From Classroom to Corporate Learning With Jessica Smith

Ever wondered how a teacher’s instincts translate into real business value? We sit down with Jessica Smith, a former secondary Spanish teacher turned corporate instructional designer at ADP, to unpack the exact moves that make the leap from education to L&D not just possible, but powerful. From scoping with SMEs to beating scope creep, Jessica shows how to define clear performance outcomes, audit existing materials, and pick formats that fit the workflow instead of slowing it down.If you’re curious about transitioning to corporate instructional design, you will get a concrete seven-day plan: scan job descriptions to map skills, test-drive tools with free trials, build a tiny practice project on a topic you love, and connect with mentors and communities on LinkedIn. You’ll hear why employers often value thinking and process over polish, how to structure stakeholder check-ins to prevent last-minute surprises, and the mindset shift that keeps you adaptable when tools change.Join us for a candid, practical roadmap to modern L&D, rooted in the same core insight that drives great teaching: know what the learner needs to do, then remove everything that gets in the way. If this conversation sparks ideas, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review to help more educators find their path into L&D.📢 Call-to-Action: Are you thinking of moving from the academic world to learning and design in the private sector? You have transferable skills! Send Jackie a TextJoin PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support.☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription. 🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above. 👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!