Sebrina Riley is an IDOL Academy student living in Dubai who is using her time in the program to create meaningful impact. As a former music teacher, Sebrina was looking to transition into a more flexible career that would allow her to pursue her creative interests. She found IDOL Academy and was immediately drawn to the program's focus on building valuable skills and real-world experience.

Joining cohort 19 in September, Sebrina has been impressed by the supportive community of fellow students and the dedication of the IDOL mentors.

"The people in my cohort are really great, and Ashley's courses have been amazing," Sebrina shared. "She just has a way of really understanding what students need and providing that extra level of support."

That support has been crucial as Sebrina has taken on an exciting client project with Discover Dogs, a small business in Canada that specializes in dog accessories, nutrition, and education. Sebrina connected with the company through outreach and was immediately drawn to Discover Dogs' mission of prioritizing community and sustainability over sales.

"I love dogs, so this has been the perfect fit," Sebrina explained. "The company is so accommodating, and they've really empowered me to take the lead on creating training for their new employees."

Sebrina is focusing the training on soft skills like customer interaction, recognizing that product knowledge can be learned over time, but building a strong foundation in client communication is key. Using a blend of her own experiences and insights gathered from Discover Dogs' staff, Sebrina is crafting an interactive training course that will help new hires feel confident and prepared to provide an exceptional customer experience. And she's leveraging tools like Google Docs and ChatGPT to streamline the writing process while maintaining her own unique voice.

"I'm really proud of the work I'm doing for Discover Dogs," Sebrina shared. "It's so rewarding to be able to apply what I'm learning at IDOL Academy to a real business that I genuinely care about. I can see myself continuing to pursue opportunities in the animal space in the future."

As Sebrina navigates the final stages of her IDOL Academy journey, she's grateful for the flexibility the program has provided and the chance to explore her passions. With her creative flair and dedication to making a difference, there's no doubt Sebrina will continue to thrive, both in her studies and in her burgeoning instructional design career.