Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+ • Connecting systems, soft skills, and emotionally intelligent leadership • Bilingual Educator • Bestselling Author

The future of leadership demands more than intelligence - it demands adaptability, empathy, and courage.

I help HR, L&D, and visionary CEOs future-proof their leadership pipelines with 360° Capability Audits that uncover hidden gaps, align development to real performance needs, and benchmark readiness for AI-driven change.

With a background in leadership development, instructional design, and organizational strategy, I partner with companies to redefine how leaders think, connect, and perform in the age of automation.

My work spans four pillars that turn insight into measurable growth:

🔍 360° Capability Audits – Data-informed assessments that reveal blind spots, skill gaps, and alignment gaps across teams.

🧠 Leadership Training & Workshops – Programs that blend emotional intelligence, adaptive strategy, and behavioral science.

📘 Curriculum Design & Development – Custom frameworks that make leadership development scalable, sustainable, and story-driven.

🎤 Speaking & Panels – Talks that challenge leadership norms, ignite change, and make “soft skills” powerfully strategic.

At the core of my work:
👉 I help organizations strengthen the ‘people layer’ - so leadership, collaboration, and culture scale with innovation, not behind it.

Career highlights:
• TEDx Speaker
• Brand Partners: Synthesia, GoStudio.AI, iSpring Solutions, Tavus, and Notion.
• Named one of the Top 50 Global Influential Women to Follow in 2026
• Featured thought leader on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and The CW.
• Published bestselling author on emotional intelligence and adaptive leadership.
• Former Sales Enablement UX Researcher in big tech, designing learning experiences for 35K+ global professionals.
• Multiple award-winning Thinkers 360: 
1. Top 10 Behavioral Science 
2. Top 50 Transformational Leaders
3. Top 100 Careers Thought Leaders

➡️ If you're building a people-first organization that needs to scale with clarity and heart — let's connect.
📩 DM “AUDIT” or reach out at acasiano@growingyoureq.com

For podcast interviews, features, speaking, or collaborations:
📬 acasiano@growingyoureq.com

**Please send professional requests by email only. No DM pitches will be reviewed.

📩 Get insights + tools to grow agile, emotionally intelligent leadership – Join the Beyond IQ newsletter: https://www.beyondiqnewsletter.com/

Alinnette Casiano

Thank you to David Soberal for the spotlight! And to Tyray Mollett for the Cameo shout out!

LinkedIn Standouts Creator | Customer Success Lead | 15+ Years Driving Impact with Creative Solutions & Exceptional Service. Let’s turn Minutes into Moments & Ideas to Action. Together, we’ll Revolutionize Hospitality 🌐

LinkedIn Standouts: October Spotlight!

As Oct came to an end, let’s recognize 4 professionals who truly stood out by making an impact through insight, consistency, care & leadership.

🎤Alinnette Casiano 🎤
 
At just 8 yrs old in Puerto Rico, Alinnette faced challenges that forced her to raise herself & her 2 sisters. Years later she earned multiple degrees & built a successful life, yet still felt something missing, until she realized her purpose: to connect, teach & transform others through emotional intelligence. Today she’s one of the top leadership coaches on LinkedIn, a TEDx speaker, & will be featured in Titanium Magazine as one of the Top 50 Global Inspirational Women of 2026. She has impacted millions across LinkedIn, takes deep pride in the Latin community, & will be part of a Hispanic Heritage cultural event on Dec 3. Info & tickets below.👇 

🌎 Hispanic Event: https://lnkd.in/eVtyWKiE


💼 Sam Struan 💼

Sam is one of the top résumé writers on LinkedIn & has helped dozens of career coaches become who they are today. His daily short videos give step-by-step tips on resumes & LinkedIn profiles. 4 months ago he was diagnosed w/ a detached labrum & lost major function in his right arm & yet he still showed up to help professionals, worked w/ one arm, communicated delays, & offered discounts. That’s real dedication. He also shared a great line for your About section: “I also welcome the opportunity to network & exchange ideas.”
3 weeks ago he joined a LinkedIn Live w/ 3 top recruiters, demonstrating tools & navigating the job market. Link below.👇 

💼 Job Event: https://lnkd.in/e9pFtQGu


✨ Shannon McCallum  ✨

Shannon is known for recognizing hospitality leaders & major brands in the Vegas market. She’s deeply involved in the local hospitality community & attends multiple events weekly. She was featured in Global Hospitality Magazine as one of the most inspirational people in the industry. Shannon brings together tech, AI & innovation, but always leads w/ human connection. She is one of the most respected leaders in hospitality, that deliver memorable guest experiences. She’s also organizing a new technology conference on Dec 3. Link below.👇 

