Ariane has been a coach, facilitator, teacher, speaker, author, and business consultant since 1983. Prior to starting Lotus Bridge, LLC in 2008 and Neat & Simple Living in 2005, she was a corporate performance improvement consultant to many of the Fortune 500 providing expertise in adult learning psychology, performance development, instructional design, leadership development, management development, organizational development, change management, sales training, and customer service.

Ariane has worked with many of the Fortune 500 to create successful change and get results through the design and delivery of hundreds of performance improvement “solutions that work.” 

Ariane has always been known for her exceptional creativity, high energy, and deep commitment to helping people succeed and exceeding client expectations.  Ariane offers clients a rare combination of creativity and insight, combined with the ability to quickly get to the heart of the matter, and compassionately help people discover the deep roots of their challenges so that they can transform their lives.

She has superb learning facilitation, instructional design and group facilitation, communication and technical skills making her a unique one-stop-shop for designing strategies and implementing solutions that really work. 

2011 to Present     

Starting in Summer of 2011 I began consolidating my life’s work and multiple websites back into  www.ArianeBenefit.com which was first established in 1996 as the home of my corporate consulting work. My life purpose and work has always been to help people relieve suffering and learn how to thrive in spite of challenging circumstances.  That’s why in college I pursued the study of psychology, languages, culture, education, business and technology.  Yes, I moved through many “majors” seeking the right fit to encompass my intense need to understand everything.  In graduate school, I was allowed to design a one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary Master’s in Education.  It served me well in the business world and created a high demand for my consulting on the most challenging of performance intervention projects.  But the more I learned, the more I wasn’t satisfied with contributing to helping the “elite” leaders of the corporate world succeed. The more I healed myself, the more I wanted to directly help people heal their lives through learning and making peace with their lives in all areas. My goal when I left corporate work in 2005 was simply to figure out how to design my own worklife to fit me and pass on what I have learned to people who don’t have access to master’s degrees and the kind of advanced training I received in the corporate world.  The first 5 years of experiments have taught me so much. I had no idea there were so many millions of people like me out there.  We are all so busy creating images of ourselves to hide what we feel are our flaws.  My coming out has connected me to a world I could never have imagined much less planned.  Being willing to learn and reinvent my career over and over again is not the easy path through life, but it’s one I never give up to become like everyone else.

There is no “how-to” book for the dance of the creative life, like walking, the best way to learn to thrive is to have someone there to help you stay safe as you attempt to go where you want to go, help you strengthen the muscles you need to walk, and acknowledge your successes and be your champion to help you get back up when you fall.  My life and work will forever be a work in progress…and for now, I’m done with creating business “brands.”  What you get is just me – a one-of-a-kind person who loves to work with other one-of-a-kind people and empower them to share their gifts with the world too.    

2008 – 2011  Lotus Bridge, LLC

Coached clients to overcome life challenges, including ADD, Creative Personality, Chronic Disorganization and excessive clutter.

2005 - 2011 Neat & Simple Living

Provided custom organizing and productivity coaching services to several hundred clients in their offices and home offices.

Shared expertise, learning, ideas and views on life with neurodiversity in the popular Neat and Simple Living Blog.

1993 – 2005  Ariane Benefit Consulting

Partnered with clients to understand their needs and design and deliver performance improvement “solutions that work.” 

Companies worked with include: IBM, Cendant (Real Estate Franchising Division, Coldwell Banker) UPS Information Systems, Avaya, Lucent Technologies, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, Beckman Coulter, Chemical Bank,  Merrill Lynch, Ryder, GE Aerospace, PBS and others.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Below is a sampling of the over 100 leading edge projects I had the privilege to contribute to over the last 25+ years. 

“Quantum Leadership” University of Denver
Worked with top leadership experts and conducted extensive research to design a 6 month action learning experience for high potential c-level executives for the University of Denver. 

“Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity with John Kao” PBS

Designed the supporting materials for various satellite presentations delivered by PBS’s The Business Channel

Corporate Credit Analyst Performance Development, Chemical Bank
Worked with leading business professors from Fordham University to redesign the Credit Analyst Training “school” and convert it to a blended training + on-the-job work experience.  Enormous productivity, cost savings and work quality increases were achieved immediately as Credit Analysts started working within 2 weeks after hire vs. the previous 6 months of training before getting on-the-job experience. Designed and developed extensive case studies and content outlines for trainees to practice using real corporate financial statements, audit reports to perform ratio analysis, operations, inventory, industry and economic analysis and assess the credit risk for financing publicly held companies’ business operations. 

Intellectual Capital Management System, IBM

One-to-One Performance Coaching, Merrill Lynch
Designed and wrote training materials plus self-study book for managers to use Coaching principles, strategies and practices to cultivate on-the-job performance.  

