Mekayla Castro
About Mekayla Castro
Mekayla Castro is the Head of Curriculum at Praxis Labs, where she focuses on developing immersive learning experiences and improving operational efficiency. She has an extensive background in organizational psychology and has held various leadership roles in talent development and learning design.
Current Role at Praxis Labs
Mekayla Castro serves as the Head of Curriculum at Praxis Labs, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she focuses on creating and redesigning systems and processes to enhance operational efficiency. She collaborates closely with the product team to develop immersive learning experiences. Additionally, she works directly with clients to co-create learning experiences and inform curriculum strategy. Her contributions are aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of educational programs at the organization.
Previous Experience at American Express
Prior to her current role, Mekayla Castro held multiple positions at American Express. She worked as the Director of Executive Talent Development for nine months in 2015, and later served as the Director of Global Leadership and Learning from 2016 to 2019. In these roles, she focused on talent management and leadership development within the organization. Additionally, she was a Manager of Executive Talent Management for one year from 2014 to 2015, contributing to the development of leadership strategies.
Educational Background
Mekayla Castro has an extensive educational background in psychology and organizational studies. She studied at the Community College of Rhode Island from 2001 to 2003, focusing on Liberal Arts. She then attended Teachers College, Columbia University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology from 2005 to 2010 and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social-Organizational Psychology from 2005 to 2013. Additionally, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rhode Island College from 2003 to 2005.
Experience in Higher Education
Mekayla Castro has experience in higher education, having worked at Teachers College, Columbia University. She served as a Graduate Assistant from 2011 to 2012 and later as an Adjunct Professor from 2011 to 2014. In these roles, she contributed to academic programs and supported students in their learning journeys. Her involvement in academia complements her professional experience in organizational psychology and curriculum development.
Role at BetterUp
Before joining Praxis Labs, Mekayla Castro worked at BetterUp, where she held the position of Head of Learning Experience Design from 2020 to 2022. In this role, she was responsible for designing and implementing learning experiences that catered to the needs of clients. She also served as a Senior Behavioral Scientist and Solutions Consultant from 2019 to 2020, where she applied her expertise in behavioral science to enhance learning outcomes.