Lauren Tidmore

I would say my perseverance, hard work, and determination. I don't let failure get me down, because you will fail a lot - that's just the nature of the game. As long as you keep going when things get hard, then you can learn from your experiences and shape your path forward. I would also say my family has definitely contributed to my success as well. I've always wanted to be a teacher since I was little - my mom bought me an old classroom chalkboard, and she would sit through my lessons. We would go to Goodwill and get teacher editions of books, and that's what I used to teach her. I fear I was a tough grader even then - sorry for all the C's mom! She knew this was always something I've wanted to do, so she really supported me throughout childhood. I loved literature in high school, so I was like, oh, there you go, I'll be an English teacher. But then, as I was teaching, I really enjoyed helping other teachers get ideas for curriculum and work on their lesson plans, and so I got into instructional design when not many people knew what it was. But the field has been exploding since then!

I think when becoming a manager, the best advice was to develop my management style early on. To do this, I really looked at what I liked best about my current and former managers, but more importantly - what I didn't like about them! Once I developed a style that was my own, based on my experiences, I always then checked in with my team to see how they prefer to be managed. The key is flexibility. Leadership is a two-way street; obviously leading how you lead, but then also checking in with your team and learning to be there for them how they need you.

Don't diminish your confidence because someone at the table says you are too much. You have the skills, you have the drive, and you have what it takes to be where you are. So many times I would have colleagues say I need a softer approach, and that I had a lot to learn about corporate life; but then three weeks later they were doing exactly what I said to do from the start! Learn to be flexible - instructional design relies on flexibility - but remember to trust your instincts and be the best you that you can be.

One of the biggest challenges is over-saturation. A lot of teachers are leaving the profession to get into instructional design, so figure out what sets you apart and lean into that. One thing I encourage everyone to have is a portfolio. It doesn't have to be anything too fancy, but something that focuses on what you can do and what you have done. Including your instructional design principles is definitely important too! Craft your brand and run with it.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are creativity, curiosity, and finding joy in the details. I love creative outlets like scrapbooking, photography, and even building intricate fairy houses using natural objects I find outside. Those hobbies remind me to stay imaginative and observant, which also influences how I approach problem-solving and learning in my professional life. I believe creativity and curiosity help keep both my work and life meaningful and inspiring.