The Evaluation Couch
by Maria Montenegro
Latest episode
71. Stop Applying with an Entry-Level Mindset: Positioning Yourself…
71. Stop Applying with an Entry-Level Mindset: Positioning Yourself…
About this podcast
Welcome to The Evaluation Couch, where we discuss topics related to evaluation and navigating a career in evaluation. In this space, I will share about my evaluation journey, share tips from my career advising and management experience, and invite other evaluators to hear about their perspectives. My goal is to continue promoting the use of evaluation and help evaluators build the careers they deserve.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 72 episodes
- 71. Stop Applying with an Entry-Level Mindset: Positioning Yourself for Evaluation Manager and Director Roles · 33 minIn this episode, Maria explores why advancing into manager and director roles in evaluation requires a different mindset. Using the Global Evaluation Initiative Competency…
- 70. Your Relationship With Evaluation Gurus And Why It Matters For Your Career · 24 minIn this episode, Maria discusses the concept of "evaluation gurus," why the term is used, and the role our relationship with these figures can play in our careers. She introduces…
- 69. Seven Strategies to Prepare For a Potential Layoff · 17 minThis episode breaks down the seven strategies every evaluator should put in place to increase their career resiliency when faced with a potential layoff. Maria discusses the…
- 68. How Evaluators Answer "What Do You Do?" Live from C2026 · 17 minEver dreaded explaining what you do as an evaluator? In this episode, recorded live at the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) 2026 conference in Edmonton, real evaluators share…
- 67. How Amy Built Career Clarity and Landed a Director-Level Evaluation Role · 30 minIn this episode, Maria sits down with Amy Gray, Director of Evaluation and Learning, to discuss her journey through career uncertainty, imposter syndrome, and finding alignment…
- 66. Too Junior for Senior Roles, Too Senior For Junior Ones? How Hairat Found Her Way · 19 minWhat happens when a skilled evaluator realizes she knows more than she gives herself credit for? In this episode, we sit down with Hairat, a consultant and evaluator passionate…
- 65. Women in Evaluation | How Doaa Abou Hussein Built a Pro-Palestine, Impact-Driven Consulting Firm · 51 minIn this episode, Maria sits down with Doaa Abou Hussein, co-founder of Kindred Purpose Consultants, to explore what it truly means to build a business around your values. Doaa…
- 64. Women in Evaluation | Feminist Evaluation, Caregiving, and Identity with Claudia Olavarría · 59 minThis episode is the first one of a series celebrating International Women's Month. Maria sits with Claudia Olavarría, an evaluator from Chile with 15 years of experience in…
- 63. One Year On: Rebuilding After Career Disruption and Launching a Business with Beeta Tahmassebi · 55 minIn the third episode of the "One Year On" series, Beeta Tahmassebi shares her journey from 25-year organizational leader to first-time entrepreneur. After leaving her role amid…
- 62. One Year On: Resiliency, Advocacy, and CES Leadership with Matt Sanscartier · 39 minIn the second episode of the One Year On series, the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) President Matt Sanscartier reflects on the impacts to the field of evaluation over the last…
- 61. One Year On: Leading AEA Through The Inflection Point with Karen Jackson · 38 minIn this episode of the "One Year On" series, Maria speaks with Karen Jackson, the 2025 President of the American Evaluation Association (AEA), about navigating one of the most…
- 60. Making Learning Real in MEL with Florence Randari · 44 minAdding "learning" to a job title doesn't mean learning is actually happening. In this episode, Florence Randari breaks down what it really takes to operationalize the "L" in MEL…
- 59. Six Strategies That Accelerated My Evaluation Career · 37 minIn this episode, Maria shares how she fast-tracked her evaluation career in under four years without needing the typical 8-10 years of experience. She breaks down the "career…
- 58. Personality Types and Leadership in Evaluation · 36 minDo you ever wonder if your personality is "right" for leadership in evaluation? In this episode, Maria challenges the myth that only certain personality types belong in…
- 57. How AI Is Transforming Evaluation Consulting with Slavica Stevanovic · 44 minIn this episode, Maria interviews Slavica Stevanovic from Qatalyst Research Group, about the integration of artificial intelligence in evaluation consulting. Slavica shares how…
- 56. Visibility Through Consistency: Cecilia Eva Beloqui's LinkedIn Journey · 27 minIn this episode, evaluator Cecilia Eva Beloqui shares her inspiring journey of building visibility and community through daily posting on LinkedIn. She reflects on the discipline…
- 55. An Evaluator's Journey into Portfolio Careers: Mishkah Teladia's Story · 46 minIn this episode, Mishkah Teladia shares her journey into a portfolio career, discussing her transition from a long-standing role in international development to exploring diverse…
- 54. Embracing Portfolio Careers With Kelsi Kriitmaa · 45 minIn this episode, Maria Montenegro is joined by Kelsi Kriitmaa to explore the concept of portfolio careers. They discuss the evolving landscape of work, particularly in the social…
- 53. Making The Case For Evaluation (Live from Eval25) · 44 minLive from Eval25 in Kansas City, Maria sits down with Denise Baer, Nathan Varnell, and Nina Sabarre for a dynamic conversation on the future of evaluation. Together, they explore…
- 52. Owning Your Path: Mahesh's Career Story · 28 minIn this conversation, Mahesh Krishnan Ramesh shares his journey of pursuing a career in public policy and evaluation. He discusses the cultural challenges of becoming an…
