Ali Merchant

I help managers become leaders in 12 weeks or less.

Senior L&D leader with 18 years of experience designing, delivering, and scaling enterprise wide learning programs. 

Deep expertise in learning strategy, facilitation, and executive coaching.


My track record includes:


✅ Scaling enterprise learning platforms including a $1.4M LMS rollout in 10 countries and a platform generating 1M+ page views with 1,500 resources.


✅ Launching and scaling L&D program for 2,000+ employees across 54 offices reducing ramp up time by 62%  


✅ Launching and scaling customer education programs that reduced onboarding time by 4 hours per customer and accelerated productivity for 15,000+ users


✅ Designing, launching, and facilitating training programs (live and virtual) globally for audiences ranging from first-time managers to executive teams, training more than 1,400 leaders 


✅ Coached 100+ senior leaders including founders, CXOs, VPs, and directors


✅ Author of "The All In Manager: Become a better leader today. Not someday"


✅ I write a weekly newsletter for 2700 leaders and my LinkedIn community reaches 50000+ leaders

Founder

👉🏼 My mission is to help ambitious managers become better leaders. 

I can help your managers in three ways:

1️⃣  Leadership workshops: 60-90 minute monthly workshops depending on your company's needs. Popular workshops include: 

1. Remote productivity, performance, and resilience
2. Building Psychological safety in a remote world
3. Delivering, asking, and receiving feedback virtually
4. Learning to become an effective coach.


👉🏼  "This is the best feedback training I have attended on this topic. I really like Ali's style and how he goes thru examples and breaks it down" - Sales leader


2️⃣ First-time manager training: A 5-week virtual program designed to get your first-time managers up and running. Topics include:

1. Understanding the role of leader
2. Building one on one connections 
3. Building Psychological safety
4. Delegate or DIY
5. Understanding feedback mechanics
6. Learning to become a coach.


👉🏼 “With becoming a manager recently, these sessions have really helped” - Engineering manager


3️⃣ Director and VP level coaching: Your leaders want someone who's a coach + consultant + mentor. Having coached for a decade, I know when to play each role.


👉🏼 "Ali's dedicated his career to developing leaders and it shows in his ability to effectively coach me." - Customer support leader.

Navigation Works LLC

Build the confidence, skills, and tactics you need to be an impactful leader in just 90 days.

As the Owner and Leadership Coach at Navigation Works, I empower new and emerging leaders to develop the skills they need to be confident and successful. I draw on my expertise in career development, networking, and coaching to provide clients with practical tools and strategies they can implement, not just theorize about. My focus is on helping leaders strengthen communication, set clear expectations, and foster positive work environments.

My mission is to transform new and emerging leaders into confident, successful professionals who can drive impact within their organizations. With 20+ years of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies and startups, I possess a unique ability to provide tailored coaching that delivers measurable results.

Owner and Leadership Coach

Harvard Business Review

I am part of a research community of professionals who provide insights to help shape the content of the Harvard Business Review (HBR) and add a perspective on the world of management and leadership.

Advisory Council Member

Minnesota Department of Administration

As a Project Director, I led high-performing, cross-functional teams to deliver critical projects on time and within budget. By providing clear direction, promoting collaboration, and empowering my team, I remained focused on fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

One of my proudest accomplishments was overseeing the migration of a crucial business website to Microsoft Azure, supporting $3 billion in annual spending. By implementing Agile project management methodologies, I empowered my team to make decisions and reduced the website build time by 50%. This demonstrated our ability to improve project efficiency and deliver impactful results.

Website: https://mn.gov/admin/osp/

Project Director

As Director at the Minnesota Department of Administration, I spearheaded a comprehensive operational transformation across 24 agencies. I championed a culture of continuous improvement, implementing performance metrics, optimizing processes, and enhancing employee training. My initiatives drove strategic improvements in operational efficiency, service delivery, and employee development, earning national recognition for the agency's sustainability governance program.

