Amanda Michelle Mintz
Title Learning Master
Organization Toyota Financial Services
Location Plano, Texas
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/amandamichellemintz
Education Bachelor's degree in linguistics (Baylor University); master's degree in higher education administration (Florida State University)
Favorite Quote "The illiterate of the future will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." —Alvin Toffler
Amanda Michelle Mintz is a self-proclaimed overzealous learner. She says that her zeal transforms into joy when she has the opportunity to grow and develop others. She started her career on college campuses and now works for Toyota Financial Services as a learning master. No matter where she is, working in L&D is the most tangible way Mintz says she can help people grow into the best version of themselves.
Tell us about your job—what do you like most about it?
I'm part of the Toyota Financial Services Academy. At the academy, we're working to transform the culture of teaching and learning across the organization. Over the next year, the team will roll out a new framework for learning that we are developing with partners across the business. Right now, this is without a doubt the most exciting part of my job.
Designing a new framework for an entire organization's learning is a big undertaking but also a remarkable opportunity. I cannot wait to see how this new framework elevates the department's role in the organization and contributes to a new sense of excitement and engagement from learners.
What L&D trends are you most interested in?
There's so much opportunity to level up the way that we engage learners virtually. My team and I are discovering how to optimize learning—leveraging new technology to increase engagement while making learning more self-directed. I'm excited about the future and what we'll create together. I'm also excited about trends that focus on soft skills.
A challenge for L&D organizations is that it can be difficult to measure the impact of soft-skills-focused learning. In the world today, those skills are becoming more crucial. Since COVID-19, there is no denying that skills like resilience, personal productivity, and change agility will be crucial for any organization's success. But how do we measure it or demonstrate the value of focusing on those areas? That is a trend I'm eager to follow.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
The world—and the way we operate in it—has changed so much over the past couple of years. It's hard to imagine what the next five years may look like. What I can say for sure is that I always want to be in a role that enables others to grow through learning. I see myself continuing to lead in a strategic learning role where I get to ideate, create, and partner to execute on a big vision.
