How We Work
What Makes us Different
We do not shy away from the “real world” nor do we skirt around tough challenges or issues. Our broad background in business and our experience with diverse learning methodologies give you value.
A few key differentiators:
1. Real Needs. To meet specific client needs, we customize all of our programs. Success hinges on an accurate needs assessment and an effective learning strategy. Our goal is to ensure classroom learning easily integrates into workplace realities. Examples of how we accomplish this:
- Telephone interviews with each person prior to the workshop, if it is a team workshop.
- Email questionnaire and communications, if it is an open workshop.
- Analysis of organizational culture and documents to establish suitable learning methodologies.
2. Real Issues.
We bring real business issues into the classroom. We don’t work with case studies; we work with reality. While learning, you work -- dealing with current workplace issues. Using language and situations participants know and live every day, fully engages them in the classroom experience and dramatically increases transfer of learning to the workplace. How we make this happen:
- Pre-work establishes objectives and asks participants to collect information regarding the workshop topic. It involves reading articles or books. Participants also create scenarios based on actual challenging situations for practice and application.
- The most poignant learning often happens as discussions evolve. We throw out agendas, when needed, to address more pressing or relevant issues. Our facilitators expertly guide discussions so participants can think through the issue until clarity for action emerges.
- We tackle highly sensitive topics and situations. Our facilitation skills allow us to work with the individual or group in productive ways to move people forward.
3. Real Support. We also work with participants and the organization to build an effective support system. Such systems ensure that the classroom learning has a successful transition into the workplace. Our standard is to create lasting and meaningful change. Some services include:
- Coaching sessions for individuals or small groups to dramatically increase retention.
- Our newsletter functions to remind people of their learning and to deepen understanding around relevant topics and issues.
- Our webinars offer refreshers without the time or expense of classroom training.
Our Team
| Jacqueline Throop Robinson | Lorie Bergman | Julie Westeinde | Mary Lou Archibald | Brian Patterson |
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Jacqueline is a founding partner of Breakthrough Learning and co-founder of PassionWorks! Her work focuses on strengthening performance at all levels of an organization through individual and team work as well as organization-wide initiatives.
Her philosophy: when people work together in ways that promote meaning, creativity, learning, and progress, we transform our organizations.
Her workshops, facilitations and coaching sessions always support individual needs and goals, as well as the business’s needs and goals. When the two are fully aligned, momentum and results are inevitable.
Jacqueline holds a BA, BFA (in progress), and MA as well as qualifications in adult education. She has numerous accreditations in a wide variety of learning tools and practices. Jacqueline has worked in the learning and development field as well as corporate management for over 20 years. Her clients have included a wide-range of industries around the world from Australia to Singapore to Bermuda to Romania.
Her clients describe her as a “superb facilitator” who is “trustworthy”, “energetic”, and “creative”.
Comments from past clients:
- “You always stimulate such a positive environment; it makes it easy to think creatively.”
- “I so enjoyed the last couple of days, and it was a great “recharge” for me in terms of renewed enthusiasm, energy, passion and ambition for my business.”
- “I want you to know that I am so very grateful for the time we spent together. I especially want you to know that in all of my confusion I gained clarity.”
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Lorie is a founding partner of Breakthrough Learning. Lorie has over twenty years of experience as a Training and Performance Consultant. She has designed, developed, and delivered training programs throughout North America. Her work experience is broad, covering management and front line training for both private and government organizations.
Lorie specializes in customizing training to meet individual and group needs. Her clients always appreciate the time Lorie invests in ensuring she is meeting the right need with the right design. In the classroom, Lorie is personable, approachable, and dynamic. Her participants love her!
Her passion is facilitating the learning of individuals and teams. Lorie’s philosophy centers on empowering participants to understand their capabilities and resourcefulness. She excels in experiential training methods and techniques. Her sense of humour enables her to address issues in the classroom in a manner by which participants can easily engage.
Lorie holds a BA in Linguistics and Psychology and a Certificate in Adult Education and is a member of the Creative Education Foundation. |
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Julie is a founding partner of Breakthrough Learning where she provides a combination of executive coaching, leadership and team development, experiential workshop facilitation, multi-stakeholder consultation, and culture change consulting services.
Julie holds an International Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from ISG in Paris. This was a multi-campus degree for which Julie studied in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Ecuador. Julie’s area of specialization was in human resource development in multi-national organizations; with particular emphasis on the development of global leadership teams, cross-cultural teamwork, and change and diversity management skills. She also holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science(Chemical/ Biochemical) Degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Julie has contributed to transformational change projects around the world. As a facilitator she has facilitated hundreds of meetings, working sessions and conferences. As a coach she has assisted leaders in Asia, Europe and Canada to further develop their people leadership skills and lead in rapidly changing organizational environments. As a consultant and learning facilitator she has worked with executive teams and cross-functional teams in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
In 1999, Julie received Ottawa's “40 Under 40 Award” in recognition of excellence in business and community involvement. Julie is a member of the Creative Education Foundation and a Past President of a Toastmasters club. She is a contributor to NASAGA, an organization committed to furthering the development and application of experiential learning to accelerate individuals’ learning process. |
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Mary Lou is an associate with Breakthrough Learning. A master trainer and product development leader, Mary Lou provides clients with communications, leadership and sales strategies and solutions.
Her philosophy: Mary Lou is passionate about what she teaches and compassionate with clients; develops and delivers structured content yet flexes and adapts to her audience; speaks with confidence and impact while respecting other’s opinions and ideas.
Mary Lou holds a BA, with Honours in English, as well as qualifications in adult education. She has numerous accreditations as a master trainer and international product development leader. Mary Lou has worked in the learning and development field as well as corporate management for over 20 years. Mary Lou is based in Toronto, and has worked with international clients in key sectors including financial, government, technology, retail and manufacturing.
Clients consistently comment on Mary Lou’s passion, knowledge and flexibility. The Director of a global consulting firm recently commented that he learned a lot from her facilitation style. Another client remarked that Mary Lou is a “wonderful facilitator and what she taught will increase my effectiveness in my personal and professional life”.
Mary Lou has been a delegate and presenter at local, national and international events and conferences. In her own community she provides media with insight and information regarding education issues.
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Brian is a partner in Breakthrough Learning (Bermuda) Ltd., the Bermuda affiliate of Breakthrough Learning Associates. His background includes 10 years in the hospitality management industry, and 15 years as a corporate lawyer in Bermuda and Cayman. His professional knowledge and experience, coupled with his intuitive nature, make a solid foundation for his coaching and seminar work.
He is a certified Life Coach and is trained to facilitate several workshops, including Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and McLuhan & Davies’ Think on Your Feet, a business communications seminar. He continues to expand the scope of his certifications, and recently set up Ocean Coaching Ltd. in the Cayman Islands to offer similar services there.
Brian’s direct approach is complemented by his humourous and insightful observations. He brings all of himself to bear in his work, and he has a genuine desire to support the growth and development of his clients, meeting them wherever they are in their journey.
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