One of my proudest achievements was the enterprise-wide sustainability governance initiative I led, which was recognized by NASCA.org and highlighted as a case study in leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School. By fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented environment, I empowered teams to achieve significant operational improvements and gain national recognition.

Director

Minnesota Department of Health

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I played a pivotal role as a Senior Program Manager, ensuring the effective delivery of critical public health services. I drove operational improvements like a 75% reduction in project emails through Microsoft Teams adoption and faster customer response times. By leveraging my leadership and collaboration skills, I contributed to the department's successful pandemic response.

Additionally, I collaborated with finance and testing teams to implement cost-saving measures, resulting in a 20% reduction in administrative expenses on a $167 million CDC grant. This effective resource management allowed the department to focus on its core mission of protecting public health during a challenging time.

Senior Program Manager

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

As Continuous Improvement Director, I spearheaded re-establishing enterprise-wide performance improvement initiatives. I provided strategic direction, managed problem-solving projects, and equipped staff with the skills to drive operational enhancements. 

One of my notable achievements was leading the successful implementation of an online business expense reporting system. This streamlined processes and improved department efficiency. By empowering teams to address challenges and adopt a continuous improvement mindset, I made a lasting impact on the agency's operations.

Continuous Improvement Director

Self Employed

As a freelance consultant, I partnered with organizations to implement impactful improvements. I focused on fostering a culture of efficiency, boosting client engagement, and cultivating leadership potential. My work delivered sustainable results, such as a 25% increase in website traffic and stabilized volunteer availability, by combining strategic consulting with a people-centric approach.

Consultant

Target Community Relations

As a Group Manager at Target, I fostered a collaborative environment and provided leadership development opportunities to empower my team. I spearheaded the creation of a new performance management system and led strategic planning initiatives. My team's insights and recommendations informed $150 million in annual giving, ensuring Target's corporate social responsibility efforts had a significant impact. I also directed a three-month strategic planning process, guiding the team to develop a $209 million giving strategy and budget.

Group Manager

Saint Paul Public Schools

As Deputy Chief Operations Officer, I oversaw a 400-person team and fostered a culture of continuous improvement and employee development. I led by example, setting the standard for operational excellence. My achievements included $5 million in annual savings through facility lease renegotiations and $33 million in capital investments informed by my assessments, demonstrating my commitment to fiscal responsibility and strategic execution.

Additionally, I served as the public face of the district's operations, fostering trust and confidence through positive media engagement (TV and print). By empowering my team and driving strategic initiatives, I made a lasting impact on the district's operations and public perception.

Deputy Chief Operations Officer

Leadership Coach | I help new and emerging leaders accelerate their leadership skills. Click on the link below for a free guide.👇

Most leaders are expected to manage change, but few are actually equipped to lead through it.

In my years leading teams through reorgs, culture shifts, and complex implementations, I kept seeing the same pattern. The smartest strategies collapsed when people couldn’t adapt. Change didn’t fail because the plan was bad. It failed because leaders weren’t supported.

Now I coach change-ready leaders who are navigating fast, high-stakes transformation. Together, we build clarity, adaptability, and alignment so their teams stay engaged and productive even when the ground is shifting.

📌 Clients I’ve worked with:
• Launched critical initiatives mid-restructure with full team buy-in
• Increased team resilience scores by 30% in under six months
• Reduced attrition during a global digital transformation effort

My approach blends strategy and coaching to help you lead real change without the chaos, confusion, or burnout.

If you’re facing a wave of change and want your team to be steady, focused, and moving forward, let’s talk. DM me Leader and I'll send you the details.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀:
▶️ Led teams from 2 to 300+ across corporate, small business, and government
▶️ 85% of direct reports promoted while under my leadership
▶️ Coached 50+ leaders for promotion into confident, respected leadership roles
▶️ Created leadership programs adopted across multiple organizations
▶️ Featured speaker on operational excellence and leadership development

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Ali Merchant

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