short and spaced over time is also less overwhelming than cramming everything into one intense session.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Strategy
Design
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Grassland Village
You step into the town square and find an older man instructing a group of young workers on his carpentry techniques. They look just about ready to fall asleep. After he wraps up his lecture, he catches your eye and sighs. "They need to know these skills, but I just can't get them to pay attention."
Real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and sharing, not just listening. By weaving in short activities that get people active, you not only accelerate skill development, but you engage learners and hold their attention more effectively.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Continue
Encounter!
Windmill Town
One of the merchants offers you a ride to the nearby hillside town. As you're pulling into the stables, he turns to you with a request. "I've been trying to get our local farmers to try some modern techiques that should increase their production. Better harvests means I have more products to sell to other villages, leading to more money for both me and the farmers. They're interested, but they're too busy in the fields to take time and learn."
You're likely to have the most success meeting the farmers where they are. Designing ways for them to learn and test in the flow of work gets them actively applying what they just learned. Keeping these demos short and spaced over time is also less overwhelming than cramming everything into one intense session.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Lore
Back to map
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Serpent of the Mountain Lake
You approach to a heated argument taking place on the shore of the mountain lake. As you listen, you understand the situation: two goups of villagers have different opinions on how to teach the locals to cross the monster-infested lake. The ship builders say to teach woodworking techniques first, while the sailors say to start with harpoon safety. Both sides are convinced their topic deserves the most attention in the training.
Picking sides won't build trust with your stakeholders, and trying to include everything equally risks diluting the outcomes and not focusing on the right needs. Focusing on crafting a shared outcome and identifying learner goals helps unite stakeholders around the problem, not the politics.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
- Start with exec team buy-in
- Confluence resource hub
- Advise on the change plan
- Senior leaders as champions
- Targeted training and learning circles on new way of working
- Smoother rollout of the new model despite initial resistance
- Managers who participated in training sessions felt better equipped to champion the change with their teams
- 70%+ of managers accessed the central Confluence hub
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Connection
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Riverside Training Grounds
Along the bank of the river, archers practice their craft, repeating the same shots over and over. The head archer asks for your help. "I know that repetition is important, but fewer and fewer archers are showing up to practice. I can tell they're bored, and I fear they aren't building enough diversity in their techniques."
When designing engaging training, consider how to balance challenge level with skill. As the archers complete the basics, increase the difficulty so they stay challenged and curious about what's next. Each new level also provides a sense of achievement and momentum, turning routine practice into a journey of progress.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
- Manage the development of our custom skills platform
- Mapped out the visual certification process
- Make skill validation and knowledge-sharing frictionless
- A growth journey that keeps learners coming back
- 2.500+ employees included in the Versatility Chart
- Increased ownership from employees on their development
- Skills became measurable and clear, enabling service managers to make better staffing decisions
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Engagement
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Serpent of the Mountain Lake
You approach to a heated argument taking place on the shore of the mountain lake. As you listen, you understand the situation: two goups of villagers have different opinions on how to teach the locals to cross the monster-infested lake. The ship builders say to teach woodworking techniques first, while the sailors say to start with harpoon safety. Both sides are convinced their topic deserves the most attention in the training.
Picking sides won't build trust with your stakeholders, and trying to include everything equally risks diluting the outcomes and not focusing on the right needs. Focusing on crafting a shared outcome and identifying learner goals helps unite stakeholders around the problem, not the politics.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
- Start with exec team buy-in
- Confluence resource hub
- Advise on the change plan
- Senior leaders as champions
- Targeted training and learning circles on new way of working
- Smoother rollout of the new model despite initial resistance
- Managers who participated in training sessions felt better equipped to champion the change with their teams
- 70%+ of managers accessed the central Confluence hub
Continue
Encounter!
Riverside Training Grounds
Along the bank of the river, archers practice their craft, repeating the same shots over and over. The head archer asks for your help. "I know that repetition is important, but fewer and fewer archers are showing up to practice. I can tell they're bored, and I fear they aren't building enough diversity in their techniques."
