New York, New York
hello@derintolu.com
derintolu.com
(917) 297-7692

Derin Tolu, Learning Experience Designer

I am Derin Tolu, a Digital Experience Designer passionate about crafting digital journeys that educate, persuade, delight, and drive tangible outcomes. With my unique blend of creativity and strategic insight, I shape experiences that resonate deeply with audiences. Every interaction I design aims to be meaningful and memorable, reflecting my holistic and results-oriented approach in the digital design landscape.

Work Experience

Jul 2022 - Current

Century 21 Real Estate Alliance, VP Digital Services

Jul 2022 - Current

Leadership & Strategy:

Spearheaded both the Marketing and Technology departments, ensuring seamless integration of strategies and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Championed strategic digital initiatives to enhance company visibility, optimize operational efficiency, and boost overall growth. MoxiWorks Platform Management:

Led the company-wide adoption of the MoxiWorks platform, ensuring it becomes an integral part of the brokerage's digital landscape. Offered continuous support to agents by conducting regular training sessions, troubleshooting platform-related issues, and actively promoting its adoption. Pushed the envelope of the MoxiWorks product, experimenting and exploring to maximize its technical potential for our brokerage's unique needs. Done-For-You Service Development:

Pioneered and managed the "Done For You" service, providing agents with bespoke website creations tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Supervised a team dedicated to designing, developing, and deploying agent sites that are not only functional but also resonate with their target audience. Training & Content Creation:

Curated custom training modules aligned with new company initiatives, ensuring agents stay abreast of the latest industry trends and practices. Reimagined content presentation, introducing innovative methods to engage agents and improve information retention and application. Continuous Innovation:

Regularly scouted for novel techniques and platforms to present content in the most engaging and effective manner, ensuring the company's digital offerings remain at the forefront of industry standards.

Jul 2021 - Oct 2021

Beyond Agency, Learning Experience Designer

Jul 2021 - Oct 2021

Responsibilities & Achievements:

Collaborative Teamwork:

Actively collaborated within a multi-disciplinary team, bringing together diverse skill sets to create bespoke e-learning modules tailored to clients' specific needs. Played a key role in fostering a high-energy, cohesive team environment, consistently delivering projects on or ahead of schedule, exemplifying our capability to crush deadlines. E-Learning Design & Development:

Engaged in end-to-end e-learning module creation, from understanding client requirements to designing, developing, and deploying tailor-made courses. Employed innovative instructional design techniques and cutting-edge technology tools to produce high-quality e-learning content. Diversity & Inclusion Project:

Spearheaded the design and execution of a comprehensive set of 11 diversity and inclusion courses tailored for a high-profile client in the streaming industry. Successfully met the unique challenges of this project, ensuring the content was both engaging and insightful, thereby solidifying Beyond’s reputation in delivering top-tier specialized e-learning modules. Quality & Aesthetics:

Ensured all e-learning modules produced aligned with Beyond's commitment to quality, combining informative content with aesthetically pleasing designs to enhance user engagement and learning outcomes. Client Relationship Management:

Built and maintained strong relationships with clients, ensuring their requirements were met while also suggesting improvements or enhancements when appropriate. Regularly liaised with clients throughout the e-learning development process, ensuring their vision was realized and expectations were consistently exceeded. Skills: E-Learning Development, Instructional Design, Team Collaboration, Project Management, Diversity & Inclusion Training, Client Relations, Deadline Management.

Feb 2020 - Aug 2020

Palo Alto Networks, Learning Experience Designer

Feb 2020 - Aug 2020

Responsibilities & Achievements:

Multiple Project Management:

Led and executed three distinct projects for Palo Alto Networks, each catering to a different set of stakeholders and unique objectives. Stakeholder Relationship Management:

Seamlessly integrated into Palo Alto Networks' internal structure, managing stakeholder relationships from project initiation to completion. Built and nurtured strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring open communication, mutual understanding, and alignment on project goals and deliverables. Course Development and Delivery:

Directed the design, development, and delivery of four high-quality courses for the company. Collaborated closely with stakeholders at every phase of the course creation process, ensuring their vision was accurately realized and all requirements were met. Team Collaboration:

Fostered a collaborative environment with both internal and external teams, ensuring efficient workflow, timely deliveries, and high-quality outcomes. Quality Assurance and Feedback Loop:

Instituted regular review checkpoints with stakeholders, gathering feedback and making necessary adjustments, ensuring final deliverables were both up to standard and met client satisfaction.

