Design experiences, not just workshops ft. Romy Alexandra | #ADAW Ep. 04

In this episode, I sit down with Romi Alexandra—learning experience designer, facilitator, and advocate for participant-centered education—to explore what it takes to create truly transformational learning experiences. Romi shares her approach to intentional design, emphasizing the importance of emotional engagement, experiential learning, and music as a tool to deepen connection and retention.We unpack how debriefing, cultural sensitivity, and reflection anchor learning, and how facilitators can craft environments that center the participant’s lived experience. Romi also shares best practices for designing workshops that don’t just inform, but transform, with practical advice on balancing client needs, fostering accountability, and igniting curiosity through thoughtful questioning.📌 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:00:00 – Creating Transformational Learning Experiences02:50 – The Role of Facilitation in Learning06:08 – Experiential Learning and Emotional Engagement09:00 – The Power of Music in Learning12:04 – Debriefing and Reflection in Learning14:55 – Asking Questions to Enhance Learning18:00 – Emotional States and Learning Design21:05 – Participant-Centered Learning23:53 – Transformative Learning through Experience27:07 – Connecting Emotions to Learning Outcomes31:09 – Participant-Centered Design Approach32:31 – Balancing Client Needs and Design Constraints33:48 – The Importance of Experiential Learning35:30 – Navigating Client Expectations and Participant Needs37:17 – The Role of Novelty in Learning Experiences40:08 – Designing Peak Moments in Workshops43:10 – Ensuring Post-Workshop Accountability49:05 – Cultural Sensitivity in Facilitation53:38 – Best Practices for Facilitators✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻: • How to design workshops that prioritize transformation over information • Why emotional engagement and reflection are essential to retention • The power of music and novelty in learning environments • Why asking questions first unlocks deeper learning • How to balance client demands with human-centered design • The importance of post-workshop accountability and action • Strategies to honor lived experiences and foster meaningful connection🛠️ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:👉 Romy's Website: https://bento.me/romyalexandra 👉 Learning Experience Design training : https://experientiallearninginstitute.org/experiential-learning-trainer/🗣️ 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁:I’m a workshop facilitator and designer working with NGOs, startups, and global brands to make collaboration more creative and productive. From strategy sprints to big-team events, I bring energy, clarity, and a touch of unexpected magic to every session.📬 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱:Subscribe to my newsletter: https://facilitatorscorner.substack.comFollow Romy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romy-alexandra/Follow me on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/49clGjh👍𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲!Enjoyed the conversation? Hit like, leave a comment with your thoughts or takeaways, and don’t forget to subscribe for more on workshops, creativity, and the future of facilitation.