Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

Our Founder, Leah Chang, started as a professional educator in 2003, expanding her experience to support non-profit and corporate organisations in the development of online and classroom learning. Her work developing curriculum for many BC sectors allowed her to refine her aptitude and passion for taking complex topics and distilling them into digestible learning opportunities. It is from this early work that she witnessed a growing need to support those undergoing change and digital adoption. In just 4 years Leah has assembled a roster of extremely talented consultants and collaborators who share her passion for bringing the best out of an organisation's talent base. As learning designers we listen, we ask questions and find simple ways to unlock the potential in our clients. Shaping our genuine curiosity into tangible tools for distilling information is what empowers the LCL team. The reward of sharing our expertise to guide our clients through the development process is profoundly meaningful work.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

Every time a client’s organisation is given the tools to reach and empower their employees, their volunteers, or their supporters is a win. We love working with nonprofits in British Columbia because it is this group of thrifty powerhouses that are motivated by a central mandate, and are changing the world for the better. Leah Chang Learning’s (LCL) strength is in our ability to present educational options based on data gathered early in the design process. Learning solutions come in many forms: Asynchronous learning, online, in-person presentations and shareable documents. Even video and brand support can drive an impactful discussion. In the end, we offer the power of understanding to the communities and organisations so they can communicate effectively and meaningfully. We educate our clients in accessible learning best practices to make it easier for them to reach all their desired beneficiaries. LCL takes our obligations as a global citizen to heart. Each year we share what we have learned with the world in the form of webinars like: “How to Comply with Canada’s Anti-Spam Law” “ How Non-Profits Can Measure Impact and Inform Decisions” “ Make Online Learning More Accessible” We give back to the community with donations that we make in the name of our clients and by sharing our lessons learned with podcasters, at conferences and through our blog. In the words of Trish Kelly, Senior Accessibility Consultant of Presidents Group (Accessible Employers of BC), “Their depth of knowledge related to accessible design practices, their rigorous instructional design process, and overall passion for providing excellence, are levels above other instructional designers.”

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

We're helping our clients meet their goals through the delivery of high quality, accessible learning programs. Many BC businesses shy away from providing accessible learning not because it is undervalued, but because taking those first steps can be overwhelming. That's a shame because communicating your business’s culture and expertise is essential. Today, society is realizing that including neurodiverse audiences, people on the spectrum, and those with intellectual disabilities opens a business up to success in untapped levels. BC businesses that plan for the needs of a broader audience have an advantage. LCL supports our clients as they bridge the gap. It is how we shine, and how we are impacting positive social responsibility. LCL continues to expand our expertise in the learning design skill sets that are needed the most today. We hire consultants who are experts so our clients are fully supported as they navigate the needs of diverse audiences. We test our courses by employing those with challenges, and we are consistently improving our methods. Through a just-right mix of learning design criteria, we open the door to making challenging communication goals effortless so our clients can consistently reach their potential.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

We practise what we preach. We have nurtured an environment of learning. Our employees and our consultants are picked from diverse backgrounds with experiences and perspectives that enrich our team when shared and we use communication technology like slack, zoom and our own elearning classes to share this knowledge. Inside LCL, we provide the structure to ensure opportunities for team growth are not missed and encourage respectful feedback. Outside of LCL we ensure that our work is transparently shared. Our wins are always a partnership, and we acknowledge this often. Our culture of listening, understanding and providing positive interactions can be experienced throughout the organisation. Clients and those among them recognized and respected as subject matter experts are acknowledged for their unique perspectives, a lens with which we share in the communities our clients serve.

Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

Leah Chang Learning (LCL) is a women-led digital consulting agency creating engaging learning experiences for cause-driven nonprofits, government organisations, and businesses. We are proud to support BC’s small business communities.