Aug 2016 - Jul 2017

WeWork, Training Design and Development Specialist

Aug 2016 - Jul 2017

Responsibilities & Achievements:

E-Learning Development:

Played an instrumental role in a pioneering team that established WeWork's e-learning infrastructure from scratch. Authored, designed, and successfully launched over 100 e-learning courses, showcasing versatility in catering to diverse learning needs and objectives. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration:

Managed and nurtured relationships with stakeholders across multiple departments. Collaborated closely with the cybersecurity and facilities teams, leading the rollout of their maiden company-wide e-learning initiatives. Research & Course Optimization:

Spearheaded research initiatives to gather feedback from learners, ensuring courses were engaging, relevant, and effective. Utilized feedback to refine and optimize course content and delivery methods, ensuring continuous improvement and heightened learner satisfaction. Onboarding Process Enhancement:

Took a proactive interest in streamlining WeWork's onboarding process, recognizing its pivotal role in employee integration and productivity. Partnered with regional learning managers to design and implement specialized onboarding portals for each region, ensuring a localized and efficient onboarding experience for new hires. Team Dynamics & Project Division:

Contributed to a dynamic team environment where responsibilities were effectively divided based on expertise and strengths. Led multiple projects autonomously, ensuring timely completion, stakeholder satisfaction, and adherence to WeWork's high-quality standards. Skills: E-Learning Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Research & Feedback Analysis, Onboarding Process Optimization, Project Management, Team Collaboration, Course Authoring.

Jul 2015 - Feb 2016

Leo Learning, Contract Learning Designer

Jul 2015 - Feb 2016

Leo Learning, Contract Learning Designer I served as the Managing Learning Designer for the compliance e-learning course update and redesign for high profile client.

Successfully updated and co-authored 15 compliance elearning courses Managed a large scale e-learning project with 2 stakeholders and 15 subject matter experts 30 courses through Alpha, Beta, and Final reviews Developed 15 of the 30 courses Oversaw the translation of all the courses in the project

Jun 2014 - May 2015

ShopKeep, Training Specialist

Jun 2014 - May 2015

Promotion & Role Transition:

Advanced from the role of Customer Care Associate, earning a promotion to Training Specialist within a few months due to exceptional performance and potential. Customer Care Training Program:

Pioneered the design and development of the Customer Care training program. Achieved a significant 45% increase in agent onboarding efficiency, streamlining the learning curve and facilitating quicker role assimilation. Product Training Creation:

Strategically conceptualized and executed a comprehensive product training program, ensuring agents were adept in understanding and promoting Shopkeep products. Training Materials & Content Development:

Authored robust training content for various roles within the company, including mentorship guidelines, supervisor training, and managerial development materials. Created and curated engaging video content to enhance training module interactivity and effectiveness. Data-Driven Training Initiatives:

Implemented novel training approaches based on thorough assessment data analysis and feedback, catering to the unique needs of the workforce. Identified learners needing additional guidance and provided tailored coaching, ensuring their seamless transition and competence. Knowledge Management:

Spearheaded the creation and curation of an internal knowledge base, along with other technical documentation, promoting a culture of continuous learning and self-service. Candidate Assessment:

Designed pre-screening evaluations for potential candidates, facilitating the recruitment of competent and fitting talent for the company. Strategic Alignment:

Ensured all training content and initiatives were congruent with departmental objectives and overarching company goals, fostering uniform growth and goal realization. Skills: Training Program Design, Onboarding Efficiency, Content Creation, Video Curation, Individualized Coaching, Knowledge Management, Candidate Assessment, Strategic Alignment.