1989-1992  

Education Manager, Arthur Andersen, Professional Education Division, St. Charles, IL  

Managed worldwide training division for the Business Systems Consulting and the Computer Risk Management Practices. Responsibilities and accomplishments included:

• Worked directly with partners and managers from 12 countries to ensure emerging technology and client service training needs for over 600 staff were identified and addressed 

• Managed training development and delivery budgets over $1 million 

• Pioneered use of rapid development techniques to increase efficiency and reduce project cycle times up to 500% 

• Facilitated various classes including: management development, listening skills, teamwork, presentation and instructor skills, and instructional design to content experts

• Managed the delivery of training

  • Ensured tuition revenues covered 100% of training delivery costs  

  • Reduced tuition rates/delivery costs by 15% in one year 

  • Improved course quality ratings to be at or above 4.4 on a 5 point scale

  • Ensured all courses complied with Continuing Education standards and were properly accredited

1985-1989, and 1992-1993   

Project Manager/Senior Designer, IDG, Morristown, NJ  

Designed, developed, and managed custom training and other performance support projects.  

1982-1985  

Trainer, Brickell Key Associations, Miami, FL 

Designed, developed and conducted bilingual (Spanish/English) training for a staff of 50. Topics: Controlled access security systems, fire safety/rescue, and supervisory skills.

Created new hire orientation system, policy and procedures manual, performance appraisal system, compensation and career path system.

Also certified as Systems Administrator for state-the-art technology communication and control systems:  CardKey Access Control, Simplex Fire Safety, TCI, and Southern Bell Horizon PBX.

1983-1985  

Adjunct Faculty, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 

Taught new teachers how to use technology in the classroom to and produce multi-media lessons. 

1981-1983  
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  

Managed Instructional Media Lab and supported faculty in using multi-media technology in the classroom. 

Assistant to Director of the Instructional Design and Technology Masters Degree. 

Master of Science in Education, University of Miami, FL, 1983  

Specialties: Adult Learning Psychology, Instructional Systems Design and Technology, Organizational Training Design & Development, Human Resource Development, Multicultural and Bilingual Education, Testing and Evaluation, Computer Assisted Learning, English as a Second Language, Language Acquisition)

Bachelor of Arts, University of Miami, 1981  
Major: Spanish Literature (Fluent in Spanish)  Minor: Hispanic American Studies (Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Philosophy, World Religion)   Magna Cum Laude

My NSGCD Learning Transcript

• Level 2 Specialist in ADD ADHD Organizing - Coursework completed,
  Sitting for Exam in Spring 2008
• NSGCD Conference, Mt. Laurel, NJ, 2007
• Level 2 Specialist in Chronic Disorganization - 10/2007
• Certificate of Study in ADD – 6/2007
• Certificate of Study in Learning Styles and Modalities – 6/2007
• Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization - 9/2006
• NAPO Conference, Boston, 2005
• NSGCD Conference, Boston, 2005

Toastmaster’s Certification, 2004
Leadership and Emotional Intelligence, UPS, 2003
Wealth, Innovation and Diversity, UPS, 2002
Internet & Network Communication, Global Knowledge, 2000
How To Stay Focused On The Customer, Rowan University, 1997
Group Process & Strategic Planning Facilitation Certificates, 1992, Conexus 
Model-Netics Training
Management Development & Communication Skills Instructor Certification, Arthur Andersen, 1991
Accelerated Learning Certification, 1988, Multivariant Learning Systems

Book: Neat & Simple Guide to Organizing Your Office, December 2007

“Accelerating the Instructional Design Process,” P&I Journal, ISPI, Sept., 1995   
“Leadership and The New Science,” Video Review for the HRD Review, April, 1994  

SEE LISTING of over 60 Events since 2005 HERE

_______________________________________________

“Volunteer Recruiting, & Retention Strategies,” Dumont Mental Health Centers, 1995  
“Fundamentals of Not-for-Profit Boards,” Hispanic Leadership Opportunity Forum, 1993  
“Building Credibility as a Performance Technologist,” Toronto, NSPI Conference, 1990 
“Addressing the Seven Aspects of Intelligence in Training,” Denver, NSPI Conference, 1989  
“Computer-Based Learning – Screen Design Principles,” Washington, DC, NSPI Conference, 1988

Career & Life Skills for Teens, United Way, Paramus, NJ, 2003 – 2004 Developed and taught 10 week program for teens living in foster / group homes. Topics include financial literacy, entrepreneurship, filling out job applications, creating a resume, interviewing, and how to keep a job.

National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD)
Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) 
International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)  
Served on National Awards Committees, NJ Chapter Programming VP, 1992 and Membership VP, 1987  

• Performance Measure Design
• Process Mapping
• Instructional Design
• Graphic Design
• Web Design & Development

Software

• Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, some Access
• WordPress, Typepad, Dreamweaver
• Adobe Acrobat
• PaintShop Pro, Visio
• Sound Forge Audio Editing
• Camtasia