Chris Lele
Walnut Creek,California
Summary
Creator of innovative learning solutions and content strategy, who has led teams of subject matter experts in both creating and refining company-wide processes to boost learning outcomes and market share. Used data and cutting edge AI/ML technology to realize this.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
VP of Content
CK-12
Palo Alto, CA
11.2021 - Current
- Facilitated ongoing transition to AI-inspired learning tool, getting content team buy-in
- Collaborated with leadership to help execute vision and secure buy-in
- Led hiring efforts to grow team, refining processes and devising onboarding templates
- Oversaw operation of content team, providing general direction and focus
- Worked cross functionally with content and ML/AI teams to optimize outcomes
- Strategized with data team around ways to drive up engagement and learning outcomes
- Leveraged understanding of market share to drive various content initiatives
- Focused on increasing content team's efficiency, adding processes and guidance around various projects, as well as establishing longer term goals
Principal Curriculum Developer
Magoosh
Berkeley, CA
06.2011 - 10.2021
- Collaborated with product team (data, engineering, design) and worked closely with Head of Product to build new version of flagship GRE project, devising and managing creation of entire curriculum
- Created instructional design (unique flow of lesson videos, quizzes, checkpoints, assessments) that relied on algorithm-driven learning to boost learning outcomes
- Led content and instructional strategy for company's two major products (GRE and GMAT), laying out long-term content roadmap and assembling teams to achieve that vision
- Spearheaded cross-functional team (data, content, DEI) to research and identify potential performance gaps for historically marginalized groups
- Used data, research, and student feedback, prioritizing focus areas, to optimize learning outcomes
- Used data feedback loop and established data thresholds to ensure that Magoosh’s content quality is virtually indistinguishable from that of real exam
- Led weekly department meetings, collaborating with team to triage and prioritize issues
- Cracked deep structure of GRE math and verbal sections, forming online training programs both for students and Magoosh content providers
- Created content/oversaw content creation for GRE product: online lesson videos, questions, explanations seen by 300,000+ students worldwide
- Built“Content Creation Machine” (CCM) from scratch, a framework of processes and quality checks, whereby much of Magoosh’s product content is created
- Selected and cultivated team of top test prep and subject matter experts in country to form content creation and review arm of CCM
- Wrote hundreds of blog posts relating to SAT, GRE, GMAT and learning in general
- Served as voice for SAT, GRE, and GMAT, quoted in prominent publications, such as US News & World Reports
Independent Contractor
Self-employed
Bay Area, CA
01.2008 - 06.2011
- Led and facilitated intensive SAT and GRE workshops
- Selectively provided private tutoring and increased student test scores by 1+ standard deviation
- Created curated content for students, as well as content for 3rd party companies
Lead Teacher
AndyPrep
Seoul, South Korea
11.2003 - 08.2006
- Taught variety of students, from 5th graders who struggled with English to Ivy-bound seniors
- Created optimal curriculum for each class, designing on the fly to fit individual student needs, from middle school/high school English courses
- Increased many students' SAT scores by hundreds of points (old scale)
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
UCLA
City Of Los Angeles, CASkills
Leading teams through encouragement and empathy
Using data to get at complex problems
Ability to cut through ambiguity to make decisions
Managing cross team, complex projects to drive successful outcomes
Published author with excellent communication skills
Accomplishments
- Authored two books, including the popular Vocabulary Builder Workbook, a top-seller in the Amazon education book space
- Classically-trained pianist and composer
- Using variety of online resources achieved fluency in Spanish and German, and intermediate fluency in Italian
Spanish
Able to communicate across a variety of contexts, using relatively sophisticated vocabulary and syntax.
Timeline
VP of Content
CK-12
11.2021 - Current
Principal Curriculum Developer
Magoosh
06.2011 - 10.2021
Independent Contractor
Self-employed
01.2008 - 06.2011
Lead Teacher
AndyPrep
11.2003 - 08.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
UCLA