When designing engaging training, consider how to balance challenge level with skill. As the archers complete the basics, increase the difficulty so they stay challenged and curious about what's next. Each new level also provides a sense of achievement and momentum, turning routine practice into a journey of progress.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
- Manage the development of our custom skills platform
- Mapped out the visual certification process
- Make skill validation and knowledge-sharing frictionless
- A growth journey that keeps learners coming back
- 2.500+ employees included in the Versatility Chart
- Increased ownership from employees on their development
- Skills became measurable and clear, enabling service managers to make better staffing decisions
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Engagement
Connection
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Sapphire City's Reorganization
You already heard the context: The council members are implementing a reorganization of the city's ruling body and workforce. Where they need your help is bringing this change to the average nobleperson, who will need to champion new ways of working with their territory's citizens. Many of the noblepeople aren't sure what the new structure looks like or what's expected of them.
Successful change doesn't start with training, nor does it wait for every detail to be finalized behind the scenes. Once a vision is set, engage leaders to understand the rationale for change and start translating it into their own context. Make them active partners in the rollout, creating champions as the change cascades.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
Reorganization through uncertainty
This will be my last Quest Log for a while. What a ride! In my many years in tech, I've navigated multiple reorganizations, but one stood out. 10% of the organization was being made redundant due to shifting operations from one office to another. I spearheaded the critical knowledge transfer effort, ensuring the teams hired in the new office were set up with knowledge from the old guard. While being a key member of the transition leadership team, I was also managing my own impacted learning and quality members.
Approach
Impact
- People first: support employees and managers through the change
- Manage the team of knowledge transfer trainers
- Develop a structured 4-week training program to transfer knowledge effectively
- Minimal drop in productivity
- Impacted "guest trainers" stayed engaged under my guidance
- New teams passed all quality checks within 4 weeks of the knowledge transfer program
- Prevented loss of crucial knowledge and skill during the transition process
Continue
Congratulations!
You're a champion of the people!
With your last badge of mastery in hand, you return to Queen Marie. She gushes with praise at the many challenges you solved for the people of her kingdom. You reflect on all that you've learned. Building skills, enabling growth, and navigating change requires a diverse set of capabilities. Not every situation will be identical, and you can't fix everything with one training. But, with your agility and fortitude, you've shown you can navigate even the trickiest talent development challenge.
Wrap up your adventure
View your inventory one last time
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Change Navigation
Design
Engagement
Connection
Lore
Go back
I'm Anna, your real-life Strategist and growth partner. First quest: Let's chat on a free discovery call to explore your biggest opportunities to level up your growth game.
Ready to start your own people growth journey?
Let's connect!
Block Overcome!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." The Instructional Designer's Helm starts glowing (as legendary helms do). You see the onboarding challenge as clear as day: People across different shops need to be trained quickly on one set of standards. In record time, you're able to craft a learning intervention and enable the repairmen to come repair the pass.
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Continue
Block Overcome!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." The Instructional Designer's Helm starts glowing (as legendary helms do). You see the onboarding challenge as clear as day: People across different shops need to be trained quickly on one set of standards. In record time, you're able to craft a learning intervention and enable the repairmen to come repair the pass.
Continue
Blocked!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." For now, it seems you need to turn around and try another path. Perhaps there's something else in the area that will help you assist with this situation...
Congratulations!
You've earned the Strategy badge
Continue
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
New Item Discovered!
You start your adventure at the Queen's castle. Before you depart, she presents you with a well-worn sword. "This is the Sword of Strategy and it will surely help you on your path."
Sword of Strategy Enables the bearer to plan for long-term impact and create lasting success.
Equip
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Congratulations!
You've earned the Design badge
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Facilitation badge
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
New Item Discovered!
This old tower is crumbling from centuries of neglect, but you sense a powerful item inside its walls. Climbing up carefully, you're rewarded with a new piece of legendary gear.
Instructional Designer's Helm Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
In gratitude, the ship builders and sailors gift you with a shield. "This will guard you against the stress of opposing opinions so you can stay grounded and objective in your design."
