About Performance Matters
Performance Matters is a training design and development consulting practice that supports organizations by aligning learning and development initiatives to the broader organizational strategy and ensuring development programs are anchored in performance.
Development programs often begin with a learning strategy or a curriculum design that maps the learning journey for employees. A curriculum identifies the design principles, the sequence of learning, and delivery approaches. The training and development programs Performance Matters creates reflect the organization’s culture, values, systems and processes. Training programs can be facilitated in-person courses or workshops, online facilitated courses, elearning, or coaching.
About Hannah Brown
Hi! I am the founder and primary consultant at Performance Matters. I love working with my clients to design learning strategies, curriculum design, training and development, and coaching programs that help their employees be better and their organizations more successful.
I went to the University of Guelph for my undergraduate degree. I started off in Child Studies, but quickly realized I wanted to work with adults. After a switch in my second year, I completed a degree in Family Studies. I was sure I would work with people and get an advanced degree to be a therapist. After I graduated, I worked for the Boston Consulting Group in Toronto and my eyes were opened to the world of business. I loved it (well not my role, but the environment). I had a few early-career jobs then discovered training and development. I had found my niche – a way to bridge my interest in people and interpersonal relationships with business. I went back to school to earn a M.Ed. in adult education and worked for a small boutique consulting firm in Toronto.
In my 15+ years in consulting and working internally, I’ve learned the value of having a partnership approach when working with clients. I’ve built up a ‘library’ of resources and approaches for bringing content to ‘life’ and designing programs in a way that has an impact on performance. In my partnerships with clients, I bring expertise in learning design, leadership and excellent project management skills. My clients bring expertise of their organizations – the culture, values and systems – that shape what will (and won’t) be successful.
Often I get up in the morning and reflect on how fortunate I am. I get to work with a variety of clients in different industries. Through our work together I come to understand their organization with its challenges and opportunities. I learn about my client’s industry, which I find fascinating.
My relationships are very important to me. I have a rich network of professionals I respect and reach out to when I need additional insights or an additional partner to meet a client’s needs. I develop friendships with many of my clients. My family is also important to me. As a consultant, I enjoy a flexible schedule, which allows me to balance being a mom and a wife and a woman who finds time to exercise.
I hope I’ve scratched the surface of who I am and why I love being a learning consultant and coach. I’m curious to learn about your story. Reach out so we can start a conversation.

Hannah Brown
Volunteerism and Community Engagement
I am actively engaged in my community and try to always have at least one place where I’m committing my volunteer time.
- MacGregor Sr. Public School – Parent Council (2019 to present)
- Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce – Active member (2017 to present)
- Institute for Performance and Learning – Waterloo, Wellington and Area Executive member (2011 to 2017)
- Leadership Waterloo Region – Advisor, Curriculum Committee (2014)
- St. John’s Christian Nursery School – Chair, Board of Directors (2008 to 2013)
Working with Hannah
I like to use an analogy of a sherpa to describe how I work with clients.
What mountain did you need help to summit?
Background
2022
2022
Published, Training that Clicks: Virtual Design Playbook for people who design virtual training and who don’t have a learning and development background, or who are looking for ways to elevate their virtual courses, so they’re more engaging and have more impact.
Available for purchase on Amazon.
2021
2021
Training Design award, Adapting Workplace Performance and Learning in the time of Covid-19 – Institute for Performance and Learning.
2019
2019
Design Award, Standard Achievement, Designing Learning Experiences – Institute for Performance and Learning.
2018
2015
2015
Volunteer Recognition Award – Institute for Performance and Learning.
2011
2011
Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) – Institute for Performance and Learning [formerly Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD)].
2010
2010
Started Performance Matters.
2010
2010
Independent Senior Consultant through Benchmark Performance in Toronto.
2006
2006
Life License through Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO).
2004
2004
Director, Learning and Development, North America at Foresters (life insurance company) in Toronto.
2002
2002
M.Ed. Workplace Learning & Change at O.I.S.E. University of Toronto.