Learning & Leadership Development
for Real-World Performance
I design human-centered learning experiences and leadership programs that blend instructional design, coaching, and modern technology to help people grow and organizations perform.
I'm Ricardo León, a Learning & Development leader, executive coach, and former Senior IT engineer. I spent 20+ years building and supporting complex systems in Fortune 100 environments, and the last 5 years designing leadership development programs, multi-modal learning experiences, and AI-enabled learning tools. I love turning complex ideas into intuitive, actionable learning that sticks, whether that's for frontline leaders, franchise owners, or high-performing teams.
View My Work
Portfolio
Selected projects showcasing learning strategy, instructional design, coaching, and technology integration.
Growth360: AI-Enabled Leadership & Habit-Tracking Platform
Growth360 is a digital learning and habit-tracking platform I designed to support leadership development, performance coaching, and behavior change. It combines structured learning paths with ongoing nudges, reflection, and metrics to make development a continuous process rather than a one-time event.
Context & Need
Leaders were leaving workshops feeling inspired but lacked a simple way to track goals and habits, see progress over time, receive ongoing prompts, and tie learning back to actual behavior and results.
My Role
- Learning strategist & instructional designer
- Platform architect and content creator
- Coach responsible for program design and ongoing support
Solution
- Designed a modular learning ecosystem with goal-setting and habit-tracking aligned to leadership capabilities
- Built AI-powered workflows that generate personalized nudges, reflections, and just-in-time learning
- Created accompanying ILT/VILT content, workbooks, and job aids
Impact
- Increased follow-through on action plans between sessions
- Improved clarity around goals, habits, and progress for both leaders and coaches
- Provided a reusable, scalable framework for measurable behavior change
Franchise Leadership Development & Onboarding
Designed and delivered comprehensive learning and onboarding for franchise owners, directors, and staff across multiple Adventure Kids Playcare locations. Built blended programs including ILT, VILT, eLearning, SOPs, microlearning, and job aids covering leadership skills, customer experience, team culture, and operational excellence.
Key Outcomes
- Partnered with executives and SMEs to align training with franchise growth and brand standards
- Used performance data and feedback to continuously improve programs
- Scaled onboarding across multiple locations with consistent quality
Executive & Leadership Coaching Programs
Built and delivered coaching programs for executives, managers, and high potentials at Source One. Combined 1:1 coaching, team coaching, and skills workshops with evidence-based tools including NLP, high-performance coaching, cognitive reframing, and habit design.
Approach
- Designed structured goal-setting and reflection templates
- Created follow-up frameworks to ensure insights translated into action
- Measured outcomes through performance metrics and behavior change
Volunteer Training & Event Operations
As Co-Founder of Baskets for Good, I helped design the processes and training systems for a seasonal Thanksgiving nonprofit that has delivered over 300,000 meals. I work with a large volunteer team that dedicates the week before Thanksgiving to staging, packing, and delivering full-week grocery baskets.
Key Elements
- Created simple instructions, workflows, and on-the-ground coaching
- Enabled volunteers to plug in quickly, stay safe, and feel successful
- Operated at scale with consistent quality and volunteer satisfaction
About
I began my career in IT, spending over 20 years as a Senior Unix/Linux Engineer for companies like PepsiCo, Capital One, and T-Mobile. Over time, I realized my favorite part of the job was helping people: onboarding new engineers, running workshops, and turning complex systems into clear, usable knowledge.
That led me into Learning & Development, leadership coaching, and instructional design. Today I design learning ecosystems, leadership programs, and AI-enabled tools that make growth more accessible and sustainable. I also co-founded Baskets for Good, a seasonal Thanksgiving nonprofit that has delivered more than 300,000 meals to North Texas families.
I'm always learning, whether it's through psychology, coaching science, learning tech, or the lived experiences of the leaders and teams I work with.
Education & Certifications
Education
Certifications
Contact
I'd love to connect about learning design, leadership development, or coaching opportunities.