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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.
45 Episodes
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In this episode, Allison Prieur joins Maria to discuss her experience participating in the Evaluation Capacity Case Challenge (EC3). Allison shares how she overcome her hesitation to apply to the program and how this experience has changed her evaluation practice. Maria and Allison share their reflections on applying the learnings from EC3 in their practice including the successes and challenges they face as they both try to build evaluation capacity in different settings. Resources: Learn more about Allison's consulting here: About Us — DARE Impact Consulting Learn more about The Evaluation Capacity Case Challenge here: Evaluation Capacity Case Challenge (EC³) | Max Bell School of Public Policy - McGill University Download your free workbook to become a confident evaluator who attracts top opportunities in 4 steps here. www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro
In this episode, Maria discusses how our brains are designed to make meaning out of our experiences and our place in the world. She shares three personal stories when she held narratives that hindered her career growth. She shares how building her confidence, expanding her knowledge of the field of evaluation, and an unexpected life experience can shift these beliefs. The episode concludes with advice and resources to help others identify and overcome their own limiting stories including Maria's free workbook to become a confident evaluator. Download Maria's free workbook Evaluator Career Edge: 4 Steps to Become a Confident Evaluator Who Attracts Top Opportunities here.
In this episode, Maria shares the importance of detaching one's identity and self-worth from job titles. She discusses how job titles are arbitrary, often don't reflect actual skills or responsibilities, and can negatively impact mental health by fostering unhealthy comparisons. She offers practical tips on how to focus on one's achievements, skills, and contributions instead of job titles, and how to effectively communicate one's value in different contexts. Maria uses her personal experiences and examples to illustrate the harmful effects of over-identifying with job titles and provides strategies for more meaningful ways of introducing ourselves without them.
In this episode, Corey Newhouse and Komani Cedano join Maria to share their experiences and practices to improve compensation in their businesses. They share their personal journeys, challenges faced, and steps taken towards transparent compensation practices, including setting salaries, yearly raises, and benchmarking. They both highlight the need for transparency, equity, and continuous improvement in compensation policies. The episode also offers practical advice for both evaluators and business owners hoping to promote improved compensation practices within evaluation.
In this episode, Maria discusses the importance of adopting a proactive job search approach instead of a passive one to improve employment outcomes. Maria shares four key strategies to improve your job search process: obtaining real-world information about posted jobs, proactively exploring opportunities, accessing the hidden job market, and using strategic visibility. Each of these are detailed with examples from Maria's career and tips to help you implement them into your job search strategy. The meta-analysis referenced in this episode is found here.
In this episode, Maria shares how her participation in the Evaluation Capacity Case Challenge (EC3) was a turning point for her career. EC3 is an experiential learning program hosted by the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University. This program focuses on developing evaluation capacity building skills while supporting real organizations through tailored plans. For four months, Maria represented her organization and worked closely with academics to shape the case challenge provided to participants. In this episode, she discusses four key reflections: embracing curiosity, collaborating with academic perspectives, the value of external assessments, and what it truly means to build evaluation capacity. Resources: Learn more about The Evaluation Capacity Case Challenge here. Learn about the current literature on evaluation capacity building here and more broadly about evaluation capacity building here.
In this episode, Maria reflects on her experiences in academia and how they’ve shaped her perspective on whether a PhD is needed for a career in evaluation. She shares the moment she first recognized the deep-rooted imposter syndrome in the evaluation community for those without a PhD. She shares her personal academic journey, including a challenging master’s thesis in Peru, experiences with supervision, and ethical dilemmas in research. Maria explores her decision-making process of whether to pursue a PhD, weighing career impact, intellectual curiosity, and financial costs. She closes the episode with a call to action, urging evaluators to challenge limiting narratives around academic credentials and define success on their own terms.
In this episode, Maria reflects on her experience of losing her beloved dog and the deeper impact it had on her sense of identity. She draws parallels between how her dog Safi shaped her identity and how our evaluation careers shape our identities. She discusses why change can sometimes bring its own kind of grief throughout our career. She shares five key reminders this period of grief has given her: prioritizing what truly matters, embracing self-care, valuing intentional learning, leaning into your support network, and letting your core values guide you.
