Episode Overview In this episode, we got to catch up with transitioned teacher Mariah Okoye, Learning Designer at the University of South Florida. Mariah is an inspirational individual who put her fears aside and took a leap of faith transitioning into the world of Instructional Design and Higher Education. Mariah shares invaluable insight and encouragement to those looking to make a career transition into, while also sharing how she continues to learn and grow within the Learning & Development field. Grab those headphones and tune into this insightful and inspirational episode!  More About Mariah  Mariah Okoye is a Florida-based professional who holds a Bachelor's degree in Educational Studies (2014) and a Master's degree in Instructional Design (2018) from Saint Leo University. With nine years of experience teaching English Language Arts (ELA) and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Mariah realized her passion for instructional design and decided to make a career transition. Despite initial apprehension and fears of change, Mariah's determination and commitment led her to take the leap into the field of instructional design in 2022. Through perseverance and hard work, she successfully secured a role as a Learning Designer for the University of South Florida (USF) in 2023, where she now applies her expertise and creativity to develop impactful learning experiences. Be sure to connect with Mariah on ⁠LinkedIn⁠!  Episode Sponsor: Thanks to this episode’s sponsor The Professional Journey! Take charge of your professional destiny and soar to new heights with a supportive community of like-minded professionals! Check out our Cohort and Non-Cohort options. See you there!  ____________________________ Connect with the hosts: Holly Owens & Nadia Johnson EdUp EdTech - We make EdTech Your Business! Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for joining us on today’s episode of EdUp EdTech! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head to our website and leave us a rate and review to help us reach even more fantastic audience members like you. Don’t forget to check out our website, visit us on LinkedIn, or hang out with us on Facebook or Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest EdTech happenings.