Mid-Atlantic Series: Maximizing This Moment: Instructional Designers Harnessing the Trifecta of EQ, Design Thinking & AI

Maximizing This Moment: Instructional Designers Harnessing the Trifecta of EQ, Design Thinking & AI

Event Description

Now is the moment for instructional designers to embrace the powerful trifecta of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Design Thinking, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—with Learner Experience Design (LxD) as the connective framework that ties them together. In today’s environment, learners expect not just content, but meaningful, engaging, and adaptive experiences.

In this session we will reveal how EQ drives empathy-based research to uncover learner needs, how design thinking translates those insights into innovative prototypes, and how LxD provides the structure to ensure clarity, motivation, inclusivity, and flow. AI then steps in as the enabler—personalizing pathways, scaling impact, and providing adaptive feedback—while EQ keeps the experience human-centered. Together, these approaches allow instructional designers to maximize this moment, delivering learning that is not only future-ready but profoundly human.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1.Map the Trifecta in Action – Show how EQ, Design Thinking, and AI connect within Learner Experience Design (LxD) to create stronger, more human-centered learning.

2.Design with Empathy and Structure – Use EQ insights and design thinking to shape learner-centered prototypes that align with LxD principles.

3.Activate AI as an Enabler – Integrate AI tools for personalization and feedback while keeping EQ and LxD at the core of the learning experience.

Speaker Bio: Wanda Scott Erinle

Wanda began her career as a network engineer, implementing systems and solutions for private sector and government clients. In her industry, she encountered the challenges of being a Black woman in technology—experiences that pushed her to strengthen and rely on her emotional intelligence long before EQ was widely valued in corporate America. What began as a personal tool soon became a professional differentiator.

As Wanda discovered her passion for not just training but truly developing people, her career evolved. She layered Human-Centered Design (HCD) and now AI onto her deep foundation of emotional intelligence, creating a powerful blend of technical and human-centered expertise.

Today, Wanda inspires learners of all ages—from challenging college students at Johns Hopkins’ Summer Business Academy to consider if AI & HCD can co-exist, to speaking at the 2024 Workforce Development Conference on optimizing workforce excellence with systems and online tools. Through her company, WE Consulting Solutions, she publishes The Design Difference newsletter and delivers programs that merge EQ, design, and technology to help individuals and organizations unleash their potential.

Link to Speaker's Website: https://weconsultingsolutions.com/

Link to Speaker's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wandalscott/

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This monthly webinar series is offered by the ATD Mid-Atlantic Chapters – Regional Programs Consortium which is comprised of the following eleven ATD chapters: 

1. Appalachia

2. Buffalo Niagara

3. Central PA

4. Greater Philadelphia

5. Long Island

6. Maryland

7. Metro DC

8. Mid NJ

9. New York City

10. Northern NJ

11. Pittsburgh

Cooperatively, these chapters bring together the very best speakers from around all our networks to provide world-class presenters and content!  We look forward to sharing these webinars with you for the rest of 2025! 

Online Event Recording Policy:

By activating your webcam while attending this online event, you consent to be recorded. Your entry and webcam activation constitutes your consent to such recording for any purpose in connection with the event. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not activate your web camera during the event.

ATD Buffalo Niagara Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program qualifies for a maximum of 1 point.