🏨 Hospitality Event: https://lnkd.in/g-Chszqk


🎪 Dean Fisher 🌎 GLOBAL EVENT SOLUTIONS 

If you’re planning an event in Vegas, whether it’s a meeting or large corporate or conference events, DeanO is the person to call. He posts daily about the events he & his team run, & they’re trained so well they can fit large groups into small spaces while still keeping everything smooth. His posts carry energy, care & love for what he does.
Dean is also known as a hidden leader & hosts a YouTube podcast helping professionals navigate the toughest hospitality challenges as well as finding joy and shine within his leadership alignment across the nation. Link below.👇 

🎙️ YouTube Podcast: https://lnkd.in/ekpb2Gaz

🎥 Tyray Mollett gives a shoutout to the 4 honorees on Cameo: https://lnkd.in/egYDzXxq

The future of leadership isn’t about IQ.
It’s about emotional clarity.

Because the leaders people trust most
aren’t the ones who know everything,
they’re the ones who understand what people need.

They read the room before they read the report.
They regulate before they react.
They connect before they correct.

If you lead people in any capacity, these 10 skills matter more than any title:

✅ Self-awareness
✅ Listening to understand
✅ Reading the room
✅ Turning conflict into connection
✅ Setting boundaries that protect energy
✅ Giving feedback as a gift, not a blow
✅ Celebrating small wins
✅ Modeling calm under pressure
✅ Investing in recovery, not just productivity
✅ Remembering names, and stories

Because leadership isn’t about control.
It’s about connection that drives change.

💭 Which of these are you strengthening right now?

📌 Save this for your next 1:1 or team reflection
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more on emotionally intelligent leadership

Design: Muhammad Husnain

Progress isn’t made in the big leaps.

It’s made in the micro-decisions you make before the day even begins.

The leaders who grow (even through the messiest seasons)do one thing differently:
👉 They choose intention before action.

Before your feet hit the floor, ask yourself:

✔️ Who am I choosing to be today?
Not the stressed version. Not the reactive one.
The intentional one. The resilient one.
Write it down.
Identity shapes direction.

✔️ What’s the ONE outcome that makes today meaningful?
Not 10 priorities. Not a frantic checklist.
One clear aim. Straight lines are built from single points.

✔️ How do I want people to feel after interacting with me?
Your presence is your reputation.
Leave people steadier than you found them.

✔️ What boundary protects my focus and peace?
Every “no” you give creates the straight path you keep wishing for.

✔️ When pressure hits, what story will I choose?
“This is data, not danger.”
“This is learning, not failing.”
“This is a detour, not a dead end.”

Because those first moments of your day?
They’re not small.
They’re alignment.
They’re direction.
They’re the difference between spinning and moving forward.

The path to success will never be linear.
But here’s the truth:
Those ups and downs that are so uncomfortable aren’t detours; they’re data. They sharpen your direction and help you build the right path faster than a “perfect” plan ever could.

So ask yourself:

👉 Will I live today by default?
or
👉 Will I design it on purpose?

💭 What’s the intention that straightens your path today?

DM ‘AUDIT’ to future-proof your 2026 learning & development roadmap • Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+

Some people think resilience is a personality trait.

It’s not.
👉 It’s a practice.

Built in the quiet, unglamorous moments no one sees.

The days you show up when it’s uncomfortable.
The mornings you choose discipline over distraction.
The nights you give yourself rest instead of guilt.

The truth?

You don’t become unstoppable all at once.
You become unstoppable one small habit at a time.

Here are the daily choices that build a different kind of strength, the kind that stays with you when life hits hard:

1️⃣ Replace “I can’t” with “I haven’t yet.”
That tiny shift rewires your brain for possibility.

2️⃣ Start before you feel ready.
Readiness is a feeling that follows action - never the other way around.

3️⃣ Make failure your teacher, not your enemy.
Every “no” carries information. Mine it.

4️⃣ Build systems, not just goals.
Goals motivate you. Systems sustain you.

5️⃣ Protect your mornings like your future depends on them.
Because it does. One intentional hour changes everything.

6️⃣ Say no like a leader.
Every yes steals capacity from something that matters more.

7️⃣ Track tiny wins.
Your brain builds confidence from evidence - give it proof daily.

8️⃣ Find your power hour.
Do your most important work when you’re naturally sharpest.

9️⃣ Choose hard today over harder tomorrow.
Avoidance compounds. So does courage.