In this episode, Melissa McGuire and Liz Martin of Cathexis Consulting reflect on their journey as a certified B Corporation. Cathexis, an independent evaluation firm based in Canada, has been B Corp certified since 2019. This episode describes what it means to be a B Corporation and why the certification matters. Melissa and Liz share insights from Cathexis’s own certification process, including their learnings and the improvements they’ve made in their social and environmental practices. Listeners will hear examples of initiatives Cathexis has implemented, and how being part of the B Corp community has supported their growth. The episode wraps up with practical advice for organizations considering the path to certification. Resources Learn more about Cathexis Consulting here and check out their Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2024. Learn more about the B Corp Certification here.
This episode features Giovanna Montagner, an evaluator and Integrated Life Advocate with Third Path Institute. Giovanna shares her insights on work-life integration, contrasting it with the commonly discussed work-life balance. She explains work-life integration as an ongoing process to align work, family, community, and self-care according to personal priorities. Giovanna recounts her personal journey towards better work-life integration, including her shift from a demanding job to a lifestyle more aligned with her values through flexible work arrangements. She also discusses the challenges and strategies for setting boundaries, especially for women, and emphasizes the role of organizations in fostering a culture that supports sustainable work practices. Practical strategies for evaluators and employers to improve work-life integration are discussed, along with the potential benefits for both personal well-being and professional effectiveness. Resources Learn more about Third Path Institute on their website, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
In this episode, Maria reflects on her experience of becoming a Credentialed Evaluator through the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) and explores the evolving professionalization of the evaluation field. She examines both the support and skepticism surrounding the credentialing process, presenting key arguments for and against the program. Drawing from her own journey, Maria offers thoughtful insights into the tangible and intangible benefits of earning this designation. She also provides considertions for anyone considering this path, encouraging a careful assessment of the long-term commitment and financial investment involved. Resources: Maria used a few resources to prepare this episode including this paper and this paper. She strongly advices anyone interested in accurate information about the Credentialed Evaluation Program to visit the Canadian Evaluation Society website. The evaluation competency framework used for the Credentialed Evaluation Program can be found here. Still trying to decide whether you should become a Credentialed Evaluator? Access Maria's decision aid tool on her website.
In this episode, Maria explores how evaluation competencies can help you grow into a stronger evaluator. She breaks down what evaluation competencies are and offers practical advice on selecting a framework to guide your career development. Maria also discusses how these competencies can ease the sense of overwhelm that often comes with building an evaluation career, allowing you to focus your efforts and seek guidance more effectively. Drawing from her own experiences, Maria shares examples of the competencies she has worked on at various stages of her journey. Resources Learn more about evaluation competencies here. Learn about evaluation competency frameworks here. Complete the exercise "Finding a competency framework that suits you" if you are struggling to select a competency framework. Finally, check out Maria's favourite cookies recipe here.
This episode series features inspiring women who are transforming the way evaluation businesses work by creating workplaces that are people-centered. In this episode, Nina Sabarre, founder and CEO of Intention 2 Impact (I2I), discusses the values-driven approach of her social impact consulting firm. Nina reflects on her past experiences with leadership and the importance of creating a supportive, inclusive workplace culture. She emphasizes the significance of embedding transparency and care into recruitment processes and how she has benefitted from being part of community of evaluation firm owners. Nina shares her progress on learning how companies can support employees amid climate emergencies and offers advice for job seekers to actively question and assess potential employers' values and practices during interviews. Resources: Learn more about Intention 2 Impact and sign up for their monthly newsletter here.
This episode series features inspiring women who are transforming the way evaluation businesses work by creating workplaces that are people-centered. In this episode, Monique Liston from Ubuntu, an organization dedicated to racial equity, shares insights into Ubuntu's mission, practices, and organizational philosophy. Monique talks about her abolitionist leadership and how Ubuntu aims to create a world free of anti-Black racism by focusing on liberation and creating a workplace that enables collective healing and well-being. Monique discusses Ubuntu's innovative hiring practices, which promote transparency, reciprocity and cultivate community. The episode concludes with advice for job seekers to remain authentic in their application process. Resources: Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, LLC is on a mission to reach 1,000 followers on LinkedIn. Enjoyed what you heard? Show your support and give them a follow!