You've earned the Connection badge
Shield of Collaboration Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Facilitation badge
Continue
Blocked!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." For now, it seems you need to turn around and try another path. Perhaps there's something else in the area that will help you assist with this situation...
New Item Discovered!
This old tower is crumbling from centuries of neglect, but you sense a powerful item inside its walls. Climbing up carefully, you're rewarded with a new piece of legendary gear.
Instructional Designer's Helm Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Design badge
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Facilitation badge
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
- Start with exec team buy-in
- Confluence resource hub
- Advise on the change plan
- Senior leaders as champions
- Targeted training and learning circles on new way of working
- Smoother rollout of the new model despite initial resistance
- Managers who participated in training sessions felt better equipped to champion the change with their teams
- 70%+ of managers accessed the central Confluence hub
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
The head archer is impressed with the game-based practice routine you built. She grants you a new item to protect you from the hazards of boring experience design.
You've earned the Engagement badge
Armor of Playful Practice Unlocks new abilities to combat boredom through play, progression, and discovery.
Equip
Continue
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
- Manage the development of our custom skills platform
- Mapped out the visual certification process
- Make skill validation and knowledge-sharing frictionless
- A growth journey that keeps learners coming back
- 2.500+ employees included in the Versatility Chart
- Increased ownership from employees on their development
- Skills became measurable and clear, enabling service managers to make better staffing decisions
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Block Overcome!
You seek out the guard who had directed you to your recent challenges. He glances at your new badges and equipment, giving a nod of approval. "The council members are ready to accept your help with their massive reorganization. They have most of the strategic details sorted, but the daunting task of getting all the nobles and townspeople on board is still ahead." He leads you through the corridors to a brighly-lit chamber where the executive council members debate over the change rollout. They look up at you as you approach, curiosity and hope in their gaze. Are you ready for your final challenge?
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
- Manage the development of our custom skills platform
- Mapped out the visual certification process
- Make skill validation and knowledge-sharing frictionless
- A growth journey that keeps learners coming back
- 2.500+ employees included in the Versatility Chart
- Increased ownership from employees on their development
- Skills became measurable and clear, enabling service managers to make better staffing decisions
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
- Start with exec team buy-in
- Confluence resource hub
- Advise on the change plan
- Senior leaders as champions
- Targeted training and learning circles on new way of working
- Smoother rollout of the new model despite initial resistance
- Managers who participated in training sessions felt better equipped to champion the change with their teams
- 70%+ of managers accessed the central Confluence hub
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
In gratitude, the ship builders and sailors gift you with a shield. "This will guard you against the stress of opposing opinions so you can stay grounded and objective in your design."
You've earned the Connection badge
Shield of Collaboration Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Continue
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
The head archer is impressed with the game-based practice routine you built. She grants you a new item to protect you from the hazards of boring experience design.
You've earned the Engagement badge
Armor of Playful Practice Unlocks new abilities to combat boredom through play, progression, and discovery.