🔟 Rest like you mean it.
Recovery isn’t weakness - it’s strategic leadership.

The habits that build resilience aren’t dramatic.
They’re small, consistent, and even uncomfortable.
But they change your trajectory.

If you want to feel unstoppable, start with one habit - not all ten.

💬 Which one are you choosing today?

🔁 Repost to remind someone who’s rebuilding their strength brick by brick.
🔔 Follow me for more content like this, Alinnette

Design by: Muhammad Husnain

Being agreeable is often mistaken for being professional.

For years, that was me.
Never rock the boat.
Say yes when my gut screamed no.
Smile through decisions that made my values cringe.

I thought respect came from being liked.
That harmony meant avoiding hard conversations.
That good employees stayed quiet.

Until I learned the most expensive lie of my career:
Being liked and being respected are not the same thing.

After years of working with leaders across industries, one truth keeps showing up:
The ones who create real change aren’t the pleasers.
They’re the truth-tellers.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about approval-seeking 👇

→ It shrinks your impact.
When you chase everyone’s approval, you stand for nothing.

→ It erodes trust.
People can feel when your “yes” doesn’t mean yes.

→ It delays growth.
Every avoided conversation is a missed opportunity to evolve.

→ It attracts the wrong people.
Those who need you to stay small will never celebrate you getting big.

So if you’re ready to trade approval for authenticity, start here:

✔️ Know your non-negotiables.
Write down your top 3 values. If a request violates them, that’s your answer.

✔️ Master the kind “no.”
“I appreciate you thinking of me, but this doesn’t align with my current priorities.”

✔️ Schedule your boundaries.
Protect deep-work time like it’s a CEO meeting (because it is).

✔️ Choose your circle wisely.
Surround yourself with people who respect your no as much as your yes.

✔️ Embrace the discomfort.
Not everyone will like the real you. The right ones will respect you for it.

Here’s the paradox about boundaries:
They don’t push people away.
They pull the right ones closer.

Because the moment you stop performing for approval,
you start attracting people who value authenticity.

The shift from pleasing to leading isn’t comfortable.
But comfort was never the goal.
Impact was.

💭 What boundary have you been avoiding that would change everything if you set it today?

For years, companies handled leadership development the same way:

Run a workshop.
Share self-paced modules.
Offer a toolkit.
Hope managers “get it.”

That cycle broke.

Teams want leaders who stay calm under pressure.
Managers who speak with honesty.
Directors who hold steady in tense moments.

But most companies cannot see where the real gaps sit.

Here is what I saw this year:

A high-potential manager avoided hard talks because she felt unprepared.
A director with strong experience lost trust because he felt strained with no place to say it.
A department stalled because leaders were unsure what mattered most.

Workshops alone do not fix this.
Leaders need a clear map.

So I’m opening 𝟯 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 for a January kickoff.

You walk into Q1 of the new the year with:

• A view of what slips
• A sense of what works
• What your team leaders need
• A roadmap for a strong start to the year

If you’re tired of guessing where leadership slips, DM “AUDIT.”

🔁 Repost to spread the word
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

The hardest part of change isn’t the change. 
It’s staying yourself while everything is shifting.

Clarity doesn’t show up on its own, you create it.

Here’s what I’ve seen in all who made it through a season that shook their foundation:

They start by noticing what’s actually shifting.
Not the stories.
Not the fears.
The real movement beneath the surface.

Then they look for what isn’t changing.
A value.
A strength.
An anchor they can hold when the ground moves.

Next, they plan from calm, not chaos.
One right step.
Not ten.
Not the whole staircase.
Just the next move that keeps them aligned.

They reach out before the weight gets too heavy.
Not to be saved,
but to stay human.
Because isolation is where clarity goes to die.

And when the dust settles, they sustain small practices that keep them steady.
Tiny habits.
Simple routines.
Consistency over the illusion of control.

This is resilience.
Not toughness.
Not perfection.
Not pushing through at any cost.

Resilience is learning how to stay yourself while everything around you shifts.

If you’re in a season of change, ask yourself:

Where am I sensing?
Where am I stabilizing?
Where am I planning?
Where am I supported?
Where am I sustaining?

You don’t control the pace of change.
You control the way you move through it.

Which part of your resilience is asking for attention today?

📌 Save this framework for your next transition
🔁 Share to help someone navigate their change
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more on resilient leadership

Design by: Muhammad Husnain

You don’t always get the outcome you hoped for.

You can give your best.
Show up fully.
Pour in the hours, the heart, the belief.

