Meet Lani Matsumura | Director of Training & Development

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lani Matsumura and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lani, what is the most important factor behind your success?
For me, the most important factor behind my success has always been perseverance grounded in a genuine passion for what I do. I believe that when you truly care about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, you’re naturally more motivated to push through challenges and keep growing. Rather than just getting the job done, it starts being about making a real impact. That sense of purpose is what’s always kept me energized, even on the tough days.

Take my time in K-12 education, for instance. I absolutely loved teaching and poured my heart into it. To me, it was about so much more than just lesson plans; it was about creating a supportive and engaging community for my students, whether that meant starting the school’s first music club or writing and sending simple encouragement cards. When the pandemic unexpectedly shifted everything online, that passion spurred me to create and freely share virtual classroom materials, hoping to ease the transition for other educators and students during a difficult time. Being recognized nationally as LifeChanger of the Year later on was very humbling, and honestly, it felt like a reflection of that deep commitment I felt towards my students’ growth and well-being.

That same principle guided my career transition. I realized I had a growing passion for designing effective learning experiences on a broader scale. So, I decided to fully commit to that new path by pursuing a second Master’s degree, specifically focused on Instructional Design, which equipped me for the transition into roles where I could impact adult learning.

It even shows up in my personal interests! I developed a hobby in food photography, and simply because I enjoyed it so much, I dedicated time to honing that skill. Eventually, that passion grew into a rewarding opportunity for me to help amplify hundreds of local restaurants by visually telling their stories and promoting their food on Instagram.

In each of these areas, whether it was teaching, making a career pivot, or even developing a personal hobby into something more, the driving force has been consistent: finding something that genuinely sparks my passion and then having the perseverance to commit fully, navigate challenges, and strive for excellence and meaningful impact. So, I’d say that combination is the most important factor behind any success I’ve experienced.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After earning my first Master’s degree in Education from Stanford University, my career began in K-12 teaching, where I was deeply passionate about fostering student growth and creating positive learning environments in public schools. This passion evolved and led me to pivot towards adult learning and instructional design, after a few years. To facilitate that shift, I earned a Master of Education specifically in Instructional Design, which opened doors to roles developing learning experiences, first as an Instructional Designer at Stanford Medicine, and then as an Instructional Designer at American Honda Motor Company, Inc., also known as Honda. Recently, I started my current role as Director of Social Services Training and Development at The Salvation Army.

I believe what perhaps sets me apart is this somewhat unique journey across diverse sectors: education, healthcare, corporate, and now non-profit. This breadth gives me a valuable perspective on varied learning needs and allows me to adapt my approach, always focusing on creating engaging and truly effective experiences tailored to different audiences and organizational goals.

Looking back, I’m genuinely proud of contributions where I felt I made a real difference, such as being honored as LifeChanger of the Year during my teaching days, because that recognition for impacting students’ lives was very meaningful. Later, while creating learning experiences for clinicians and healthcare professionals around the world through my role at Stanford Medicine, I was recognized in The Learning Guild’s Thirty Under 30 cohort, which was also a proud milestone in my career. Right now, I’m excited about my new role at The Salvation Army. The opportunity to support the development of people within an organization with such a vital, far-reaching mission is energizing and aligns perfectly with my drive to contribute purposefully.

My path hasn’t always been linear. As a first-generation college student, I had to figure a lot of things out on my own. I pushed myself early on, completing two years’ worth of university courses while still in high school, which allowed me to graduate with my Bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine in two years. That drive and determination set the tone for everything that followed. There were definitely challenges along the way, but those experiences taught me the power of perseverance, adaptability, and staying focused on the bigger picture, even when things get tough.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I’d want to give them a real taste of Southern California—the big iconic things with some local favorites here in the South Bay. Since I’m in Rancho Palos Verdes, we’d definitely start by enjoying the amazing coastline right here! Maybe a drive along the peninsula, stopping at Point Vicente to soak in the ocean views.

Of course, you can’t come to SoCal without experiencing Disneyland! I’d dedicate a full day to that. Having been a few times, I’d suggest we get there early, use the park app to navigate, and maybe splurge on the Park Hopper to see both parks since they’re so close.

We’d definitely need a good mix of activities. A Dodgers game would be awesome, especially to catch Ohtani. We’d also have to head up to Griffith Observatory, probably in the late afternoon, to see the beautiful panoramic views of the city as the sun sets and the lights come on.

For some more local fun, especially since we’re near Torrance, we could check out the shops at Del Amo Mall, do an escape room at The Escape Game, then hit up Round One in Lakewood for some games later.

And the food! That’s a huge part of it. The South Bay has amazing Japanese food. We’d have to go to places like Ichimi Ann for yamakake udon or Momo Paradise for hot pot. For Japanese BBQ, Sei-Ko-En is a great option. We could grab some sushi at Sakana Sushi Lounge or Waraku, and head to Chon Dak for late night Korean food. And for a casual coffee or treat, Dol Coffee has a fantastic Vietnamese egg coffee.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I have to start with my mom. Her constant belief in me and her support, in every way she possibly could, laid the foundation for everything. Knowing I had her backing gave me the confidence to pursue my goals.

During my time at UC Irvine, I was fortunate to have Dr. Fernando Rodriguez and Dr. Mark Warschauer as research mentors in the School of Education. Their guidance was instrumental as I was developing my skills and passion for educational research, especially as I was also navigating the experience of being a first generation college student.

At Stanford University, where I learned to become a teacher, I was grateful to learn from Dr. Ira Lit. He pushed me to think deeply about what it means to teach with purpose, and he helped shape my practice as an educator and the values I carried into every classroom I stepped into.

Professionally, I’ve benefited greatly from some amazing leaders as well. During my time teaching at Laurelwood Elementary School, Dr. Lori Rogers, our principal, was absolutely incredible. Especially navigating the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, she led with remarkable kindness, patience, and dedication towards the teachers and students. Her leadership during that tough period was really inspiring to me.

When I transitioned to Stanford CME, my manager, Dr. Jayzona Alberto was my role model. She exemplified leadership by example, managing multiple responsibilities while always looking out and showing up for her team. She supported my growth, valued innovation and creativity, recognized my interests and strengths, and gave me opportunities that aligned with them. That kind of trust and support was very impactful for me.

And more recently, during my time at American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Matt Bown was an invaluable mentor to me. He showed me incredible kindness and patience as I learned to navigate the corporate world—and the world of cars! From my first day, he made sure I had the resources and support I needed to succeed, and I learned so much from him throughout my time there.

Each of these individuals, along with many others, offered guidance, support, and belief in me, and I’m forever grateful for their influence.

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