Keri Mikulski’s career path has been anything but conventional—and that’s exactly what makes her story so inspiring. With a creative spirit, a storytelling soul, and a passion for lifelong learning, Keri has transformed years of experience in writing, teaching, and freelancing into a fulfilling new chapter: freelance instructional design. And IDOL Academy played a key role in helping her make that leap.

A Foundation in Storytelling and Education

Keri’s journey began in the world of creative writing. With an MFA in fiction, she became a published author for Penguin and Capstone and wrote countless articles and comedies. Her teaching career blossomed into a full-time role as a creative writing professor, during which she also taught comedy and design courses. For over a decade, she honed the art of storytelling—one of the most crucial skills for engaging learning experiences.

But as passionate as she was about teaching, a grueling three-hour commute left her questioning the sustainability of her work-life balance. The pandemic, and the shift to remote teaching, provided clarity: it was time to pivot.

Turning Passion Into a Business

At the time, Keri had already been freelancing for 13 years. She leaned deeper into that world—adding a graphic design certification from an art institute in New York and embracing visual communication with the same energy she brought to storytelling. As she pieced together client work, instructional content, and design assets, she realized something important:

“There’s this whole thing I’ve been doing this entire time—creating classes. I had been doing eLearning design since 2007.”

She was already using the tools. She had already mastered the concepts. But something was missing.

Enter IDOL Academy

Looking to deepen her network and elevate her skills, Keri joined IDOL Academy. Initially, she considered the On Demand version—but after speaking with the team, she jumped into the full program to polish her portfolio, access mentorship, and build meaningful industry connections.

Even with her rich background, IDOL Academy gave her a fresh edge:

• Upskilling with Storyline, Vyond, and Camtasia

• Refining her portfolio with real-world projects

• Connecting with mentors and peers in a vibrant community

• Reigniting confidence in her expertise

“The mentorships, the networking—that’s what I really got out of IDOL. Every time I’m in a meeting or session, I learn something new.”

Making Waves With Instructional Design

One standout project Keri completed through IDOL was a custom onboarding course for a local surf shop. A surfer herself, she designed an interactive learning experience using storytelling and eLearning tools to prepare young instructors for their first day on the job. Featuring fictional characters like "Rookie Ray" and "Nervous Nathan," the course was not just informative—it was fun, relevant, and deeply personal.

The surf shop project didn’t just build her portfolio—it proved her instructional design superpowers in action.

Big Wins & What’s Next

Since graduating, Keri has landed a dream contract with a company that aligns perfectly with her passion for storytelling. Although the details are still under wraps, she credits her IDOL portfolio for catching their attention.

“They mentioned my portfolio—that’s what really drove them in.”

She also continues to teach online and run her freelance business, thriving in the flexibility and creativity that come with instructional design.

🖥️ View Keri's online portfolio here

Advice From Keri

For anyone considering IDOL Academy, Keri offers this:

“If you’re looking to connect, network, upskill, and learn the business side of instructional design—IDOL works. And there’s nothing else like it.”

She also lives by IDOL’s abundance mindset, frequently cheering on her cohort peers, sharing opportunities, and believing there’s room for everyone to succeed.

Keri Mikulski is proof that you can rewrite your career at any stage—with heart, hustle, and a little help from a supportive community. She brings her full self—educator, storyteller, designer, surfer—to every project, and the world of instructional design is lucky to have her.

🎓 Want to follow in Keri’s footsteps?
Learn more about IDOL Academy and enroll today.