Erica Swiatek

About Erica Swiatek

As a Learning & Development (L&D) Strategist, I have a proven track record of delivering both personable and measurable impact. My work in talent development and leadership pipelines has increased promotion readiness by 60% and strengthened leadership competencies by 25%.My path began early—playing “school” with my sister at age nine—and has since grown into a career I love. Over time, I’ve held roles such as Training & Optimization Manager, Talent Development Specialist, and Organizational Development Consultant, leading initiatives in instructional design, curriculum development, e-learning, blended learning, and leadership development. I’ve managed large-scale training programs, conducted needs assessments, and applied adult learning theory across diverse industries.Highlights of my experience include:• Leading a team of 20 to design scalable learning solutions for 1,500+ employees.• Driving succession planning, performance management, and career development to strengthen leadership pipelines.• Designing and delivering Leadership Programs, At-Risk Youth Programs and several standalone courses. As well as team-building sessions or interventions utilizing MBTI, FourSight, DiSC, Change Style Indicator, Hogan, Conflict Management models, Working Agreements and personalized sessions to enhance team effectiveness.• Applying Accelerated Learning, ADDIE, Kirkpatrick, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and gamification to boost training effectiveness.• Optimizing Saba/Cornerstone LMS and leveraging tools such as Articulate Rise and Adobe Captivate to deliver engaging e-learning.Beyond traditional L&D, I thrive in organizational development (OD)—driving change management, organizational culture, strategic planning, and process improvement. My expertise also includes project and program management, facilitation, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.Grounded in my M.S. in Creativity and Change Leadership, I believe in the transformative power of creative problem solving and playfulness. This philosophy has shaped unique projects, including publishing on adult learning and the effectiveness of combining it with play, founding an escape room business that included creating Escape the Meeting, a portable gamified team experience where participants strengthen communication, problem solving, and self-awareness.Ultimately, I bring together adult learning science, leadership development, and innovative design to build high-performing teams and deliver solutions that drive organizational growth, employee engagement, and measurable business results.

Experience

1. Lecturer

   Buffalo State University

   Jan 2013 — Present

   Teach graduate-level Creative Problem Solving to 12–30 students annually, building creative behaviors like deferring judgment; students apply tools in meetings, personal goals, professional projects, and classrooms, strengthening innovation across education and workplace contexts.Consistently earn top student evaluation scores, leading to recurring invitations to return as faculty each academic year.

Education

• Buffalo State University

  M.S, Creative Studies

• Niagara County Community College

  Associates, Accounting

• Niagara University

  BS, Hotel & Restaurant Administration with a Minor in Computer Information Systems

Skills

• Time Management
• Quality Assurance
• Business Analysis
• Software Documentation
• Problem Solving
• Budgets
• Lectora
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Customer Service
• Project Management
• Leadership Development
• Analysis
• Human Resources
• Organizational Development
• Employee Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Training
• Captivate
• Change Management
• Blended Learning
• Process Improvement
• E-Learning
• Innovation
• Creative Problem Solving
• Training Delivery
• Insurance
• Vendor Management
• Consulting
• Staff Development
• Call Centers
• Workshop Facilitation
• Instructional Design
• Business Process
• Microsoft Word
• Team Leadership
• Coaching
• Management Development