About Me

Archie Warriner (PhD, CPTM)

Apparently all of my selfies are nearly identical poses with my dog.

My Journey

1

Precocious Child

I was that kid who loved school and always had their nose in a book. Physically, I have very tiny ears, but metaphorically, they are huge. I was always listening, absorbing, and asking questions.

2

Nerdy Grad Student

My love of learning eventually led me to a PhD in Psycholinguistics, where I explored how language shapes the way we think and understand the world.

3

Drifting Academic

Like many academics, I graduated without a clear roadmap. But after a few years in research and university teaching, I realized I didn’t just want to build knowledge. I wanted to apply it.

6

Building a Career

Since then, I’ve designed experiences for thousands of learners across higher ed and industry—ranging from a single eLearning module on handwashing to a multimillion-dollar onboarding program for a high-profile sales role.

5

Upskilling

That spark of joy led me to learning experience design, and I formalized the transition with a certificate in adult training and development.

4

Finding Joy

Of all the parts of teaching, designing activities that helped students get it—to grasp a tricky concept or discover a skill they didn’t know they had – that was my favourite.

Finding a Niche for My Quirks

It’s funny how things turn out. The traits that once felt like liabilities—my tendency to overanalyze, to ask too many questions, to feel too much—have become my superpowers:

  • I’m not an overthinker. I’m a systems thinker—able to spot patterns, trace root causes, and diagnose performance issues.
  • I’m not a bother with all my questions. I’m a clarifier—surfacing assumptions, untangling miscommunication, and advocating for smarter solutions.
  • I’m not overly sensitive. I’m a relationship builder—able to understand the perspectives of both learners and stakeholders.

Today ,I use those strengths to design learning experiences and systems that:

respect how people actually learn, facilitate on-the-job application, and deliver outcomes that matter.

Fun outside of work? Still learning.

  • I dabble in crafts like pottery, felting, and wood burning.
  • I’ve taken classes in salsa, bachata, and west coast swing.
  • I upskill for fun—exploring AI, data analytics, and new certifications.
  • I’ve learned to kayak, tried archery, been ziplining, and fallen in love with pickleball.
  • I took a stab at running a small business selling handmade bowties.