Sadie Gunnink
  • About
  • Contact
Sadie Gunnink
  • About
  • Contact
Sadie R. Gunnink pointing at wall that has been initialed

EdTech Leader | AI-in-Education Strategist | Curriculum & Instructional Designer

About Me

Hi, I'm Dr. Sadie Gunnink!


I'm a dynamic leader, educator, and instructional designer dedicated to transforming learning through technology. With over 15 years of experience across educational technology, product leadership, and instructional design, I’ve led cross-functional teams, launched innovative learning platforms, and designed high-impact training programs for industries spanning biotechnology, SaaS, finance, and education.


As a doctoral graduate in Educational Technology, my work explores the intersection of AI, adaptive and game-based learning, and human-centered instructional design. My EdTech patent and research on gamified, AI-driven education underscore my passion for pioneering breakthrough solutions that personalize and elevate the learning experience.


In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, I specialize in leveraging machine learning, large language models (LLMs), data analytics, and AI-driven strategies to build intuitive, engaging, and scalable educational solutions that meet the needs of modern learners.


Beyond my professional life, I’m a lifelong creative and adventurer. From training wild horses and remodeling homes to traveling the world and publishing books, I find inspiration in diverse experiences, and I love sharing what I learn to spark innovation in others.

Things I know About

Group of people standing in a calf barn smiling for a photo

Leadership

Accomplishments include:

Successfully leading a consumer safety recall; Managing a 24-hour help desk with 2 direct reports helping 300+ people daily; Promoted to team lead in first six months of employment at Boehringer Ingelheim; Project manager for several LMS roll-outs; Managed teams of up to 40 people (direct and indirect reports); Successfully led initiative to centralize training across 7 subsidiaries; Served on several board of directors including Jaycees, DCS School Board, WHHA, and InterMission Horses.

Sadie R. Gunnink presenting at a training

Public, Private, and Corporate Education

Accomplishments include:

Interactive teaching with groups of up to 120; Speaking to groups of up to 400; ETS Recognition of Excellence; Led several innovative fundraisers for different schools; Developed Blackboard course shell recognized as best practice and rolled out to all staff; Started and led two new student clubs at the local school district (D&D and eSports); Taught over 100 topics, created over 200 online courses, and taught over 10,000 learners from K-16 plus adults.

Cover of the 5 Steps to 5 Stars sales strategy book

Sales and Sales Training

Accomplishments include:

Exceeding regional goals by 267% at Wells Fargo, securing "Top Loan Officer" awards, and ranking among the Top 10 in renovation loan sales nationally; Consistently achieving over 100% of production goals at Schering Plough (now Merck) and Boehringer Ingelheim; Driving a 12% increase in market share for key products through strategic, high-impact sales approaches; Developed the 5 Steps to 5 Stars sales process in use at several companies.

screenshots of an LMS process with arrows

Learning Management Systems

Admin on Blackboard, Cornerstone on Demand (CSoD), Saba (before acquired by CSoD), Litmos, Docebo, D2L, TalentLMS/eFront, Google Classroom, and Oracle.

Accomplishments include successful research, implementation, and roll-out/launch of LMS systems for five different companies.

two computer monitors, a keyboard, and headphones

Technology

Accomplishments include:

Certification to teach MS Office, Computer Basics, Information Technology, and Keyboarding; Built several websites and knowledge centers; Participated on SaaS development teams; Expert in Storyline, Learner UI/UX, DGBL, ADDIE and SAM.

Sadie R. Gunnink selfie outside a home being repaired

Residential Construction

 Accomplishments include: 

Designing, general contracting, and laboring on five new home builds from start to finish and eight complete remodel projects with progressive difficulty and scope over the years. Most projects were completed under budget. All projects were completed on time.

Sadie R. Gunnink selfie with a gentled mustang horse

Equine & Animal Care

Served as a large animal veterinary assistant; Rode as an outback rider for several outfits in my youth, providing safe and fun horseback rides while catching runaway horses on occasion; Served on the WI Harness Horse Association board of directors; Spent eight years within the dairy industry teaching, learning, and continuing my love for animals and farming; Adopted and gentled two wild mustangs.

Cover of a collection of essays titled "How is Technology Shaping the Future of Study?"

Writing and Publishing

Ed.D. dissertation:

Impact of Gamified Learning Software vs. Traditional Teaching Methods with MTSS Tier 2 Intervention Students


Game changers: How emerging technologies impact digital game-based learning (DGBL)


Purpose, Empowerment, and Persistence: The Trifecta of Doctoral Student Success


Delavan Christian Reformed Church: Favorite Recipes 2012


All About You!: Pre-Birth to 5 Years Old


Sadie R. Gunnink standing with a tabletop painted carousel pony

Creating Art

Donated time and talent to the SMILES organization to create art pieces that were auctioned off on three separate occasions, raising over $4000; Organized a student art display in the Wisconsin Capital Rotunda; Prize-winning photographer and an architecture and interior design fanatic.

Organizations I Have consulted for

Parnell Pharmaceutical logo with dairy cow
RehabPath logo
InterMission Horses logo
Turntide logo
VAS logo
Delavan Christian School logo
PIC logo
Genus logo
Wisconsin Harness Horse Association logo
Merck logo
Jaycees logo

Organizations I Have Worked for

Rice Lake Area School District logo
VES-Artex logo
URUS logo
Alta logo
ABS Global logo
Blackhawk Technical College logo
FGS Restoration logo
MGIC logo
Elkhorn Area School District logo
Boehringer Ingelheim logo

Testimonials

"[Sadie]'s fantastic. She was kind of my icebreaker here, and thank God for that. If it wasn't for her, God knows where I'd be now." 

- John Elliott, Blackhawk Technical College Student to GazetteXtra

"Your DiSC training was one of the best I have seen yet. Our employees had a lot of fun; you are a great trainer."

- Cecelia Beck, HR Director, VAS 

"Thanks for the online learning system launch and scavenger hunt! ...It was fun to review the course as well, and the quality is impressive to say the least. Just a great job, well done."

- Kevin Muxlow, COO, URUS

"[Sadie] displays a 'naturalness' about her when working with students. The students respond to her in a very favorable manner, and she easily works with a wide variety of staff."

- Greg Wells, Principal, Tibbets Elementary

Education leader and instructional design expert

202412 Sadie R. Gunnink (pdf)

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