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As an instructional designer who develops and delivers
training programs, Catie Fitzgerald knows how important it
is to grab people’s attention – even if that means ripping
up a $20 bill.
"It was a class on financial literacy for underprivileged
teenage girls," she said. "When I tore it up, they thought I
was crazy." Of course, the opener had gotten them focused,
and over the course of the next four hours, Catie taught
them how to recognize money as opportunity, how to budget
and prioritize spending, and how to plan for their future.
Catie attributes her ability to design and lead effective
training programs to her relentless questioning. By asking
question after question, she helps companies, organizations
and teams articulate their true goals and identify the best
ways to achieve them.
"I help companies put together events that help people
learn their jobs and do them better," Catie said. "If you
get people excited and engaged, a company can achieve
amazing things."
Catie entered the world of training as a salesperson –
then trainer – for Clinique, the cosmetic company. After a
decade with the company, she moved on to become an
investment adviser for Dean Witter, joining an office in
which she was the only woman among 35 stockbrokers. To build
her clientele, she developed a series of popular finance
courses for women investors – and saw her business
skyrocket. Later, she launched her own instructional design
firm, creating and delivering live and web-based training in
a broad range of industries. Topics have included: how to
run effective meetings, sales, customer service, time
management, HR management, finance and leadership skills,
among others. She joined the ROI team in 2010.
Catie earned her BA in Economics from the University of
California, Los Angeles, a certificate in Human Resource
Management from San Jose State University, and a certificate
in Advance E-Learning Instructional Design from the American
Society for Training and Development.
"My whole goal," she said, "is to help people tap into
their own knowledge, tools and resources. I try to teach
them how to fish, so they can use their best skills again
and again." |