This episode series features inspiring women who are transforming the way evaluation businesses work by creating workplaces that are people-centered. In this episode, Kat Haugh from Convive Collective shares her journey of creating a people-centered workplace that embraces flexibility, authenticity, and well-being. She discusses the principles of human design and how they have helped her create an environment where her staff can step into their unique gifts and strenghts. Maria and Kat discuss Kate's approach to recruitment and organizational learning. Kat also shares valuable career advise, especially for those currently affected by the foreign aid crisis. Resources: Learn more about Convive Collective here.
In this episode, Eric Barela shares his career journey spanning 20 years in various sectors, including non-profits, foundations, and corporate settings. Eric discusses his roles in differet organizations and his recent shift to consulting. Eric reflects on the importance of support systems, both personal and professional, and emphasizes the need for evaluators to remain adaptable and continuously learning. He also touches on the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning between different sectors and how his evaluation practice has evolved throughout these changes. Eric concludes with advice for those facing career transitions, encouraging them to understand interconnectedness and context within organizations. He motivates us to see transitions as opportunities for growth, continous learning, and to fall in love with our evaluation profession all over again. Resources Follow Eric Barela on LinkedIn. Learn more about Visionary Evaluation in Eric's AEA365 blog post.
In this episode, Ratiba Taouti Cherif joins Maria to share insights from her 20 years of experience in international development. Together, they explore Ratiba's learnings from navigating uncertainty in this space: Your industry is not your identity You will lose networks and build new ones Diverisying income isn't a backup plan. It's a power move The future of work is independent and global Sitting on both ends of the table changed everything Stability isn't a job. It's adaptability. Where to start Resources To learn more about Ratiba, follow her on LinkedIn. Her podcast is available on all major audio platforms #RethinkSocialChange and on YouTube. Learn about ReThink Social Change Cards here. Find The Bloom's pro bono support for those affected by the humanitarian crisis here.
In this episode, Maria interviews Veronica Olazabal about transitioning as an evaluator into the private sector, focusing on philanthropy and corporate philanthropy. Veronica shares her experiences, the skills required for such transitions, and the differences evaluators may face in corporate settings. She also offers key advice for those considering this transition such as understanding different terminologies, aligning skillsets to new roles, the importance of conflict resolution, communication, and risk management. Veronica emphasizes the significance of resilience, adaptability, and effectively positioning oneself for the few available but impactful roles in the corporate sector. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by Veronica in this episode are solely her own and do not reflect the views of any organizations she is or has been affiliated with. Resources: Follow Veronica on LinkedIn Read the AEA365 blog "Understanding the Emerging Field of Evaluation in Corporate Social Good" by Jared Raynor, Lisa Frantzen, and Morgan Buras-Finlay here.
This episode features Libby Smith, Deven Wisner, and Tiffany Tovey who share about their new community of practice for higher education evaluators and assessment professionals. This episode discusses alignment with our values, the value of collaborative reflective practice, and the role of community in navigating professional challenges. Resources Learn more about... Libby's work through her website: workwithlibby.com The community of practice here: https://viableinsights.com/community-of-practice/ Libby, Deven, and Tiffany's collaborative reflective practice through their podcast Radical (Re)imagining
This episode features Torriel Harris, a career coach who is on a mission to help 500 women in their careers. The episode starts with a discussion of how community can help us heal from career related events. Then, Torriel shares her views on building community, how community has played a role in her career, and how she is incorporating community in her coaching program "Command the Room, Sis!". Maria and Torriel end the episode with practical tips for people wanting to start building their own communities to support their careers. Follow Torriel Harris on LinkedIn to learn more about her work and programs. Learn more about The Bloom, the community for social impact careers where Torriel and Maria met.
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