Courtney Brouse
Courtney Farrell Brouse is a people and talent development leader in the wellness and fitness industry, currently serving as People Lifecycle Manager at Midtown Athletic Clubs. In this role, she oversees talent acquisition, learning and development, performance, and employee engagement across the organization’s eight club locations in the Chicago area and along the East Coast. Courtney drives strategy across the entire employee lifecycle—from employer branding and candidate-centered recruiting to onboarding, professional development, and long-term growth opportunities—helping create an environment where employees can thrive while delivering a premium wellness experience to members.
Courtney has spent more than six years with Midtown Athletic Clubs, taking on several leadership roles in learning, development, and talent strategy. One of her most notable achievements was leading the organization’s rollout of the Workday HRIS platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having joined the company just weeks before shutdowns began, she returned from furlough to develop training resources, job aids, and webinars for employees across the company. The successful implementation and rapid adoption of the platform later became a case study for Workday, highlighting the effectiveness of her training strategy and change-management approach.
Her career path reflects a diverse background in education, nonprofit work, and corporate learning. Courtney began her career as an educator through Teach for America and later held roles in nonprofit operations in London before transitioning into corporate learning and development at Uber in Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Ancient Studies from University of Iowa, a master’s degree in education, and a postgraduate certificate in archaeology and heritage from University of Leicester. Known for combining empathy, curiosity, and strategic thinking, Courtney is passionate about building thoughtful people strategies that support both organizational performance and individual growth.
• Kirkpatrick Certified Professional - Bronze Level
• Member of the Association for Talent Development
• Adobe Certified Professional – Adobe Captivate
• Creating and Giving Business Presentations
• Project Management Foundations
• Google Sheets Essential Training
• The Neuroscience of Learning
• Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
• Unconscious Bias
• Provisional Educator Endorsement
• Elementary Education Teaching Certificate
• University of Iowa- B.A.
• University of Leicester
• American University- M.A.T.
• Best Post Winner for March 2021
• Q2 CommOps Support Superstar
• Best Gallery Post Winner for January 2015
• Supervisors’ Merit Cash Award
• Excellent Classroom Visit
• University of Iowa Research Experience for Undergraduates Grant Recipient
• Kirkpatrick Partners Collective
• Association for Talent Development (ATD)
• The British Museum
• Teach for America
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Teach for America Campus
• Americorps
• ALPHA Education
• Charles Dickens Museum
• Washington Capitals
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just because that's the way things have always been done doesn't mean it's not worth another look. When you come into a new industry or a new job, you know, you're kind of expected to accept that 'that's the way things have always been done. That's the way we've always done it here.' Which is great - there's consistency, there's tradition - but that doesn't mean that it's not worth your eyes on it, and that your perspective is valuable. You might be able to pick up something that hundreds of people before you have missed, or spot an opportunity that may not have occurred to anyone else in the past. So, don't be afraid to challenge the status quo, because, again, just because things have always been done a certain way, doesn't mean it doesn't call for another look.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest changes in the field right now is the rise of AI and AI-adjacent roles, which is reshaping job requirements and how job descriptions are written. At the same time, organizations have an opportunity to modernize their processes by ensuring job-description templates, certifications, and HRIS systems remain current, consistent, and aligned with evolving workforce needs.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are respecting people’s time and experience, maintaining consistency and clarity in processes, and fostering continuous learning and growth for colleagues while having the courage to challenge and improve established ways of working. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling with my family, exploring new cultures, hiking and camping outdoors, and recharging through running and reading.