Amber Anderson: From Dive Shop Deckhand to Global L&D Leader — a story of brave pivots and self-trust

Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell

What does it take to go from bartending in a tourist town to leading global leadership development programs for billion-dollar companies?

In this episode, I sit down with Amber Anderson, Head of Learning & Leadership Development and Executive Coach, to unpack her incredible 25-year career journey. From working in her dad’s dive shop on the Great Lakes, to creating her own role in corporate training, to taking bold leaps of faith without a safety net — Amber’s story is all about courage, self-trust, and building a career that truly fits.

We talk about:

• How Amber pivoted from social work to learning & development
• What it was like consulting at age 22 with major automotive suppliers
• The turning point when she quit without another job lined up (and why it wasn’t quitting, but courage)
• Building Spectrum Health University and leading award-winning programs
• Why leaders must embrace self-leadership before servant leadership
• How Amber supports introverted and highly sensitive leaders through coaching and nervous system regulation
• 
  

If you’re in Learning & Development, Talent Development, or Leadership Coaching, this episode is packed with insights into career growth, resilience, and making L&D a true business partner.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more real stories from seasoned professionals who are reshaping how we think about work, leadership, and development.

Get to know Amber:

Amber Anderson is a leadership strategist who transforms workplace dynamics through her "Me Before We" philosophy. With 20+ years of experience in senior-level learning and leadership effectiveness roles in large and small organizations, Amber has seen first-hand how and why traditional leadership development doesn't work. She leverages this experience to bring playful wisdom and practical tools that help leaders create powerful ripple effects through intentional self-leadership. Through her work, Amber empowers leaders to elevate their teams not by depleting themselves, but by first becoming the leaders they were meant to be—powered by emotional regulation, mindset management, and skillset development.

Connect with Amber:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachamberanderson/

Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com