Equip
Continue
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Change Navigator badge
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
- Manage the development of our custom skills platform
- Mapped out the visual certification process
- Make skill validation and knowledge-sharing frictionless
- A growth journey that keeps learners coming back
- 2.500+ employees included in the Versatility Chart
- Increased ownership from employees on their development
- Skills became measurable and clear, enabling service managers to make better staffing decisions
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
- Strategic needs assessment
- Executive co-creation + buy-in
- Three-phase leader journey
- Start with phase 1: New manager onboarding
- Leader Learning Circles for mid-level growth
- 360 assessment for target high-potential leaders
- Increased engagement and clarity for managers at all levels
- Improved ramp-up experience and clearer expectations for newly-promoted managers
- ~25 high-potential leaders upskilled through the 360
- Peer-driven Learning Circles distributed learning and accelerated change adoption
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
- Built in SurveyMonkey
- Survey questions co-created with HR and business leaders
- Pre- and post-360 workshops
- Personalized participant playbooks
- Targeted 25 high-potential leaders invited personally by the C-suite
- Participants received feedback from peers, leaders, and direct reports on behaviors and impact
- 70% cheaper than purchasing a pre-built 360 tool or survey
- Gained valuable insights to trends across anonymous survey results, highlighting further leadership development focus
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
- Start with solid needs analysis and objectives
- Craft the overall workshop theme, tone, design, and flow
- Curate a lineup of presenters and guide them on engagement
- Multiple formats, including social learning and play
- Increased understanding of regulatory requirements
- Stronger alignment across teams on their shared goals, resulting in increased collaboration
- Senior leaders confirmed participants were designing more effective processes immediately following the event
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
- Start with exec team buy-in
- Confluence resource hub
- Advise on the change plan
- Senior leaders as champions
- Targeted training and learning circles on new way of working
- Smoother rollout of the new model despite initial resistance
- Managers who participated in training sessions felt better equipped to champion the change with their teams
- 70%+ of managers accessed the central Confluence hub
Anna's Quest Log
Reorganization through uncertainty
This will be my last Quest Log for a while. What a ride! In my many years in tech, I've navigated multiple reorganizations, but one stood out. 10% of the organization was being made redundant due to shifting operations from one office to another. I spearheaded the critical knowledge transfer effort, ensuring the teams hired in the new office were set up with knowledge from the old guard. While being a key member of the transition leadership team, I was also managing my own impacted learning and quality members.
Approach
Impact
- People first: support employees and managers through the change
- Manage the team of knowledge transfer trainers
- Develop a structured 4-week training program to transfer knowledge effectively
- Minimal drop in productivity
- Impacted "guest trainers" stayed engaged under my guidance
- New teams passed all quality checks within 4 weeks of the knowledge transfer program
- Prevented loss of crucial knowledge and skill during the transition process
Talent Mastery Quest
Anna Wright
Created on October 28, 2025
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Transcript
Talent Mastery Quest
An interactive portfolio exploring the six masteries of talent development
Play
Dear Strategist, Our kingdom finds itself at a crossroads. Fortune has been kind to us, and our business has flourished. However, we've been growing at such speed that our people can't keep up. Our leaders are overwhelmed. Citizens are disengaged and leaving to rival kingdoms. On top of it all, our people aren't learning skills fast enough to keep growing our kingdom at this scale. We need your help! Can you unlock the highest potential of our people and guide them to grow?
Queen Marie
Accept the Queen's request
The kingdom's people are stuck
With no structure and no strategy, the kingdom can't grow any more. Its citizens just can't keep up everything they're expected to learn and do. Your quest is to unlock growth for the Queen's citizens as her kingdom grows. To achieve this, you'll need to travel across the kingdom and solve its people's growth challenges.
Continue
Collect the six badges of mastery
As you help the kingdom's citizens and leaders, you'll collect badges to recognize your mastery in six areas: Strategy Design Facilitation Connection Engagement Change navigation
Continue
Follow in Anna's footsteps
You'll also collect lore from a fellow Strategist, Anna, who has solved similar challenges during her journey. Inside the Quest Logs scattered throughout the kingdom, you'll read about Anna's approach and successes. Ready to start your quest?
Embark
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
The Wisdom Wood
As the population of the forest people has grown, many new leaders have emerged from within their ranks. However, their growth has been scattered. New leaders ask you to run a workshop to teach them the basics, but the more experienced leaders want to build more advanced skills.
Before jumping into training delivery, it's helpful to understand the needs of each group and how their paths connect. Mapping out a journey can identify common foundations and avoid an approach that feels random. You might also discover that training isn't the best way to grow leaders at each stage.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Grassland Village
You step into the town square and find an older man instructing a group of young workers on his carpentry techniques. They look just about ready to fall asleep. After he wraps up his lecture, he catches your eye and sighs. "They need to know these skills, but I just can't get them to pay attention."
Real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and sharing, not just listening. By weaving in short activities that get people active, you not only accelerate skill development, but you engage learners and hold their attention more effectively.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Grassland Village
You step into the town square and find an older man instructing a group of young workers on his carpentry techniques. They look just about ready to fall asleep. After he wraps up his lecture, he catches your eye and sighs. "They need to know these skills, but I just can't get them to pay attention."
