Autobiography

I was born in Colombia, a fun and vibrant country known for its orchids and coffee, where people greet you with warmth and friendliness that’s hard not to fall in love with. I studied Financial Engineering there at Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga and worked in a few banks before moving to New York City, where I thought I’d finally get to see the world and grow in the financial world!

My plan was to become proficient in English so I could pursue an MBA. Twenty years later, and after experiences in real estate, HR, and safety, I discovered a true passion for teaching and learning. I realized I enjoyed making complex topics fun and accessible and found great satisfaction in this process. This realization led me to join the Coca-Cola Company to pursue my interest in training working as a Training Consultant.

  • As I mentioned, I originally came to the U.S. to pursue an MBA, but life had other plans. The idea of going back to school stayed with me, but I was “busy doing life,” and after a few years, I wasn’t even sure an MBA was what I wanted anymore. Hearing stories of people who started new pursuits later in life inspired me back—those examples reminded me it’s never too late to chase what you’re passionate about, even if it means switching careers to find your purpose. I started looking for a master’s program to build my skills, which brought me to the University of Georgia. My goal was to gain the expertise to design learning programs for the corporate world, helping adults grow professionally while making a positive impact at work.  I’m now proud to be among those who took a leap, and I hope to encourage others to step out of their comfort zones. Formal education has its own unique challenges, but the growth it brings is invaluable. While it does come with stress, it also makes you feel alive and pushes you forward.

    The program at the University of Georgia surprised me in many wonderful ways. After nearly two decades away from formal education, I felt a bit rusty and had even started to believe I wasn’t creative—a concern, considering this was a design-focused program! But it was in a Design Thinking class, one of my favorites, where I realized creativity is like a muscle: the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. This realization is one significant takeaway from my journey at UGA. It’s a reminder that with persistence, you can develop skills and grow in ways you never expected.

    Through the program, I developed many new skills, including videography and editing, project management, and proficiency with eLearning tools like Articulate 360. I also gained expertise in instructional design processes, including ADDIE and the Successive Approximation Model. A topic that unexpectedly capture my interest was Human Performance Technology (HPT), since my main goal is to bring instructional design into corporate settings, HPT provided me invaluable insights, offering a broader understanding of how instructional design can impact corporate environments. For my HPT course, I conducted a needs assessment at Coca-Cola’s Atlanta Syrup Plant, it was eye-opening to see how analyzing data could pinpoint specific needs and help improve performance across the organization.

    Additionally, I had the privilege of working with a team on a project for the IT department at UGA, EITS. Our goal was to create an instructional aid for about 700 users of UGA’s IT ticketing system application. This project required us to analyze, design, and develop a comprehensive instructional solution. It was incredibly rewarding to see our work come together. We were even honored to receive the NSU Award for Outstanding Instructional Design by a Graduate Student from the AECT’s Design and Development Division.

    Finally, one of the most valuable skills I gained through this journey was a “can-do” attitude. While challenging at times, it’s been an amazing journey. The experience taught me that true growth often happens in those difficult moments. I’m incredibly grateful to the professors at UGA for their guidance, my family —especially my husband—for their unwavering support and love, and to God, who sustained me through it all. I look forward to continuing my journey of growth from here on. Eternally grateful and ready to make an impact!

    ~ Paula

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