Train the Trainer course 2026:
Master the art & science
of designing impactful learning experiences
Become an
exceptional trainer.
Imagine being the kind of trainer who builds unforgettable learning experiences, workshops and courses that make a lasting difference. If that is who you want to be – this Train the Trainer course is for you!
Train the Trainer (TTT) is a blended course,
combining 8 online live modules stretched over 3 months
with 2 full days in person.
It is designed for a small group of 6 participants, ensuring a deeply personalized and interactive learning experience.
Sign-ups for 2026 are now open:
September 2026 start - Amsterdam
starting online in September, finishing in Amsterdam in late May
March 2027 start -
Zagreb/Florence/London
starting online in March, finishing December in Zagreb, Florence or London
November 2026 start -
Cape Town
starting online in November, finishing in Cape Town in February 2027
Curious to know what this learning experience looks like?
Check it out in this 3 minutes video - or keep on reading.
What is the Train the Trainer all about?
It’s a highly personalised program with 6 attendees only, where you keep switching between the roles of trainer and participant through active tasks, gaining rich feedback and continuously practicing while integrating new tools and models into your skillset with each step module.
The duration of 3 months ensures depth as it allows you to integrate knowledge gradually. Already from the second module you work on active tasks tailored to your specific interests and skill gaps, designing & delivering mini-workshops throughout the course.
This will ensure you keep on building more practice & experience step by step - what we call true active learning!
Who is the Train the Trainer course for?
New or aspiring trainers:
You are interested in doing workshops or perhaps even considering shifting your career towards being a trainer or L&D (Learning & Development) …but unsure where to start.
Trainers with experience looking to fill in the gaps:
You’ve been leading workshops for a while, but you know there’s room to do it even better. You would appreciate constructive feedback, uncovering your blind spots and are ready to bring your skills to a new level.
You recognize yourself in any of these, but you are still unsure if this is the right fit for you?
Get in touch (via signup form or contact form) and schedule a call with Mirna, the founder and facilitator of Train the Trainer.
What does the Train the Trainer course look like?
Train the Trainer combines 8 virtual modules (3 hours each) spread over 3 months with 2 live days at different locations in Europe (Amsterdam, London, Florence, Barcelona, Zagreb and more).
The duration of three months ensures depth that allows you to integrate knowledge gradually, as well as highly practical learning, as it allows us space for many active tasks. Also, the course format ensures you are practicing your skills in both live and virtual settings.
Throughout the course, you’ll switch between being a participant and a trainer — learning not only through models & tools, but through experience and insightful feedback.
You’ll be given active tasks tailored to your specific interests and skill gaps, designing & delivering mini-workshops throughout the course.
This will ensure you keep on building more practice & experience step by step, with rich feedback, immediate application, and what we call true active learning!
What you will learn
One critical element of this experience (and everyone’s favorite) is the debrief after each mini-workshop.
Our discussions throughout the course will not only provide you with detailed feedback about your workshops, but also help you explore & reflect on what helped you learn as a participant in sessions led by other trainers.
The small group size of only 6 participants allows for enough space for each of the discussions and for a lot of practice.
These group discussions guide you towards being more goal-oriented and intentional in your training design, resulting in a deeper impact on your participants.
Through this learning experience, you will develop your own authentic style as a trainer as you become more aware of your strengths and blind spots.
In the Train the Trainer course, you will build 4 strong foundations that will transform your approach to designing learning experiences:
EXPERIENTIAL
LEARNING
Deepen learning with interactive, engaging, and impactful methods/experiences.
TRAINING
DESIGN
Create unforgettable, goal-driven workshops that leave a lasting impact.
TRAINING
DELIVERY
Master techniques that make learning deeper and more effective.
TRAINERS
TOOLBOX
Expand your toolbox with diverse & effective tools.
You wanna learn about each of the foundations?
Click on each to learn more about what we cover within that foundation.
