Our Why

ExuLAB™ (pronounced eggs-ek-YOU-lab) inspires the growth of global executive leaders- to lead harmoniously & perform successfully- as a catalyst for good in our world- even when it seems impossible.

An exhilarating experiential learning and leadership development "lab"  for organizations & executives- ExuLAB™ is a refreshing effervescent space for leaders and the organizations they serve to learn, grow, explore, create, expand & reach beyond their highest level of human performance.

We think differently. We think creatively. We inspire. We explore. We play. And through this process we come up with compelling solutions to some of the toughest human learning & leadership challenges facing organizations today.

ExuLAB™ was brought into the world to inspire 'our why'. Born in the beautiful U.S.A., ExuLAB™ is founded upon the embrace of vibrant expertise in learning methodology, instructional design  & leadership development coupled with a deep strength in building enterprise-wide learning strategy & up-levelling executive leadership performance- meticulously executed with a fresh approach to the learning & leadership challenges affecting today's organizations. Our work never consists of 'canned programming' but thoughtfully contoured & created experiences & solutions animating a human-centered design practice created to embody purpose, reflect your precise organizational goals, meet the moment of need & impact with transformative results & extremely high rates of long-term retention & application that translate into true ROI. 

We are experts in human-centered experiential learning & specialize in utilizing this highly impactful robust learning method as the vehicle to acquire & apply new knowledge, skill & belief within the leadership & development space- & turbo charge performance. We are helmed by our CLO, Deidre C. Alves M.Ed., a results-driven visionary & transformational senior executive leader, who, throughout her career, has successfully created, produced, designed & led inspired enterprise learning/leadership development strategic solutions in both the public & private sector for industries including:

• Energy
• Organizational Resiliency 
• Public Affairs
• Cybersecurity
• National Security
• Infrastructure Development
• Transportation
• Electrical Transmission
• Infrastructure Security/Convergence
• Education (Secondary/University)
• Education Policy
• Luxury Hotels
• Accreditation
• Healthcare/Medical Education
• Communications
• Governance
• Valuation
• Environmental Management
• Law
• Engineering

Producing jaw-dropping results in executive performance and improvement in organizational morale leading the learning function for organizations topping 20,000 people and generating more than $20 million in revenue from more than 71,000 learning & leadership experiences (& counting), Our CLO leverages her expertise to chart our course every day with heart, determination, courage, inspiration & love.

In our CLOs words:

"Inspiring, encouraging and providing hope to leaders at all levels is core to my purpose as Chief Leadership Officer at ExuLAB™. I've been immersed in the world of organizational learning and leadership development and I have seen the best and the worst of what leadership can do and be in this world. Leaders possess a very unique power and responsibility.  I strive to help leaders harness this power to become catalysts for good in the world, yes even when it seems impossible. Real ROI is developing and believing in your purpose & the people on your team- when this happens profits soar and people prosper- on many levels.  My goal is to teach you the best of what I discovered (and continue to discover!) as a transformational organizational leader and be your guide on this journey to excellent executive performance."  

 -Deidre C. Alves M.Ed.

Chief Leadership Officer, ExuLAB™

Success Record for Deidre C. Alves M.Ed.

Harvard University Humanitarian Initiative in partnership with the Global Executive Leadership Initiative (GELI); sponsored by USAID, brokered through The KonTerra Group- Curriculum, Development, Strategic Analysis & Senior Executive Consultancy

Published article written by Deidre Alves M.Ed. owned and released by Chief Learning Officer Magazine and Better Work Media Group- "A Human-Centered Learning Biome: How Prioritizing Learning Atmospheres Propels Human Performance"

Official Judge- Learning Elite Awards 2023- Chief Learning Officer Magazine and Better Work Media Group 

Official Judge- The Talent Trailblazers Awards 2023- Talent Management

Official Judge- Reworked IMPACT Awards 2024 Review- Simpler Media Group 

Official Judge- CMSWire IMPACT Awards 2024 Review- Simpler Media Group

Authority Magazine- Published- "5 Things You Need to be a Highly Effective Leader During Turbulent Times"

Leaders Perception Magazine- Published- "Unleashing Human Potential: On Transforming Leadership and Navigating through Organizational Crises"

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, The United States Department of Homeland Security- Strategic Competency Analysis

The United States Department of Education- Organizational Development Strategic Expert and Executive Consultancy

Disney Executive Speaker Series in partnership with United Way- Interviews Simulation

Great to Elite Scale Chiefs Summit 2023- Selected Speaker on the Topic of Optimizing Leader Mindsets

Chief Learning Officer Business Intelligence Board Member-Human Capital Media Research and Advisory Services

Talent Management Business Intelligence Board Member-Chief Learning Officer-BetterWork Media Group

Workforce Business Intelligence Board Member-Workforce.com

Chief Learning Officer-IRWA

Vice President of Professional Development-IRWA

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)-Vetted NGO Executive Representative 

Infrastructure Learning Ecosystems- Strategy & Implementation

IKT Transatlantic Cooperation on Infrastructure- Underground Infrastructure Panorama- Curriculum, Development & Credentialing

Center for Social Ecology & Public Policy-Curriculum, Development & Credentialing

Bureau of Land Management-Social Ecology Program Development & Implementation

Port of Los Angeles-Social Ecology Program Development & Implementation

Infrastructure Professional Ethics-Curriculum & Faculty Development

UCLA Learning Team-Instructor Leadership Development Collaboration for Infrastructure Professionals-Curriculum & Faculty Development

Energy Industries & Renewables-Curriculum & Development

ASTM 1527-13 ESA1- Environmental Site Assessments-Curriculum & Development

Enterprising Leaders- HiPo Leadership Journey-Curriculum & Development

Digital Instruction Method for Professional Instructors- Curriculum & Faculty Development

Conflict Management & Mediation-Curriculum & Development

Electrical Utilities & Transmission-Curriculum & Development

Responsible Land Development (International)-Curriculum, Development & Credentialing

International Society for Performance Improvement-"Leading Through Glass Walls"-  Executive Workshop and Plenary

Program Management, Faculty Advisor, Speaker Affairs-Envision EMI-Leadership Education

National Academies-National Research Council-Enhancing Professional Development of Teachers, University of California, Irvine-Invitational

National Teacher Quality, University Board Examiner, Education & Accreditation Program Review, Professional Development Training Specialist NCATE Professional Development Web Series-NCATE (CAEP)

Superintendent's Advisory Council-Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Performance-Based Assessment Taskforce on Language Acquisition in collaboration with ACTFL- Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Professional Development of Teachers- Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia- "Using Technology in Language Instruction- an interactive dialog and cultural language exchange with the Embassy of Ecuador & The Organization of American States, Washington, D.C."- Licensed Language Teacher Impact II Grant Awardee

The Ritz-Carton Luxury Hotels & Resorts- Guest Services Advisory Board, Human Resources and Conference Services- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Embassy Row, Washington, D.C.

USC Town & Gown

Legacy of Leadership Alumni Award-George Mason University 

Alumni Ambassador-George Mason University

Lee Hertzfeld Award-The Catholic University of America

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Member & Key Holder

Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society Member

Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society Member

Design for Collaboration Course; completed and passed- certificate issued by Intrepid by VitalSource 

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, United States Department of Homeland Security- PT Security Clearance

Certified University Board Examiner- NCATE (CAEP)

M.Ed. George Mason University

University of Virginia- CRISS Method Course for Master's

B.A. The Catholic University of America

La Universidad de Valladolid, Spain- International Service Program for Bachelor's