Every year, the Learning Leadership Conference honors 30 emerging leaders in the realm of learning through its prestigious Thirty Under 30 program. These young trailblazers have already begun to make significant contributions in their short careers. Let’s celebrate the achievements of the first ten honorees who exemplify innovation and dedication:
Maggie Bodner, Learning & Development Manager, BrandsMart USA
Maggie pioneered the first-ever new hire program at BrandsMart USA, a remarkable achievement for a company with a long history of nearly 40 years. This program provided an organized onboarding experience, helping new employees feel welcomed and prepared right from the start. As the sole member of the L&D team, she also played a crucial role in the launch of two new stores by creating tailored training plans and resources for every store position, a groundbreaking initiative for the organization.
Faith Brown, Operations Trainer, Westgate Resorts
Faith’s L&D journey began with a natural inclination to train and support her colleagues. This passion culminated in her proudest achievement: spearheading a comprehensive training initiative for a new operating system affecting over 150 employees. By utilizing diverse learning strategies, including workshops and the development of subject matter experts across locations, she significantly minimized the learning curve and ensured smooth operations during the transition.
Katie Buckner, Specialist, Organizational & Leadership Development, MedVet
Katie completely revamped the leadership curriculum for all managerial levels, ensuring the content was both practical and relevant. In addition to managing the organization’s Learning Management System (LMS), she oversaw the design of 200 LMS courses and successfully converted in-person training into a streamlined four-hour online curriculum. Her current focus is on migrating to an upgraded LMS to enhance the learning experience further.
Sabrina Cervantes Villa, Human-Centered Design Specialist, Global Learning Experience, Align Technology
During the pandemic, Sabrina crafted a virtual training guide for the Arizona Academic Decathlon, incorporating role-based navigation and interactive checklists to assist volunteers with varying digital skills. Recently, she led the redesign of Align Technology’s global learning content strategy, driven by data to meet organizational goals and the needs of over 23,000 employees. Her innovative approach earned her the 2025 Excellence in Data-Driven Learning Programs award from OpenSesame.
Ashley Cooks, Sr. Instructional Designer, The Home Depot
With a diverse background in L&D across several industries, Ashley has developed powerful presentations on training diverse workforces and cultural adaptation. She has conducted extensive research on generational learning preferences, influencing her consulting to bridge knowledge gaps in various workplace environments.
Nakul Grover, Manager, Learning Experience Design, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
At Takeda, Nakul drives capability-building efforts for over 50,000 employees globally. He enhances the learning experience through game-based learning techniques, allowing employees to practice skills in engaging environments. He’s actively involved in developing a prompt-writing framework and has even shared his insights through a TEDx talk, blending creativity with formal industry standards.
Mickailynn Holman, Specialist – Training & Instructional Design, Maximus
Mickailynn transitioned from a training coordinator to an instructional design role, co-developing a SharePoint hub to promote knowledge sharing across departments. By revamping the new hire onboarding process, she significantly shortened onboarding time while improving resource accessibility and quality control.
Rachel Jennings, Sr. Project Manager, Capital One
In her initial role, Rachel led a project to create a universal curriculum for early career programs, ensuring a uniform onboarding experience for over 1,000 new associates across various job families. Now, she manages a team of instructional designers, supporting the creation of impactful learning content across the organization.
Mercedez Jones, Learning Experience Architect Team Leader, Wintrust Financial Corporation
Mercedez unexpectedly stepped into the L&D Coordinator role after assisting with a major training program. Her organizational skills led to the smooth facilitation of various training sessions. Since then, she has embraced L&D wholeheartedly, quickly establishing herself in the field.
Moksha Khanna, Special Education Teacher, University of Chicago Charter School
As Lead Teaching Artist at UCAN Academy, Moksha crafted arts education programs that engage diverse learners. She integrated themes of social justice into her curriculum, successfully increasing participation and earning recognition at the Illinois Art Education Association Conference. Her efforts in community-driven programs have significantly promoted cultural diversity and inclusivity.
Congratulations to these outstanding individuals! Stay tuned for our upcoming articles that will highlight the remaining honorees of the Thirty Under 30 program.
