The Evaluation Couch – Details, episodes & analysis

In 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 evaluator in India, the innovative approaches he has taken in his career, and the significance of mentorship and networking. He concludes with valuable advice for emerging evaluators on advocating for evaluation in various sectors.

Resources

Mahesh4World - YouTube

Learn more about Mahesh's FIME awards project here. 

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 shares actionable strategies to help you interview with confidence and land the evaluation roles you're ready for. She breaks down the three most common types of interview questions, what interviewers are really looking for with each, and how to tailor your responses using real evaluation examples. You'll learn a simple framework to structure your answers with clarity and see it in action in real-life examples from interview answers of experienced evaluators.

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, 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.