Jan 2014 - Mar 2014

Dubai International Academy , Training Consulatant

Jan 2014 - Mar 2014

iMovie Introduction & Basic Film Editing:

Designed a comprehensive course introducing participants to iMovie, covering its tools and functionalities. Facilitated hands-on sessions, guiding learners through the foundational elements of film editing and ensuring they could confidently produce and edit short films. FinalCutPro & Film Editing Introduction:

Developed an in-depth course on FinalCutPro, diving into its advanced features and capabilities. Led participants through practical exercises, instilling a robust understanding of film editing techniques and best practices. Integrating Technology in Classroom (For Teachers):

Conceptualized and delivered a specialized course tailored for educators, focusing on leveraging iMovie, Keynote, and other relevant technologies to enhance classroom experiences. Equipped teachers with the skills to incorporate multimedia presentations, video content, and interactive lessons into their teaching methodologies, promoting student engagement and comprehension. Skills: Course Development, Film Editing, Multimedia Integration

Oct 2011 - Apr 2013

Apple Inc., Creative Trainer

Oct 2011 - Apr 2013

One to One Training Service:

Oversaw all facets of the One to One training service, ensuring consistent, high-quality personalized training for customers. Certified Software Training:

Achieved certification as an Apple Software Trainer, showcasing proficiency and expertise in Apple's suite of software. Personal & Group Training:

Conducted personalized training sessions covering the comprehensive Apple ecosystem. Orchestrated group training sessions, adeptly crafting lesson plans in real-time based on the unique requirements of attending customers. Mastered the art of training diverse groups with varying skill levels, learning preferences, and needs, ensuring everyone's objectives were met. Training Strategies & Development:

Formulated effective strategies for training sessions, catering to a mixed audience with different proficiencies and expectations. Designed tailor-made training modules for small businesses under Apple Retail's Joint Venture program, ensuring their unique needs were addressed. Genius Bar Support & Repairs:

Offered hands-on technical support and repair services for Apple’s mobile devices at the Genius Bar, ensuring swift resolutions and maintaining customer satisfaction. Technical Support & Problem Solving:

Addressed minor software glitches, proposed inventive solutions for Apple ID login challenges, and consistently delivered top-tier customer service as part of the Genius Bar team. Skills: Apple Software Training, Personalized Training Facilitation, Group Training Development, Technical Support, Problem Solving, Hardware Repair, Customer Service Excellence.

Sep 2010 - Oct 2011

Apple Inc., Specialist

Sep 2010 - Oct 2011
  • Developed innovative strategies to build sales floor into a world-class shopping experience
  • Ranked in top 10% as active member of high performing sales team
  • Was a member of the Workshop team and delivered presentation style workshops to customers
  • Drove ownership by finding complete solutions for customer’s technological needs
  • Worked in the call center directing calls to technical support and providing timely solutions for customers over the phone

Education

Feb 2016 - Jun 2016

Springboard, Bootcamp UX Design

Feb 2016 - Jun 2016

Springboard online course is self-paced and mentor guided. You meet with the mentor once a week to and create 3 different projects while you learn from their content. https://www.springboard.com/workshops/ux-design

Sep 2004 - May 2009

The University of Findlay, Bachelor of Arts Theatre

Sep 2004 - May 2009

Stage Performances:

Regularly showcased acting prowess by performing in approximately two live stage productions every semester, drawing positive feedback and contributing to the success of each production. Versatility in Theatre Roles:

Gained hands-on experience in nearly every conceivable theatre role, from acting to backstage responsibilities, demonstrating versatility and comprehensive knowledge of theatre operations. Behind-the-Scenes Responsibilities:

Contributed extensively to the success of productions by undertaking various off-stage roles such as stage management, set design, lighting, sound, and prop coordination, showcasing a holistic understanding of theatrical productions. Team Collaboration:

Worked collaboratively with diverse teams, including directors, fellow actors, stage crew, and technical staff, ensuring seamless productions and fostering a conducive creative environment.

Skills

  • Learning Experience Design
  • eLearning Content Development
  • Interactive Content Marketing
  • WordPress Design and Management
  • Essential WordPress Development
  • Knowledgebase Management and Development
  • Presentation Design and Management
  • Employee Training
  • Technical Support
  • Basic HTML & CSS
  • Customer Service
  • Social Media Engagement
  • Basic Audio Production
  • Markdown Formatting Syntax
  •  Final Cut Pro Certified
  •  Keynote Certified
  • Turkish Native Speaker
  • Design Thinking
  • Process Improvement