Taylor Izbicki, ALM ’26

I was at a point in my career where I was consistently helping with training and realized I wanted to pivot into instructional design. I began searching for programs I could complete while working full-time and was immediately drawn to Harvard Extension School. The graduate certificate stood out because the credits could stack into a degree, allowing me to keep the door open for a master’s degree. I originally planned to complete only the Learning Design & Technology Certificate, but I enjoyed the courses, the people, and the experience so much that I decided to continue and complete the ALM in Digital Media Design (now Digital Media Design and Creative AI).

Studying while working full-time is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. One of the most valuable parts of my Harvard Extension School experience was applying what I learned in class directly to my work the next day. During my time at Harvard Extension School, I earned promotions and transitioned into a full-time Instructional Design role.

During the program, I developed strong skills in video editing, front end web development, instructional design, and digital storytelling. A short film I created in the course “Making the Short Film” was accepted into a film festival in Summer 2025. I also created a documentary during my capstone, “The Fourth Trimester,” advocating for improved maternity and family leave policies in the United States, which I am currently submitting to festivals.

Professionally, Harvard Extension School helped me combine my digital media skills with my background in hotel & lodging management from Johnson & Wales. I recently started my own company supporting hotels and local Cheyenne businesses through consulting, instructional design, training, and video production services.

Overall, Harvard Extension School helped me grow creatively and professionally while giving me the confidence to use my skills to create community impact.

Looking back, the biggest surprise was realizing I could bring all of my experiences together into something uniquely my own.

When I started at Harvard Extension School, I thought I was simply earning a credential to transition into instructional design. I never imagined I would discover a passion for filmmaking, have my work accepted into film festivals, produce a documentary advocating for paid family leave, or gain the confidence to start my own consulting business.

Perhaps even more unexpected was the community. I was surrounded by classmates and faculty who challenged my ideas thoughtfully, encouraged creativity, and genuinely wanted to see one another succeed. Instead of hearing that an idea wouldn’t work, I was constantly asked, “How can we make it even better?” That environment changed the way I approached both my work and my own potential.

Harvard Extension School gave me the confidence to combine my background in hospitality with instructional design, digital media, and storytelling into meaningful work that serves businesses and communities. That’s something I never could have imagined when I enrolled.

Impactful.