Her Story
About Brooke
Brooke McKinney is an AI educator, instructional designer, and organizational learning strategist whose work focuses on helping people and organizations adapt to emerging technologies without losing the human judgment that makes those technologies valuable. Her multidisciplinary career spans retail leadership, K–12 education, higher education, and AI enablement, giving her a unique perspective on how organizations develop human capability during periods of technological change.
Brooke began her career at Peet's Coffee, where she progressed from barista to leadership roles focused on training, operational excellence, and new store development. That experience sparked a lasting interest in how people learn complex skills in real-world environments—a question that continued to shape her work as she transitioned into education.
After earning her bachelor's degree in English Education from San Francisco State University, Brooke taught in Berkeley Unified School District, where she served as both a classroom teacher and instructional technology leader. She later joined Samford University as an instructional designer, helping develop graduate coursework in artificial intelligence, leading faculty development initiatives, and supporting educators as they integrated AI into teaching and learning.
Brooke is also the founder of The Engaging Teacher, an initiative dedicated to translating research on learning, leadership, and AI into practical resources for educators and organizational leaders. Her writing and speaking focus on topics including AI adoption, organizational judgment, instructional design, and the conditions that help people think critically, remain curious, and adapt to change.
Across every stage of her career, Brooke's work has centered on a simple belief: technology is most valuable when it expands human capability rather than replaces it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brooke
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to leaders who looked beyond my résumé. My formal background isn't in technology, but they recognized my ability to learn quickly, connect ideas across disciplines, and help people adopt new ways of working. They trusted my potential before my credentials caught up. That's shaped how I try to lead today—I want to be the kind of person who recognizes talent that doesn't fit the traditional mold.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received came from an early manager: stay curious, no matter what you're doing. I've carried that with me throughout my career. Curiosity has helped me develop expertise across very different fields, but more importantly, it's helped me understand people. Technology is only valuable when it solves human problems, and curiosity is what allows you to see those problems clearly.
Over time, I've also realized that your greatest strengths often emerge at the intersection of your experiences. It's not any one degree, job, or skill that makes you unique—it's the combination of them. The more curious you remain, the more those seemingly unrelated experiences begin to connect in ways that allow you to contribute something only you can.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Approach things with confidence. Even if you feel a little bit like you're playing a role, remember that a lot of times women pushed out of roles because we don't fit the stereotype of the "masculine" leader. Trust yourself, be confident, be relentless about deserving a seat at the table. You may not fit the mold or stereotype, but confidence in what makes you an asset and bravery to walk through each door with drive and optimism-- that's invaluable.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge isn't keeping up with technology—it's recognizing when our old theories no longer explain what's happening. Too often, education, business, psychology, and technology each have the same conversation in isolation, instead of building a shared understanding across disciplines.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Curiosity is probably the value that anchors everything else. It's what keeps me learning, questioning my own assumptions, and staying open to new perspectives. I'd also say optimism—not in the sense of ignoring problems, but in choosing to believe that people are capable of growth when they're given the right conditions. I value drive as well: pursuing excellence because the work itself matters, not just because of external recognition.
Above all, though, I try to lead with empathy. Whether I'm working with teachers, executives, or teams adopting new technology, I think meaningful change starts with understanding the people involved. And finally, integrity. I believe in doing what I say I'll do and building trust by being consistent, honest, and accountable.
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