Learning Network Architect · Toronto, ON

Experience design for  incubators & institutes 

I architect the infrastructure that helps people learn, grow, and participate in economies that were never designed for them.

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Currently building
Shorefast Institute · Shorenet ↗
Learning Experience Design Lead

Designing end-to-end learning infrastructure for a national network bridging government, market, and community actors in place-based economic development.

PWRForward ↗
Program Design & Strategy Lead

Leading program strategy for Canada's first Filipino-Canadian business incubator — building curriculum and community for founders outside the traditional pipeline.

Pop App Shop ↗
Founder & Product Designer

A no-code product studio delivering launch-ready apps for women founders in social impact tech — at a fifth of traditional development cost.

The community is ready to learn. The ecosystem is desperate for a shift.
Is your infrastructure ready to lead collective action?

Problems I've helped untangle

How might we…

Beyond
Where we start

Before we build anything,
we diagnose everything.

The Learning Network Diagnostic is a systems-level assessment of whether your infrastructure can actually support what you're trying to build. It looks across six dimensions:

⬡
Platform Architecture

The right tools, configured for how your network actually operates — not a cookie-cutter template dropped into a context it doesn't fit.

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Learning Experience Design

Programs that are collaborative by design, impactful by intention, and genuinely fulfilling for every leader who moves through them.

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Network Engagement Design

The full member journey — from the first touchpoint to the moment they become the ones carrying it forward.

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Field Readiness

Equipping leaders with the tools, resources, and playbooks they need to apply, adapt, and spread the work in their own contexts.

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Brand & Business Model

Making sure your identity, pricing, and value proposition are coherent with the network you're actually building.

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Credentials & Roles

Stackable credentials, interdependent roles, and contribution pathways that give people a reason to stay — and a way to grow.

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About
Sisa Lleses
Samantha 'Sisa' Lleses
Learning Network Architect · Toronto, ON

I build learning experiences and network platforms for social enterprises that get governments, businesses, and communities moving together.

I've played every position in building these ecosystems, and that's exactly why I can architect the infrastructure that holds them together. I've been a learner & educator, fellow & facilitator, leader & community member, product designer & developer, strategist & builder, entrepreneur & service provider across social innovation, tech, and the creative industries for 15+ years.

Communities served

Stages, summits &
innovation floors.

Collision Toronto Startup Canada Markham Board of Trade Woman Impact Scale Without Borders On Deck Legal Innovation Zone Treefrog Accelerator Toronto Metropolitan University City of Markham Black Entrepreneurship Alliance YSpace Markham Desjardins Cooperathon FirstCheck Africa George Brown College The Village Hive ELLA Startup Sanctuary OFC Fifth Wave PH Startup Week
I've built from every seat at the table

What the field says.

Before fully leaning into learning network architecture, I played every position in building these ecosystems. Here's what that looked like in practice.

The BEST articulation of design thinking I've ever had. The snippets of theory mentioned throughout were just enough to really communicate the importance of design thinking to people who feel like design thinking is intimidating.
Fellow · On Deck No-Code
Seeing early-stage entrepreneurs, without technical background, going from powerless to feeling empowered in only 24h is truly amazing.
Mirela Pirlea · Lead Partnerships Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Desjardins Group
Sisa has done a fabulous job working with us on this project. From rapid prototyping workshops to detailed UX — Sisa goes above and beyond, really thinking through multiple issues around product testing and iteration, and are careful listeners. This talent for listening, and learning from mistakes, is unique — I have not found many designers to possess these qualities.
Natasha Freidus · Co-Founder & CEO, NeedsList
I've seen many pitches in my time in startups. I have to say Sisa just shattered the bar of how fun a product demo could be.
Karthik Puvvada · Program Director, OnDeck & Product Hunt's Community Member of the Year 2022
What I really like about Sisa is her great ability to connect the dots between the user's needs and the business' bigger picture. Her great focus to break down complex ideas and translate them into clear, actionable strategies has made the process much more straightforward.
Rawaa Khalid · Geospatial Scientist, Client
Let's connect

Ready to build a network that doesn't stop?

Start with a diagnostic. We'll map what's working, what's missing, and what to build next.

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Toronto, ON