Real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and sharing, not just listening. By weaving in short activities that get people active, you not only accelerate skill development, but you engage learners and hold their attention more effectively.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Windmill Town
One of the merchants offers you a ride to the nearby hillside town. As you're pulling into the stables, he turns to you with a request. "I've been trying to get our local farmers to try some modern techiques that should increase their production. Better harvests means I have more products to sell to other villages, leading to more money for both me and the farmers. They're interested, but they're too busy in the fields to take time and learn."
You're likely to have the most success meeting the farmers where they are. Designing ways for them to learn and test in the flow of work gets them actively applying what they just learned. Keeping these demos short and spaced over time is also less overwhelming than cramming everything into one intense session.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Strategy
Design
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Grassland Village
You step into the town square and find an older man instructing a group of young workers on his carpentry techniques. They look just about ready to fall asleep. After he wraps up his lecture, he catches your eye and sighs. "They need to know these skills, but I just can't get them to pay attention."
Real learning happens through doing, reflecting, and sharing, not just listening. By weaving in short activities that get people active, you not only accelerate skill development, but you engage learners and hold their attention more effectively.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Encounter!
Windmill Town
One of the merchants offers you a ride to the nearby hillside town. As you're pulling into the stables, he turns to you with a request. "I've been trying to get our local farmers to try some modern techiques that should increase their production. Better harvests means I have more products to sell to other villages, leading to more money for both me and the farmers. They're interested, but they're too busy in the fields to take time and learn."
You're likely to have the most success meeting the farmers where they are. Designing ways for them to learn and test in the flow of work gets them actively applying what they just learned. Keeping these demos short and spaced over time is also less overwhelming than cramming everything into one intense session.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Lore
Back to map
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Serpent of the Mountain Lake
You approach to a heated argument taking place on the shore of the mountain lake. As you listen, you understand the situation: two goups of villagers have different opinions on how to teach the locals to cross the monster-infested lake. The ship builders say to teach woodworking techniques first, while the sailors say to start with harpoon safety. Both sides are convinced their topic deserves the most attention in the training.
Picking sides won't build trust with your stakeholders, and trying to include everything equally risks diluting the outcomes and not focusing on the right needs. Focusing on crafting a shared outcome and identifying learner goals helps unite stakeholders around the problem, not the politics.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
Continue
Inventory
Badges
Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
Connection
Lore
Back to map
Encounter!
Riverside Training Grounds
Along the bank of the river, archers practice their craft, repeating the same shots over and over. The head archer asks for your help. "I know that repetition is important, but fewer and fewer archers are showing up to practice. I can tell they're bored, and I fear they aren't building enough diversity in their techniques."
When designing engaging training, consider how to balance challenge level with skill. As the archers complete the basics, increase the difficulty so they stay challenged and curious about what's next. Each new level also provides a sense of achievement and momentum, turning routine practice into a journey of progress.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
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Encounter!
Serpent of the Mountain Lake
You approach to a heated argument taking place on the shore of the mountain lake. As you listen, you understand the situation: two goups of villagers have different opinions on how to teach the locals to cross the monster-infested lake. The ship builders say to teach woodworking techniques first, while the sailors say to start with harpoon safety. Both sides are convinced their topic deserves the most attention in the training.
Picking sides won't build trust with your stakeholders, and trying to include everything equally risks diluting the outcomes and not focusing on the right needs. Focusing on crafting a shared outcome and identifying learner goals helps unite stakeholders around the problem, not the politics.
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New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
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Encounter!
Riverside Training Grounds
Along the bank of the river, archers practice their craft, repeating the same shots over and over. The head archer asks for your help. "I know that repetition is important, but fewer and fewer archers are showing up to practice. I can tell they're bored, and I fear they aren't building enough diversity in their techniques."
