Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2024 - 9

SPOTLIGHT
KERI BORBA
THE LEARNING LEADER SPOTLIGHT
WITH KERI BORBA
This issue, we are excited to spotlight
Keri Borba, who has been in the learning
and development (L&D) space for just
over 20 years and started as a learning
management system (LMS) administrator.
Today, Keri serves as the vice president
of
organizational
development
and
leads a team of award-winning L&D and
quality professionals at AAA Northeast.
In addition to L&D, Keri is responsible
for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI),
performance
management
with more than 20 years ago. She has
a debilitating form of multiple sclerosis
and has not let the disease impact her
abilities to live, love, laugh and learn.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST PRESSING
ISSUES ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL
PLATE RIGHT NOW?
and talent
optimization. Let's learn more about Keri's
career journey.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET
STARTED IN L&D?
A: I started my career teaching high
school students and became so
interested in the transition from student
to worker and the skills needed to
succeed. I went back to school for my
master's degree in L&D.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR MOST
MEMORABLE TRAINING
EXPERIENCE, GOOD OR BAD?
A: I was participating in a train-thetrainer
on 9/11 and what I remember
most, aside from the deep tragedy, is
the community that L&D professionals
shared during that time - caring for the
learning, social and emotional needs of
our participants.
Q: WHO WOULD YOU CONSIDER
YOUR MOST VALUABLE ROLE
MODEL? WHAT WERE SOME
QUALITIES THAT MADE
THEM GREAT?
A: One of my most valuable role models
is a former manager, someone I worked
A: Competing for a learner's time,
attention and motivation. We're
sending so many messages (verbal,
nonverbal, electronic, micro-messages,
macro-messages, etc.) and I'm seeing
pure information overload.
Q: WHAT'S THE MOST
CHALLENGING ASPECT
OF YOUR JOB?
A: Quantifying the true value of the
work of L&D professionals. Our team is
award-winning, and while the awards
are outstanding and demonstrate a
pride of place, we still need to show that
the work we do is making a difference
in terms of performance, productivity
and individual development.
Q: WHAT'S THE MOST REWARDING
ASPECT OF YOUR JOB?
A: For me, it's when a member of my
team is so excited about or so proud
of something they've accomplished
- whether it was a participant in
their workshop who really got it, an
innovative course design or feedback
from a senior leader about the impact
their work had.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED
TRAINING METHODOLOGY?
A: In today's workplace, my preferred
method is a blended approach with selfpaced,
instructor-led and tech-enabled
(gaming, simulation, etc.).
Q: HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME
FOR YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT?
A: Quite simply, I make it a priority.
Last week, I took a full day to earn my
Mental Health First Aid Certification to
support the work I do in the DEI space.
I also schedule time on my calendar for
" me meetings, " meetings with myself to
research, read, complete a course or
engage in peer networking. I commit
to not canceling these meetings - I
might reschedule them, but I don't
cancel them.
Q: ANY RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR FOLKS OUT THERE: BOOKS,
PARTNERS, RESOURCES, ETC.?
My team and I are currently reading
" Next Level Virtual Training, " by Diana L.
Howles. It's a good read with great idea
sparks. I'd also recommend subscribing
to several professional organizations
or practitioners in our field (Training
Industry Magazine, LinkedIn L&D
groups, eLearning Heroes, etc.) and
keeping the flow of resources coming
to you. You may not have the time to
read them all, but you'll be reminded
of their presence and ability to quickly
access them.
Q: IF SOMEONE WANTS TO FOLLOW
IN MY PROFESSIONAL FOOTSTEPS,
I'D TELL THEM TO BE SURE TO:
Embrace curiosity as a core value,
stay committed to your own L&D and
always keep the human aspect of
leading others as the most important
part of your role.
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - WINTER 2024 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
9
https://trainingindustry.com/magazine/ https://trainingindustry.com/magazine/ https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine
Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2024