- Discover the core principles of adult learning, presented in a light, engaging way and backed by psychology, neuroscience, and learning science
- Learn how to make learning more brain-friendly, ensuring your sessions are both impactful and memorable
- Recognize the importance of an individualized approach to your learners and learn how you can adapt better to their needs
- Understand the approach of experiential learning (the most effective way of learning new skills) and learn how to design meaningful and effective activities
- Dive into differences between facilitation & presentation, and learn when it’s most effective to use either approach
- Experiment with practical frameworks for structuring effective workshops & discuss pros and cons of each, so you would develop “trainer’s thinking” instead of following prescribed recipes
- Learn how to do need analysis & set clear learning goals
- Align learning activities, energizers, and icebreakers with your desired outcomes to create a seamless, coherent learning journey, and to ensure that every activity in your workshop is valuable for learning and not just fun
- Explore strategies & tips for crafting flexible timelines that optimize learning flow while keeping your sessions dynamic & adaptable
- Build confidence in presenting with spontaneity and flexibility, adapting to your group’s needs in real-time
- Facilitate discussions and guide processes to make learning more active & deepen participant engagement, getting feedback on your skills & continuously improving them
- Learn how to deliver quality feedback & guide effective reflection (debriefing) after the exercises — the keys to creating real improvement for your learners
- Practice debriefing techniques and learn methods to extract meaningful insights and actionable takeaways from every activity
- Develop techniques to manage group dynamics effectively, ensuring focus and energy throughout your sessions
- Practice sharp & smart time-management, one of the biggest challenges for many trainers
- Understand the crucial role of emotions in enhancing learning, and how to integrate this knowledge into your workshops
- Experience a variety of practical activities & tools to make your workshops more dynamic, interactive, and effective
- Learn to use the tools in a goal-oriented way & to combine them well, so your session will be both engaging and support deep insights
- Encounter many comprehensive toolboxes that you can use in the future to discover new tools for different training topics and to design tailored activities
- Get practical techniques for using visuals to support and enhance learning without overwhelming your participants
The course format ensures you are practicing your skills in both live and virtual settings.
Throughout the course, you will actively reflect on pros and cons of different approaches.
While you will also get many recipes, tools and step-by-step guides that can help you, you won’t be limited to following any of the prescribed ways.
The deep understanding of how learning works and the abundance of experiences and examples will enable you to design your own tools and approach learning in your own creative, unique, yet deeply impactful way.
What makes this Train the Trainer course unique?
This course is designed to set you apart as a trainer, offering a blend of science, practice, and personalization that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Here's what makes it unique:
A small group setting for personalized, active learning
With just 6 participants per group, you’ll receive personalized attention, feedback, and tasks tailored to your goals, ensuring deep learning and space for meaningful discussion.
Science-based yet highly practical
Built on evidence-based principles of adult learning, neuroscience, and positive psychology, this course combines theory with real-world application - a “no bullshit” approach to training.
A Toolbox you can use immediately
Walk away with a science-based set of tools, frameworks, and techniques that you can apply to your workshops right away.
Hands-on practice & gradual, deep learning over 3 months
Start designing and delivering workshops as early as the second module. Receive constructive feedback every step of the way. Practice your skills in a safe environment, in an active and immersive way. As Train the Trainer spreads over several months, it gives you time to absorb feedback, apply what you’ve learned, and develop your skills at a sustainable pace, instead of overwhelming you with too many insights to process & put in practice.
Expert guidance with 18+ years of experience
Learn directly from Mirna Šmidt, a trainer with 18+ years of experience in training, who delivered around 20 Train the Trainer & Advanced events for trainers. Mirna brings together a background in tech & engineering with a diploma in applied positive psychology and has a broad experience of working in corporate and NGOs, with Universities and startups, and many diverse industries.
A place to develop your authentic trainer style
Discover your strengths and address your blind spots through consistent focus on practice, feedback, and self-reflection. Make your strengths shine and learn to create truly unique learning experiences for your participants.
