Margaret, Joey, Nicole and Carol.

My book is dedicated to four women who opened doors for me over the years. Their names are on the first page, but I don’t explain exactly how they impacted my life. So here’s the addendum to the dedication of The Modern Learning Ecosystem .

Margaret.

“Someday I’ll see your name in lights.” I don’t recall many conversations with teachers in high school, but I clearly remember this lunchroom exchange with Margaret. She was my freshman English teacher. More importantly, she was the faculty advisor for my high school newspaper. It was my first opportunity to write for an audience. We collaborated on the paper for three years, two of which I spent as editor-in-chief. Margaret trusted me to run the paper (my first management role) and always gave me room to experiment as I found my voice.?

She may not have gotten to see my name in lights, but she’s a big reason why my name is on the cover of this book.

Thanks, Mrs. Walton!?

Joey.

Joey was the cool manager who oversaw my team of operations coordinators when I was 19 years old. She made sure we all got a chance to attend training sessions. She added variety to our schedules so we learned how to run different parts of the business. She made sure we were always recognized for our hard work and long hours. Joey was a fun-but-no-nonsense ops manager.?

Then Joey got promoted. She was taking on the GM position at a smaller location nearby. Before she left, we had a chat, and I told her to keep me in mind if she needed any help. She could tell the clock was ticking on my current role. I needed a new opportunity, or I was going to look elsewhere. So she brought me with her, promoting me to my first management job. Sure, the new location wasn’t as nice as the old one. And there were days when we had more employees than customers. But it was a great training ground. Joey let me run every part of the business with minimal oversight. I learned how to do it all and was that much more prepared when I transferred to a brand new location a year later.

Joey showed me what a manager could be.?

Thanks, Joey!?

Nicole.

To be frank, Nicole saved my a$$ - repeatedly.?

I met Nicole during my first L&D gig. She was my boss’ boss. I spent most of my time facilitating classroom sessions, but Nicole recognized I was capable of doing more. She asked me to collaborate with her on departmental presentations and other special projects, which provided me with much-needed exposure within our large, complex enterprise.?

Then layoffs hit. My team was decimated, and my role was eliminated. But I got to stay. I remember Nicole hunting me down to tell me I had a job. I gratefully moved to a new role and waited for my chance to get back on track. That chance came a year later when Nicole found me again. This time she was calling from a new company and pushing me to take control of my career. So I did.?

I learned how to be an L&D professional over the next 6 years under Nicole’s leadership. She gave me freedom to experiment and find new ways to solve familiar problems. She allowed me to get outside my bubble and share stories as a writer and speaker. She tolerated my “ask for forgiveness, not permission” approach to accelerating innovation.?

The Modern Learning Ecosystem Framework - the model at the heart of my book - is inspired by my time working with Nicole.

Thanks, Nicole!?

Carol.

Lots of employers tell you to “take the ball and run with it,” but most never actually trust you with the ball. Maybe you get to make small decisions around how your team runs, but your impact on the organization as a whole is purposefully limited. Carol has given me the ball - time and time again. Every day, I influence decisions that directly impact outcomes for the business she co-founded. That’s a level of trust I’d never experienced at work before.

For years, my efforts within the L&D community felt like a hobby - stuff I did during spare time outside of my 9-5 (often to the detriment of my personal life). Carol gave me the opportunity to turn pro. Sharing became my job. But I wasn’t limited to sharing the company’s story. I was free to share my own story, including insights I’ve gathered over 20+ years in learning and operations. Plus, this was my chance to get hands-on solving problems with organizations around the world that share my passion for enabling frontline workers.

Carol saw my potential, created a spot for me and let me find my path forward.?

Win. Win. Win.

Thanks, Carol!

The Modern Learning Ecosystem is available now at jdwroteabook.com .