And still…
life takes a turn you didn’t choose.

I used to think that meant I failed.
That the disappointment said something about me.
That if it didn’t work out, the effort somehow didn’t matter.

But life has a quieter truth:

Even when the result slips through your fingers,
the growth stays with you.

The wisdom.
The resilience.
The clarity about who you are and what you want.
Those things don’t disappear.

Not every hope becomes a destination.
Some hopes become teachers.
Some become turning points.
Some become the strength you didn’t know you were building.

That’s why taking care of yourself isn’t optional.
It’s the foundation.

Because when plans fall apart,
your well-being is what holds you together.
Your wisdom is what carries you forward.
Your hope, even the fragile kind, is what keeps the next chapter possible.

So take care of yourself first.

Not because it guarantees the outcome,
but because it guarantees you will still be whole
no matter how the outcome unfolds.

And here’s what I know for sure:

You don’t walk away from any season empty-handed.
You walk away with lessons that sharpen you.
Strength you earned the hard way.
And hope that learns to rebuild itself.

Life won’t always go as planned.
But you will always have what you gained becoming the person who tried.

💭 What’s one lesson a difficult season gave you that you’re grateful for now?

Every year, I see the same pattern.

Teams enter January with the strain they carried from the year before. 

Team Leaders walk into the first week unclear. 
Directors try to guess what matters most. 
And HR is expected to fix it overnight.

By the following months, the cracks show:
- Slow decisions 
- Mixed signals 
- Missed cues 
- Pressure that spreads 
- Training that doesn't land

Not because leaders lack skill. 
But because they start the year without a clear map.

A leadership audit fixes this early in the year, before the pace climbs.

It shows you:
- Where leaders felt strain last year 
- Where communication broke 
- Which skills need attention 
- What should guide Q1

December isn't the time to do the work. 
It's the time to secure the clarity.

I’m opening 𝟯 audits for a January kickoff at a 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚.

If you want leaders who start 2026 steady instead of strained, 
DM "AUDIT."

🔁 Repost to spread the word
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

How to Spot Leadership Gaps Before Turn Into Team Strain

If you ever doubt whether your kindness matters, read this slowly:

Every time you choose patience over impatience, someone breathes easier.
Every time you soften your tone, someone feels safer.
Every time you pause before reacting, someone learns it’s possible.

People remember how you made the moment feel.
Long after the words are gone.

And here’s the part most people overlook:

Kindness strengthens you just as much as it supports everyone around you.

It expands your emotional capacity.
It sharpens your self-awareness.
It trains your nervous system to lead from clarity instead of reactivity.

It’s not about being nice.
It’s about being intentional with your impact.

Because whether you realize it or not:

Someone is watching how you navigate pressure.
Someone is learning from the way you handle conflict.
Someone is healing because you spoke to them with respect.
Someone is staying because you made them feel seen.

Kindness doesn’t change the world in one moment.
It changes the moments that shape the world.

And if you lead people:
at work, at home, in your community,
your presence becomes their weather system.

Your calm becomes permission.
Your patience becomes guidance.
Your compassion becomes courage.

So today, if you have the choice between reacting fast
or responding with intention...choose the version of you you’d want someone else to learn from.

Choose the one who leaves people a little safer,
a little steadier,
a little more hopeful than before.

Because emotional leadership isn’t built in big speeches.
It’s built in the micro-moments you think no one notices.

💭 Agree, Disagree?

🔁 Repost to share with others
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

The future of learning isn’t more content.
It’s deeper connection.

For years, we taught people what to do.
Now we need to guide them on how to think, choose, and lead in real time.

That’s why I’m obsessed with what We Are Learning is building.

Their Stories aren’t just videos,
they're immersive learning experiences shaped by decisions.

Learners don’t just watch…
 👉 They choose.
 👉 They react.
 👉 They see consequences.
 👉 They build judgment.

All through connected content nodes that create:
• Linear paths for consistency
• Interactive paths for decision-making
• Branching scenarios that feel like real-world leadership moments

This is the future of training:
Not passive consumption.
Active transformation.

Imagine onboarding, leadership development, 
or customer training where people experience the journey, 
not just memorize slides.

Because the leaders we’re developing tomorrow
need more than information.

They need practice. 
Perspective. 
Presence.

And that is exactly what this platform delivers.
👉 If you design learning, lead teams, or guide others how to think, you need to try it today.

Start building your first Story in minutes here: https://lnkd.in/gdyWRMJD

#WeAreLearning

A special thank you to The Prodigy and Love Charmaine for the recognition: https://lnkd.in/gdWbnYC8

Thank you Helen, it was a great pleasure! I look forward to the full feature.