Meet your trainer –
Mirna Šmidt
Mirna Šmidt combines 18 years of experience in delivering training with a strong foundation in psychology and adult learning.
With an MSc in Engineering & Computing and an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, she combines scientific insight with practical experience to create memorable, goal-driven learning experiences.
After graduating from a one-year long Train the Trainer program, she has refined her expertise across diverse fields, including positive psychology, coaching, NLP, and brain-based learning.
Mirna has delivered programs in over 30 countries for NGOs, startups, and corporations like Cisco, L’Oreal, and Molson Coors, engaging participants from more than 50 nations and leading workshops at global conferences such as TEDx, HR Week, Hive Global Leaders Summit, and Women in Data Science.
As the founder of Trainers Toolbox and Happiness Academy, she focuses on empowering other trainers in facilitation skills, designing & delivering impactful learning experiences & positive psychology – the science of wellbeing.
Discover more about Mirna on LinkedIn – and do connect!
What alumni say?
Logistics & practical details - dates, locations & fee
- ● Small Group Size: Maximum of 6 attendees for personalized approach and highly active & practical learning
- ● Blended learning format: 8 virtual modules (3 hours each) + 2 action-packed, learning-intensive live days (8 hours each) with different options for locations (check the options below)
- ● Total Hours: Over 50 hours of learning
- ● Materials: 30+ handouts with detailed information on the course topics. - PDF slide decks from all modules - Two annual follow-up emails with new materials after graduation
- ● Fee: €2,250
How to apply?
At Trainers Toolbox, we think it’s incredibly important that all 6 participants on Train the Trainer are the right fit for this experience - that is why Mirna offers a 30 minute introductory call with anyone who is interested in joining.
Timeline & Locations
- ● Amsterdam (Autumn 2026): Start September 2026 | Live Days: end of May 2026
- ● London/Florence/Zagreb ( Spring 2027): Start March 2026 | Live Days: December 2027 (location to still be confirmed)
- ● Cape Town (Autumn 2026): Start November 2026 | Live Days: February 2027
Take your first step on this new learning journey
Schedule a free 30-minute call with Mirna to ensure the course aligns with your goals and intentions – you can do this via any signup form or contact form (without obligations).
Alumni
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Yes, you can! We offer payment plans in 2–3 installments. Contact us to set up a plan that works for you.
Due to the small group size and immersive nature of the course, refunds aren’t possible once the course begins. We appreciate your understanding.
Yes, the live sessions are integral to the course as they provide hands-on practice, group collaboration, and real-time feedback.
No, travel and accommodation aren’t included. However, we’re happy to assist with recommendations for the best nearby stays.
Yes, all materials, including handouts and slide decks, will be yours to keep and reference as you continue your trainer journey.
This course is designed for both beginners who are starting their journey in training and facilitation, as well as experienced trainers looking to refine their skills and expand their toolkit.
You’ll have access to direct feedback from Mirna and the group, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and receive personalized advice throughout the program.
To some extent, yes! While we have a curriculum that we are following and are ensuring that all the relevant topics are covered, the personalized tasks and feedback ensure the content aligns with your individual goals and interests.
Between sessions, you can expect manageable assignments and preparation tasks designed to enhance your learning without overwhelming your schedule.
Yes, you’ll join a network of peers and have the chance to participate in an exclusive Trainers Conversations community for ongoing support and collaboration.
Once you sign up, we offer a 30-minute free consultation call to discuss your goals and ensure the program is the right fit for your needs. We do this because we consider it to be extremely important for the success of the whole group that the expectations are perfectly clear, and align with the course curriculum. This also helps to create the most optimal learning environment for all participants.
Use the application form or contact form if you want to join us at Train the Trainer.
Graduates get lifetime access to our exclusive Trainers Conversations community, where you can exchange ideas and advice with peers. Additionally, you will continue receiving follow-up materials to keep developing your expertise.
Still have questions?
You can get in touch via the signup or contact form and let us know how we can help!