Individual Life and Financial Services (ILFS) Foundations

Project Overview – From Surface Knowledge to Deep Understanding

Role: Lead Instructional Designer, Project Manager, and Multimedia Developer
(Timeline: 8 weeks | Tools: Storyline, Rise, Office 365, Canva, HeyGen, ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, Adobe Creative Suite, Midjourney, Nano Banana, Kahoot)

At OneAmerica Financial, many associates understood their own roles but struggled to see the broader picture… how products like life insurance, annuities, and long-term care truly benefit customers and how their daily work supports the company’s purpose of championing lives. The ILFS Foundations program was created to close that gap, giving new hires and existing associates a deep, connected understanding of how the Independent Life and Financial Services division operates and why it matters.

I led every aspect of the project—from analysis, stakeholder engagement, and design to development and facilitation—creating a blended learning experience with gamified virtual check-ins, discussion cohorts, and interactive Rise modules. The week-long cadence encouraged reflection, practice, and conversation, turning product knowledge into practical insight and cultural alignment.

Stakeholders were thrilled by both the speed and quality of delivery, calling the experience “transformational” for onboarding and employee engagement. The program is now positioned for pilot and train-the-trainer rollout, setting a new benchmark for foundational learning within the organization.

The Results

Strong stakeholder enthusiasm, rapid adoption, and high learner engagement confirmed the program’s impact… proof that thoughtful design and storytelling can turn foundational business training into a unifying, pride-building experience that deepens connection to the OneAmerica Financial mission.

Project Highlights

  • Doing More With Less – Rapid Innovation Under Pressure

    Doing More With Less – Rapid Innovation Under Pressure

    When the team experienced layoffs, I led the project solo… covering design, development, media, and stakeholder engagement that had previously required four specialists. I used agile methods and creative tooling to deliver exceptional value, proving that innovation and efficiency can thrive even under resource constraints.

  • Rebuilding Trust Through Structure and Cadence

    Rebuilding Trust Through Structure and Cadence

    The business had struggled with previous training experiences, so I reset expectations through transparent communication and consistent check-ins. By establishing a clear cadence for collaboration and iteration, I rebuilt stakeholder trust and changed leadership’s perception of what our learning team could deliver.

  • From Chaos to Clarity – Building a Unified Learning Path

    From Chaos to Clarity – Building a Unified Learning Path

    With limited and fragmented source materials spread across websites, SharePoint pages, and legacy documents, I acted as both instructional detective and designer. The result was a cohesive, story-driven learning path that connected business processes, products, and purpose into one unified foundation.

  • Storytelling That Connects Work to Purpose

    Storytelling That Connects Work to Purpose

    To make financial concepts meaningful, I introduced a narrative following a real customer through the entire policy lifecycle. This story helped learners see how their roles connect to real human outcomes—turning abstract products into relatable, purpose-driven work.

  • Visualizing the Policy Lifecycle

    Visualizing the Policy Lifecycle

    I visualized and built the Policy Process Lifecycle, a clear model showing how policies move from distributors to claims. This framework became a teaching and reference tool, giving learners a tangible way to understand how their work supports OneAmerica Financial’s broader mission.

  • Building an AI Assistant for Instructional Design

    Building an AI Assistant for Instructional Design

    I leveraged ChatGPT to build a custom instructional design assistant, using only non-proprietary public information to accelerate content development and script generation. This allowed me to scale production, test ideas faster, and maintain compliance with internal AI usage standards.

  • Prototype First – Designing With Stakeholders, Not for Them

    Prototype First – Designing With Stakeholders, Not for Them

    Once scripts were approved, I produced key media segments early to validate tone and modality choices with stakeholders. Live review sessions ensured alignment and helped demystify instructional design decisions, improving collaboration and buy-in.

  • Video as the Voice of Learning

    Video as the Voice of Learning

    I produced nearly two hours of original video content in Canva, combining visuals, narration, and motion to bring financial concepts to life. These videos anchored each Rise module, reinforced key ideas, and created a consistent, engaging rhythm across the learning experience.

  • Reflection That Drives Retention

    Reflection That Drives Retention

    Each module and guide concluded with structured reflection prompts to deepen understanding and encourage dialogue during live sessions. This element transformed content consumption into active learning, helping participants connect insights to their roles and real-world impact.

Key Takeaways
Turning Company Knowledge into Brand Confidence

Impact:
ILFS Foundations bridged a long-standing knowledge gap across OneAmerica Financial, helping associates see not just what they do, but why it matters. The program earned strong praise from senior leaders for its quality, speed, and engagement… proof that strategic design and clear storytelling can unify understanding and strengthen organizational culture.


Lessons Learned:
Developing a foundational program during a period of restructuring demanded creativity, efficiency, and persistence. I learned how to maximize limited resources through rapid iteration, AI-assisted scripting, and smart media reuse, demonstrating that excellence doesn’t depend on team size… it depends on focus and ingenuity.


Strengths Demonstrated:
This project highlights my ability to lead full-cycle instructional design—from stakeholder engagement and content architecture to multimedia production and facilitation strategy. It showcases strengths in problem-solving, blended learning design, AI integration, and stakeholder communication, all driving measurable confidence and alignment within the business.


Reflection:
What began as a necessary skills program evolved into a cornerstone of cultural understanding, a learning experience that connects people, products, and purpose. It reaffirmed my belief that when learning is well-designed and rooted in empathy, it doesn’t just teach… it transforms how employees see themselves within the mission.