Owner @ Himaja Retreat | Community Builder @ Fuzia Talent | Curator of Humans of Fuzia | Advocate for Impactful Storytelling

✨ Coming Soon on Humans of Fuzia! ✨
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Alinnette Casiano, Founder of Growing Your EQ, for our Humans of Fuzia series — and her journey is nothing short of inspiring. From being the first in her family to pursue higher education to leading with emotional intelligence and authenticity, Ali’s story reminds us that impact isn’t always loud — sometimes it happens quietly, with heart and purpose. 💫
Stay tuned — her full feature will be published soon on humansoffuzia.com
!

#HumansOfFuzia #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #FuziaTalent #WomenEmpowerment

Honored to join Saahil Baxi on his podcast to talk about the work that has shaped my life: emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and helping people feel seen, understood, and empowered.

From the classroom…
to UX research at Amazon…
to mentoring leaders internationally…

Grateful for the chance to share my story, the practices that keep me steady, and the mission that continues to pull me forward.

Thank you Saahil for the thoughtful conversation and the space to dig deeper.

🎧 Full episode in comments.

How Emotional Intelligence Shapes Success https://buff.ly/UVToq3a via Alinnette Casiano of Growing Your EQ on Thinkers360 #Education #GenerativeAI #Leadership 📣 Thought Leader? Amplify your voice here: https://buff.ly/12Kt83x

Open article: How Emotional Intelligence Shapes Success — A Conversation with Alinnette Casiano | Future Millionaires by buff.ly

How Emotional Intelligence Shapes Success — A Conversation with Alinnette Casiano | Future Millionaires

Year Up

Challenge: Identifying and establishing robust national partnerships to enhance opportunity talent for work-based learning experiences and essential skills development.
Approach: Utilized consultative/design techniques and conducted in-depth analyses of training provider and ecosystem needs.
Impact: Achieved strategic growth and management of key stakeholder relationships, significantly enriching the workforce development ecosystem.
Skills Highlighted: Strategic Partnerships, Consultative and Design Techniques, Stakeholder Management, Strategy, Program Design, Ecosystem Building

Director, Provider Partnerships

Challenge: Guaranteeing high-quality student experiences and achieving program outcomes.
Approach: Innovated talent sourcing methods and streamlined processes, ensuring alignment with organizational values.
Impact: Improved pipeline management and was instrumental in local culture initiatives.
Skills Highlighted: Innovative Talent Sourcing, Process Optimization, Culture Building

Director of Enrollment and Community Partnerships

Director of Student Services and Community Partnerships

Associate Director of Student Services

Recruit, inform, interview, and support students entrance into Year Up.

Associate Director of Admissions

Valley of the Sun YMCA

Program Director, Valley of the Sun YMCA, Jan. 2010-Jan. 2015

Challenge: Overseeing multiple programs, including Department of Labor workforce development and college access grants.
Approach: Developed and executed diverse services with a focus on ethical spending and resource optimization.
Impact: Tripled funding and client service capacity, markedly boosting program reach and effectiveness.
Skills Highlighted: Program Development, Fiscal Management, Impactful Leadership

Workforce Development Director

Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development

Social Worker

I Don’t Unlock Doors for Talent, I Bust Through Them!

I'm in the business of reimagining workforce development, focusing on empowering our youth and busting down doors that are barriers for so many. 

My role is more of a catalyst for change, challenging traditional systems and nurturing the potential in young people. 

Here's the deal: I see young people as already complete, not fixer-uppers. My role? Realigning systems to amplify their strengths, not patch up perceived weaknesses.


For the past 20 years, I've been in the trenches with nonprofits, higher education, and government projects, crafting a skill set that's all about spotlighting youth potential. My mantra? "Why not?" and "Let's try it." I'm not just thinking outside the box; I'm redesigning the box.


My approach? It's refreshingly human. I mix strategy with authenticity and build partnerships that matter. Deconstructing assets to create stronger pathways for ALL young people. 


I'm all about fostering equity, boosting mental wellness, and ramping up skill development, with a hefty dose of working parent realities, and leadership.


This journey for me? It's more than a career – it's a value to change the narrative around our youth and create true ACCESS!

I'm here to champion inclusive, holistic strategies, turning the opportunity gap into a launching pad for success for ALL youth.

taplio

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Alinnette Casiano

Meg ⚒️ McGilvra MSW

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The Battle

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Meg ⚒️ McGilvra MSW

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

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