Beyond the Badge: How Norberto Reyes III Became PSTD’s First-Ever Certified Master Trainer

During PSTD’s 60th year, we are proud to celebrate a monumental achievement that sets a new standard for excellence in the field.

Norberto Reyes III, CMT, has become the first practitioner to successfully complete every single rung of the PSTD Certification Pathway—achieving the full progression from Certified Training Analyst all the way to Certified Master Trainer. More popularly known as Obert, his journey embodies the rigor and discipline our founders envisioned for Talent Development professionals. But if you ask Obert, this milestone wasn’t just about collecting certificates. It was about a fundamental shift in identity.

From Delivery to Strategy. "I stopped seeing myself as 'just' a trainer," Obert recalls of his early days. "I started seeing myself as a catalyst for growth."

However, passion alone doesn’t build a Master Trainer. It requires a shift in thinking. Obert identifies Level 2 of the certification as his turning point. "It shifted my perspective from being a facilitator to becoming a strategist," he says. "I realized that Talent Development isn’t just about delivering content. It’s about designing ecosystems that sustain learning... It’s about systems thinking."

The Invisible Grind. On LinkedIn, we see the polished badge. What we don’t see are the sacrifices.

Obert candidly admits that the road to mastery was paved with missed family moments, unread books, and sleepless nights. "I’ve always been a perfectionist," he shares. "But that wasn’t possible during this journey... The biggest challenge was balancing all of that with certification requirements."

He learned a hard lesson that every aspiring leader must grasp: "Mastery isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being consistent."

A Milestone for Filipino Talent. Obert’s achievement is not just a personal win; it is a signal to the global L&D community. By completing this rigorous pathway, he has proven that Filipino practitioners don't just "catch up" to global standards—we are ready to lead.

"It proves that our profession here is leading," Obert affirms. "It shows that we are ready to shape the future of learning, not just follow it."

Ready to start your journey? Obert’s advice to those who feel they aren’t ready is simple: "Growth begins when you step in despite the nerves. The certification journey is not about proving perfection. It’s about proving commitment."

To Norberto Reyes III, our first-ever Certified Master Trainer: Thank you for raising the bar.

Learn more about PSTD’s training certification programs and upcoming learning opportunities here:https://www.pstd.org/certifications.