CLASS-
Consulting
presents
Your LEAD Mentor
Learning, Education , & Development Mentorship & Support
A Mentor for Your Journey as a LEAD Professional
My Name is Makeda Payne, M.Ed.
Instructional Design is a field without a single doorway. Many of us arrive here from teaching, HR, graphic design, IT, higher education, or roles that had nothing to do with learning at all. Because of that, most designers enter the field without a shared foundation — and without someone to help them understand what the work truly requires.
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Your LEAD Mentor is my way of filling that gap.
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This space is where I share the frameworks, tools, stories, and practical guidance that have shaped my own career as a designer, consultant, and educator. Whether you’re new to the field or deep into your practice, my goal is to help you grow your clarity, sharpen your judgment, and strengthen your craft.
The LEAD Philosophy
LEAD stands for Learning, Education, And Development — three disciplines that are often treated as separate, but are deeply interconnected.
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Across my work in classrooms, universities, corporate teams, and consulting environments, I’ve learned that no matter the setting or audience, the core purpose is the same:
to design learning experiences that help people grow.
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The LEAD Philosophy is my response to the fragmentation in our field. Instead of dividing ourselves by role or environment, I focus on the shared principles that make learning effective, meaningful, and human.
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This philosophy is the foundation of everything I offer as Your LEAD Mentor.
LEAD Advice, Tips, Tools, & Resources
Each week, I share insights, frameworks, and practical guidance for instructional designers and learning professionals. You’ll also find new tools introduced here first — practical resources you can use immediately to strengthen your work and deepen your practice.
This space will soon include a growing library of practical tools, templates, and guides designed to support your work as a learning professional. Each tool is introduced through the YLM Blog first, then expanded into a downloadable mini‑toolkit you can use immediately in your projects.
How can we help you?
With over 25 years of experience in Learning & Development, curriculum design, facilitation, and holistic growth work, Makeda offers a unique blend of professional expertise and human‑centered insight. Whether you’re an organization seeking transformational learning experiences or an individual looking for clarity and alignment, there’s a path here for you.
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Speaking & Mentorship
I offer workshops, talks, and mentorship for teams and organizations seeking to strengthen their learning culture, improve instructional design practices, or build internal capability. If you’d like to explore working together, I’d love to connect.
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Portfolio & Case Studies
Explore selected projects that highlight work in instructional design, leadership development, and transformational learning experiences.
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If you’d like updates on new posts, tools, and resources from Your LEAD Mentor, you can join the email list and choose the path that aligns with you.
