Before she was shaping revenue and enablement programs at Houzz, Nora Brennan was captivating audiences as a professional dancer, performing across 26 countries spanning North, Central, and South America and the Carribean. Today, her stage looks a little different. When she traded the spotlight for the classroom, she discovered a new kind of choreography built around ideas, learning and innovation.

Tell us about your role.
As the instructional design manager on our Global Revenue and Enablement team, I create training experiences that make learning engaging and measurable, often taking content that can be complex and bringing it to life in a way that really resonates with our learners. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure every Houzzer feels confident in how we support the professionals who use our software to run more efficient, profitable businesses.

We support Houzzers across the company, but a lot of our work is focused on empowering our customer facing teams to improve performance and drive impactful business results. We work closely with managers to ensure that our programs help their teams achieve their goals. It’s incredibly collaborative and always evolving.

What led you to a career in instructional design?
I actually started out as a professional dancer. I performed internationally for nearly a decade with leading Los Angeles–based production and salsa companies, as well as with The Walt Disney Company and Holland America Cruise Lines. Dance was my first passion. My dance training inspired discipline, fueled creativity, and deepened my understanding of storytelling’s impact.

When I transitioned into the corporate world, I started training sales teams and fell in love with instructing and coaching. I realized that creating enablement resources was just another form of choreography. You’re guiding people through a sequence of steps, making sure every movement, or in this case, every concept, flows together. That realization set me on the path to instructional design.

How did you find your way to Houzz?
It’s a fun story. I was working for a company that shared a wall with the Houzz Irvine office. My colleagues and I used to walk past Houzz’s two story office and watch Houzzers go down the slide in the center of their office and joke, “How do we get to go down that slide?”

I was later laid off during a reorganization and within a week, a recruiter from Houzz called. I interviewed the next day and was hired on the spot. I was actually the first instructional designer that Houzz had ever hired, which was such an honor. It felt like everything aligned at exactly the right time.

You’ve been at Houzz since 2018. What’s it been like to see the company evolve?
It’s been incredible. I joined before the launch of Houzz Pro and I remember seeing the first presentation about it and thinking, “This is going to change everything.”

The innovation has been constant ever since. Our engineers never stop pushing boundaries, and it’s amazing how they come up with innovative ways to make our software even more helpful for pros. 

What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love mentoring. I’ve had people from all across the company reach out wanting to learn about instructional design and I’m always happy to share what I know. Knowledge shouldn’t be kept to yourself. When I teach, I learn too.

Creativity is another big part of it. Every project starts with a blank canvas, like stepping onto an empty stage. I get to choreograph how information flows, how visuals come together and how it all connects for the learner. It’s that blend of creativity and problem-solving that keeps it exciting.

What do you love most about working at Houzz?
The people. There’s such a sense of innovation, collaboration and trust. I can bring ideas forward, experiment and be vulnerable, because I know I’m in a supportive environment.

I’m also inspired daily by our community of pros. Their designs and their use of color and space all feed my own artistry. I often find myself drawing inspiration from a photo on Houzz for the look and feel of a training module.

Do you have a favorite Houzz Pro feature?
I really love the Lead Insights Dashboard. It gives pros real-time data about how quickly they follow up with leads, conversion rates and more. It’s such a powerful way for them to take ownership of their sales funnel and see what’s working.

And of course, I’m a big fan of the 3D Floor Planner. It’s intuitive, constantly advancing and such a game-changer for visualizing spaces.

What advice would you give to someone new joining Houzz?
Buckle in! We are constantly innovating and looking ahead. It’s hard work, but the rewards are huge. If you thrive on originality, collaboration and continuous learning, this is the place for you.

What do you enjoy outside of work?
I still dance every day. I teach adult jazz classes on weekends, train in competitive ballroom and love staying active. I’m also a proud mom to a collegiate lacrosse player. Cheering him on is my favorite thing in the world.

When I’m not dancing or working, you’ll probably find me watching reruns at midnight or texting friends in different time zones. Life keeps me busy, but brings me so much joy in return.