When designing engaging training, consider how to balance challenge level with skill. As the archers complete the basics, increase the difficulty so they stay challenged and curious about what's next. Each new level also provides a sense of achievement and momentum, turning routine practice into a journey of progress.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
Continue
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Equipment
Facilitation
Strategy
Design
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Encounter!
Sapphire City's Reorganization
You already heard the context: The council members are implementing a reorganization of the city's ruling body and workforce. Where they need your help is bringing this change to the average nobleperson, who will need to champion new ways of working with their territory's citizens. Many of the noblepeople aren't sure what the new structure looks like or what's expected of them.
Successful change doesn't start with training, nor does it wait for every detail to be finalized behind the scenes. Once a vision is set, engage leaders to understand the rationale for change and start translating it into their own context. Make them active partners in the rollout, creating champions as the change cascades.
Accept your badge
New Lore Discovered!
Anna's Quest Log
Reorganization through uncertainty
This will be my last Quest Log for a while. What a ride! In my many years in tech, I've navigated multiple reorganizations, but one stood out. 10% of the organization was being made redundant due to shifting operations from one office to another. I spearheaded the critical knowledge transfer effort, ensuring the teams hired in the new office were set up with knowledge from the old guard. While being a key member of the transition leadership team, I was also managing my own impacted learning and quality members.
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Impact
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Congratulations!
You're a champion of the people!
With your last badge of mastery in hand, you return to Queen Marie. She gushes with praise at the many challenges you solved for the people of her kingdom. You reflect on all that you've learned. Building skills, enabling growth, and navigating change requires a diverse set of capabilities. Not every situation will be identical, and you can't fix everything with one training. But, with your agility and fortitude, you've shown you can navigate even the trickiest talent development challenge.
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Go back
I'm Anna, your real-life Strategist and growth partner. First quest: Let's chat on a free discovery call to explore your biggest opportunities to level up your growth game.
Ready to start your own people growth journey?
Let's connect!
Block Overcome!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." The Instructional Designer's Helm starts glowing (as legendary helms do). You see the onboarding challenge as clear as day: People across different shops need to be trained quickly on one set of standards. In record time, you're able to craft a learning intervention and enable the repairmen to come repair the pass.
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Continue
Block Overcome!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." The Instructional Designer's Helm starts glowing (as legendary helms do). You see the onboarding challenge as clear as day: People across different shops need to be trained quickly on one set of standards. In record time, you're able to craft a learning intervention and enable the repairmen to come repair the pass.
Continue
Blocked!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." For now, it seems you need to turn around and try another path. Perhaps there's something else in the area that will help you assist with this situation...
Congratulations!
You've earned the Strategy badge
Continue
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
New Item Discovered!
You start your adventure at the Queen's castle. Before you depart, she presents you with a well-worn sword. "This is the Sword of Strategy and it will surely help you on your path."
Sword of Strategy Enables the bearer to plan for long-term impact and create lasting success.
Equip
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Congratulations!
You've earned the Design badge
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Facilitation badge
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
New Item Discovered!
This old tower is crumbling from centuries of neglect, but you sense a powerful item inside its walls. Climbing up carefully, you're rewarded with a new piece of legendary gear.
Instructional Designer's Helm Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
In gratitude, the ship builders and sailors gift you with a shield. "This will guard you against the stress of opposing opinions so you can stay grounded and objective in your design."
You've earned the Connection badge
Shield of Collaboration Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Facilitation badge
Continue
Blocked!
As you approach the bridge, you notice quite a commotion. A flustered merchant explains the situation: A cart carrying wheat toppled over, sparking a string of incidents that led to a complete blockage of the pass. "Problem is," the merchant says, "we're trying to onboard as many bridge repairmen as we can to fix this mess, but it's just going so slowly." For now, it seems you need to turn around and try another path. Perhaps there's something else in the area that will help you assist with this situation...
New Item Discovered!
This old tower is crumbling from centuries of neglect, but you sense a powerful item inside its walls. Climbing up carefully, you're rewarded with a new piece of legendary gear.
Instructional Designer's Helm Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Design badge
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Facilitation badge
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
The head archer is impressed with the game-based practice routine you built. She grants you a new item to protect you from the hazards of boring experience design.
