Diana Fowler
Associate Vice President – Development
As Associate Vice President – Development, I lead a talented and multi-faceted team of Instructional Designers and Writers, Course Developers, Graphic Designers and Artists, Programmers, and Quality Controllers. I recruit, train, and mentor these guys to work with project managers to execute and successfully deliver the projects that the sales team brings in. I'm also the Account Manager for a couple of our clients, and I handle the project management for them and other clients as well.
My typical day at work: The moment I walk into office, I am welcomed by the pleasant buzz of activity. I start off typically having quick meetings with my team members – discussing new projects, doubts on storyboards, inputs for GUIs, Project Managers asking for resources—the list is endless! With a cup of coffee in my hand, I start attacking these tasks one by one. In the middle of it all, there is a resource meeting to call for or an induction to take, or a brainstorming session with my team on which methodology works best for a new client. This multitasking keeps my adrenaline pumping all day!
I am an Instructional Designer at heart, so I always enjoy being hands-on and working on prototypes. I also use my more-than-basic knowledge of Flash to dabble with some GUI designs and high-level design.
I enjoy talking to my clients and getting into discussions with them as well, and a lot of my time goes into resolving their queries, and initiating new project discussions.
My work mantra: Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time. It must be a goal so appealing, so much in line with your spiritual core that you can't get it out of your mind. If you do not get chills when you set a goal, you're not setting big enough goals. I am never satisfied with the ordinary. I always aim for more and this is something I have tried to inculcate in my team as well. Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.
Where I come from: I have over 12 years of work experience, with my first stint in eLearning in 2006 with Upside Learning. Here is where I got a taste of the eLearning industry and found my calling, as they say. I never thought it would work out for me, but I'm glad I stuck around because I cannot imagine doing anything else! Being part of this company also gave me the opportunity to belong to a team that won a prestigious eLearning award.
I have developed eLearning courses for clients across various domains like banking and finance, soft skills, product, sales and service, social care, engineering, occupational health and safety, and application training, among many others.
I have also been part of the Human Resource and Recruitment industry for a long time. The added experience of doing some marketing, teaching, and career counseling, along with tons of other little stuff, contributes to the professional I am today.
When I'm not doing eLearning: I love music and enjoy heading over to my favorite joint to unwind with some friends. There's nothing better than music and good conversation to help me unwind! A drive to a private getaway with my family also serves up some much needed relaxation after a long week. Like they say, work hard and party harder!