Ever 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 the most ridiculous reactions they've gotten when explaining their profession and how they go about explaining what they do.

If you've ever struggled to explain program evaluation, been mistaken for an auditor or a human resource representative, or wondered how to introduce yourself as an evaluator without hiding behind a job title, this episode is for you. You'll hear real, practical examples from 9 evaluators on how they explain evaluation to friends, clients, and strangers.

In this episode you'll hear from: Evan Poncelet, Beth Snow, Sujin Chang, Nelson Jean-Francois, Judy Lifshitz, Karen Terrel Jackson, Roman Katsnelson, Carolyn Hoessler, Stephanie Spencer

In this episode you'll learn:

• How to explain what an evaluator does in simple, clear language
• Real examples from program evaluators across healthcare, government, and nonprofits
• Why your job title isn't your professional identity
• How to turn "What do you do?" into a conversation starter, not an awkward moment

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

In 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 in the evaluation field. Amy shares how she moved from feeling stuck and questioning her abilities to discovering her strengths, building confidence, and landing an exciting new role aligned with her values and goals. Learn more about The Evaluator's Edge and join our June cohort here. www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

What 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 about racial equity and justice, who completed The Evaluator's Edge coaching program. Hairat shares how she went from feeling stuck being too senior for junior roles, too junior for senior ones, to confidently articulating her unique value and making intentional career moves.

She opens up about the mindset shifts that came from the program, how she learned to ask for what she needs (from organizations and volunteer opportunities), and why building community has become central to her career growth strategy.

Learn more about The Evaluator's Edge here: https://mariamontenegro.ca/pages/join-the-evaluators-edge

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

In 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 shares her journey from evaluation professional to entrepreneur, including the pivotal moment in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon that solidified her mission, why she made the bold decision to brand her company as openly pro-Palestine, and how emotional intelligence and compassion are not soft skills but essential tools for ethical, human-centered evaluation. From working with marginalized communities and newcomer women experiencing gender-based violence, to nurturing a growing team through collective trauma, this conversation is a masterclass in courageous leadership, decolonial practice, and the power of betting on yourself.

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

This 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 international development. Claudia shares her journey navigating a career as a mother of four, building a consultancy while balancing caregiving responsibilities, and the support networks that made it possible. Together they explore feminist evaluation — what it means, why it matters, and how Claudia defines it as simply good evaluation — covering key competencies like cultural responsiveness, participatory methods, and transformative practice. The conversation also touches on the emotional realities of fieldwork, protecting communities and evaluators from vicarious trauma, and Claudia's call to action for a more inclusive, gender-responsive field.

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

In 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 widespread sector upheaval and USAID's shutdown, Beeta founded Illuminate, a consulting firm and learning center built on urgency, resilience, and community. In this conversation with Maria, she reveals the realities of launching a business during crisis, the "100 calls" strategy that shaped her path, navigating consultant rates in a constrained market, balancing hope with countless rejections, and learning to find energy in uncertainty. Beeta offers practical advice for evaluators considering independent consulting, discusses AI adoption in evaluation work, and reflects on recreating professional community after institutional loss. Whether you're navigating career disruption, building an independent practice, or simply trying to find your footing in a transformed field, this episode delivers honest insights and actionable strategies for moving forward when the ground shifts beneath you.

In 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 twelve months. Matt discusses the differences between ideological attacks on evidence in the US versus fiscal pressures in Canada, CES's strategic response through advocacy and expanded membership outreach, and the organization's commitment to equity-centered work and reconciliation. Despite mounting anxieties around job security and shrinking budgets, Matt delivers a rallying message: evaluation is not a luxury but a fundamental tool for democratic accountability, and the CES community of over 1,500 members stands ready to demonstrate that our work has never been more essential.

Resources:

Learn more about the CES 2026 conference here.

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

In 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 disruptive years in the field of evaluation. Karen reflects on leading AEA through multiple crises while balancing roles as university faculty and consultant. She discusses the October 2025 "Morning After Coalition" call to action, emphasizing the need for evaluators to collectively respond rather than "adapt quietly" to threats against evidence-based practice. Karen highlights key lessons from her presidency, including the importance of curiosity, community-engaged leadership, relationship building, and recognizing evaluators' power to shape how the world values evidence. She also stresses that professional associations like AEA are member-led ecosystems requiring active participation from the entire evaluation community.

Resources:

Read Karen's call to action here.

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

Adding "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. Florence explains why MEL systems often fail to support learning even when rebranded as "MEL," and what needs to change. Florence discusses the difference between evaluation questions and learning questions, the competencies needed to facilitate learning, and provides practical tools and processes for embedding learning in your work.

Resources:

Follow Florence Randari to learn more about integrating Learning in MEL.

Susbcribe to the Learn Adapt Manage (LAN) Network here.

Read some of the articles discussed in this episode:

Designing for Decisions: How to Build Learning Systems That Actually Lead to Action | LinkedIn

Small Shifts That Made My Learning Workshops Actually Work | LinkedIn

What makes a Pause and Reflect Meeting Different?.....The Agenda | LinkedIn

Check out the BetterEvaluation Career in Evaluation page.

www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro

In 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 growth fallacy" that holds many evaluators back and discusses six key strategies that accelerated her journey. This episode offers practical insights on how to create meaningful growth without waiting for arbitrary experience milestones. Register for the Own Your Edge Masterclass happening on January 20, 2026 here.

Resources

Listen to Maria's episode on Planned Happenstance here.

Check out the BetterEvaluation Building a Career in Evaluation page here.