You've earned the Engagement badge
Armor of Playful Practice Unlocks new abilities to combat boredom through play, progression, and discovery.
Equip
Continue
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Blocked!
You approach Sapphire City, its spiraling domes shining in the setting sun. To honor the Queen's request for your aid, you search the city for any citizens needing your help. Before long, a well-armored guard seeks you out. "I serve the city council, and they're planning a pretty massive reorganization. Knowing them, they'll need to see more of those Badges before they'll grant you an audience." He thinks for a moment, then pulls out a paper map and marks two destinations. "I hear some folks in these locations need help. You can earn yourself a couple more Badges there. Then, I bet the council will hear you out."
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Block Overcome!
You seek out the guard who had directed you to your recent challenges. He glances at your new badges and equipment, giving a nod of approval. "The council members are ready to accept your help with their massive reorganization. They have most of the strategic details sorted, but the daunting task of getting all the nobles and townspeople on board is still ahead." He leads you through the corridors to a brighly-lit chamber where the executive council members debate over the change rollout. They look up at you as you approach, curiosity and hope in their gaze. Are you ready for your final challenge?
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
In gratitude, the ship builders and sailors gift you with a shield. "This will guard you against the stress of opposing opinions so you can stay grounded and objective in your design."
You've earned the Connection badge
Shield of Collaboration Significantly increases the speed and success rate of training courses and projects.
Equip
Continue
Continue
New Item Discovered!
Congratulations!
The head archer is impressed with the game-based practice routine you built. She grants you a new item to protect you from the hazards of boring experience design.
You've earned the Engagement badge
Armor of Playful Practice Unlocks new abilities to combat boredom through play, progression, and discovery.
Equip
Continue
Continue
Congratulations!
You've earned the Change Navigator badge
Continue
Anna's Quest Log
A Clear Journey to Mastery
While designing career development program for a global electric vehicle company, I knew that building technical skills in the service staff was more than a nice-to-have; it was crucial for safety and compliance. I led the charge on launching a visual, engaging skill matrix we called the Versatility Chart to make skill development clear and motivating. The result? A great in-house skills tool, a hub of social learning, and the drive to gather skills and certifications by the learners as they watched themselves level up.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The holistic leadership framework
While working for a European finance company, I was challenged with designing a new, strategic leadership development framework. It needed to fit seamlessly into the company's vision of growing leadership capability in-house, be highly relevant, and support social learning across the hybrid organization.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
Designing the Leadership 360
If you read my previous Quest Log from the forest people, you know how I launched a holistic leadership framework. Of that initiative, the 360° Assessment was a standout success. Budgets were tight, turnarounds lightning fast, and expectations sky high. Luckily, my strong instructional design skills paid off, with one participant calling it the most useful development opportunity he's ever had.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
The Industry Masterclass
As my department with my European employer was scaling rapidly, we were bringing in many process specialists who lacked financial industry backgrounds - and it was starting to show. I designed and facilitated a two-day masterclass to ramp up the 4-person team on key industry trends and regulatory requirements, curating a diverse lineup of internal experts and industry partners and facilitating a highly hands-on learning experience.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
More than training on the new model
When my employer within the finance technology sector rolled out a new matrix operating model, they struggled with building adoption and support with front-line managers who didn't fully understand the new structure. Each team's ways of working were impacted in unique ways, so it was critical to understand their context and tailor the training and change rollout to their reality. Through my intentional and targeted approach to stakeholder connection and analysis, I was able to help frontline and mid-level managers across the business implement this change successfully.
Approach
Impact
Anna's Quest Log
Reorganization through uncertainty
This will be my last Quest Log for a while. What a ride! In my many years in tech, I've navigated multiple reorganizations, but one stood out. 10% of the organization was being made redundant due to shifting operations from one office to another. I spearheaded the critical knowledge transfer effort, ensuring the teams hired in the new office were set up with knowledge from the old guard. While being a key member of the transition leadership team, I was also managing my own impacted learning and quality members.
Approach
Impact