SOAR (Sales Optimization and Readiness) is the foundational new-hire onboarding program for [1]. Designed and built in partnership with [2], it targets new sales hires but is intended to scale across all departments to provide a shared organizational foundation.
Agility Recovery is an ~83-person company with no prior dedicated training function. Gus Donelson (Learning Leader) is the first person in this role and the primary client stakeholder. All training responsibility falls on him, which is the core driver for outsourcing content development to Asymmetric.
The program was originally scoped as a 14-week engagement. As of the April 2026 handover kickoff, it is nearing completion but behind schedule, primarily due to IT access delays.
SOAR is built as a two-week foundational experience. Modules are authored in Articulate Rise (e-learning) with supplementary recorded content and instructor-led components.
| Module | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unlocking the Power of Co-pilot | Near complete | Under review by Gus; ownership transfer to Agility Recovery pending |
| Tech Stack | In progress | Blocked by SharePoint/M365 access; pivoting from Storyline simulations to video recordings |
| Sales Mastery | In progress | Outline drafted; awaiting Gus feedback incorporation and SME (Abby) access |
| Participant Guide | In progress | Being sent to design team for Adobe layout |
| Facilitator Guide | In progress | Same as above; raw editable file to be provided to client |
| SOAR Agenda | Updated | Sent to Gus for review; feedback pending |
The original plan called for Articulate Storyline click-through simulations for the Tech Stack module. This was deprioritized due to:
- Storyline's complexity relative to available skill on the team
- Schedule pressure from Agility Recovery leadership
- Ongoing IT/access blockers preventing tool access
Decision: Pivot to simpler screen-capture video recordings to accelerate delivery. Storyline simulations remain a future consideration for SOAR 2.0.
Guides will be designed in Adobe for a professional, polished output. An editable raw file (Word or equivalent) will be provided to Gus so Agility Recovery can make minor updates independently. Agility Recovery's marketing team has some Adobe access for larger edits.
All current modules are built in Articulate Rise. Gus acknowledges Rise is fast to produce but not deeply engaging ("really just reading"). This is the primary motivation for SOAR 2.0 and the Elevate program.
A recurring theme throughout the project has been IT-related delays. As of the April 2026 kickoff:
Workaround in the interim: Avoke to download available Tech Stack documents from the Asymmetric shared drive to begin content prep without SharePoint access.
A planned evolution of the current program with more engaging content formats — moving beyond Rise's click-through reading experience. Likely to incorporate Storyline interactives and/or AI-generated video (see Vyond below).
A continuous education initiative for the sales team, running monthly after SOAR completion. Formats will vary: e-learning, video, or instructor-led sessions. Topics will span soft skills, product training, and skill development. Goal is to build a reusable content library over time.
Elevate is not yet formally scoped or contracted. Gus identified it as a future opportunity during the April 2026 kickoff.
Gus is piloting Vyond (AI video creation software) as a potential tool for producing more engaging video content without requiring deep production skills. Pilot was scheduled to begin the week following the kickoff meeting.
| Person | Role | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Gus Donelson | Learning Leader (client stakeholder) | Agility Recovery |
| Isalia Ramirez | Original Asymmetric lead (transitioning off) | Asymmetric |
| Melissa Cusumano | Incoming Asymmetric account lead | Asymmetric |
| Avoke Onorimuo | Incoming Asymmetric account coordinator | Asymmetric |
| Mark Hope | Asymmetric principal | Asymmetric |
| Abby (last name not captured) | Internal SME for Sales Mastery / Tech Stack | Agility Recovery |