In 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 what people mean when they call someone an evaluation guru, and how these figures differ from grandfathers of evaluation and mentors. She then outlines four risks of over-idolizing them that can have negative impacts on your career. Finally, she talks about how reflective practice can help you define your evaluator identity and protect you from these risks. Watch the <a href= "https://mariamontenegro.ca/pages/own-your-edge-evergreen">Own Your Edge Masterclass</a> (available until August 31st 2026) Join the September 2026 cohort of <a href= "https://mariamontenegro.ca/pages/join-the-evaluators-edge">The Evaluator's Edge.</a> <a href= "https://www.mariamontenegro.ca/">www.mariamontenegro.ca</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro">www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro</a> Resources: Learn more about EvalSoWhite by Vidhya Shanker, PhD, and Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, MPH <a href= "https://cdn.wildapricot.com/55556/resources/Documents/Why%20is%20evaluation%20so%20white%20webinar%20summary_FINAL.pdf?version=1601931159000&Policy=eyJTdGF0ZW1lbnQiOiBbeyJSZXNvdXJjZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY2RuLndpbGRhcHJpY290LmNvbS81NTU1Ni9yZXNvdXJjZXMvRG9jdW1lbnRzL1doeSUyMGlzJTIwZXZhbHVhdGlvbiUyMHNvJTIwd2hpdGUlMjB3ZWJpbmFyJTIwc3VtbWFyeV9GSU5BTC5wZGY~dmVyc2lvbj0xNjAxOTMxMTU5MDAwIiwiQ29uZGl0aW9uIjp7IkRhdGVMZXNzVGhhbiI6eyJBV1M6RXBvY2hUaW1lIjoxNzg3MDA1MjgyfSwiSXBBZGRyZXNzIjp7IkFXUzpTb3VyY2VJcCI6IjAuMC4wLjAvMCJ9fX1dfQ__&Signature=MElvnE02K~7cyEwIFzW6XpYTGEEDHFLsErJg1c6d5yCrOuth-di1sym-Q-Dqa33bA~W3R4aZE0c8I-2gPJyjFfgjpFkSjhDOYGx1bGP-Y0vsy45zrz5OA7lRYGQMMeex5~380Ug0bjjCUojmTq613syyey2DTPllW-pDLHT0mZOE0-gnO5A9jlAnnJ8p3fzds2iAVtSlVZ0fBbuRaIdvdTojvoFsvWeoehfEoNgiGpZHArqXVbAZjH-nXVelMuxBkorIdfiLQZERi~PjQQ1vNJVlH4F~E5N2lg~Neqcs24Ldw3~ouSzugxAOsCezLm82xVz1vQFXsokO7KAN1wqDAw__&Key-Pair-Id=K27MGQSHTHAGGF"> here</a> and <a href= "https://evaluationinnovation.org/presentation/why-is-evaluation-so-white/"> here</a>.

In 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 what people mean when they call someone an evaluation guru, and how these figures differ from grandfathers of evaluation and mentors. She then outlines four risks of over-idolizing them that can have negative impacts on your career. Finally, she talks about how reflective practice can help you define your evaluator identity and protect you from these risks. Watch the Own Your Edge Masterclass (available until August 31st 2026) Join the September 2026 cohort of The Evaluator's Edge. www.mariamontenegro.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro Resources: Learn more about EvalSoWhite by Vidhya Shanker, PhD, and Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, MPH here and here.

In 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 what people mean when they call someone an evaluation guru, and how these figures differ from grandfathers of evaluation and mentors. She then outlines four risks of over-idolizing them that can have negative impacts on your career. Finally, she talks about how reflective practice can help you define your evaluator identity and protect you from these risks. Watch the <a href="https://mariamontenegro.ca/pages/own-your-edge-evergreen" rel="noopener noreferrer">Own Your Edge Masterclass</a> (available until August 31st 2026) Join the September 2026 cohort of <a href="https://mariamontenegro.ca/pages/join-the-evaluators-edge" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Evaluator's Edge.</a> <a href="https://www.mariamontenegro.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.mariamontenegro.ca</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro</a> Resources: Learn more about EvalSoWhite by Vidhya Shanker, PhD, and Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, MPH <a href="https://cdn.wildapricot.com/55556/resources/Documents/Why%20is%20evaluation%20so%20white%20webinar%20summary_FINAL.pdf?version=1601931159000&amp;Policy=eyJTdGF0ZW1lbnQiOiBbeyJSZXNvdXJjZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY2RuLndpbGRhcHJpY290LmNvbS81NTU1Ni9yZXNvdXJjZXMvRG9jdW1lbnRzL1doeSUyMGlzJTIwZXZhbHVhdGlvbiUyMHNvJTIwd2hpdGUlMjB3ZWJpbmFyJTIwc3VtbWFyeV9GSU5BTC5wZGY~dmVyc2lvbj0xNjAxOTMxMTU5MDAwIiwiQ29uZGl0aW9uIjp7IkRhdGVMZXNzVGhhbiI6eyJBV1M6RXBvY2hUaW1lIjoxNzg3MDA1MjgyfSwiSXBBZGRyZXNzIjp7IkFXUzpTb3VyY2VJcCI6IjAuMC4wLjAvMCJ9fX1dfQ__&amp;Signature=MElvnE02K~7cyEwIFzW6XpYTGEEDHFLsErJg1c6d5yCrOuth-di1sym-Q-Dqa33bA~W3R4aZE0c8I-2gPJyjFfgjpFkSjhDOYGx1bGP-Y0vsy45zrz5OA7lRYGQMMeex5~380Ug0bjjCUojmTq613syyey2DTPllW-pDLHT0mZOE0-gnO5A9jlAnnJ8p3fzds2iAVtSlVZ0fBbuRaIdvdTojvoFsvWeoehfEoNgiGpZHArqXVbAZjH-nXVelMuxBkorIdfiLQZERi~PjQQ1vNJVlH4F~E5N2lg~Neqcs24Ldw3~ouSzugxAOsCezLm82xVz1vQFXsokO7KAN1wqDAw__&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K27MGQSHTHAGGF" rel="noopener noreferrer"> here</a> and <a href="https://evaluationinnovation.org/presentation/why-is-evaluation-so-white/" rel="noopener noreferrer"> here</a>.

70. Your Relationship With Evaluation Gurus And Why It Matters For Your Career

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: <ul> <li>How to explain what an evaluator does in simple, clear language</li> <li>Real examples from program evaluators across healthcare, government, and nonprofits</li> <li>Why your job title isn't your professional identity</li> <li>How to turn "What do you do?" into a conversation starter, not an awkward moment</li> </ul> <a href= "https://www.mariamontenegro.ca/">www.mariamontenegro.ca</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro">www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro</a>

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

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: <ul> <li>How to explain what an evaluator does in simple, clear language</li> <li>Real examples from program evaluators across healthcare, government, and nonprofits</li> <li>Why your job title isn't your professional identity</li> <li>How to turn "What do you do?" into a conversation starter, not an awkward moment</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.mariamontenegro.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.mariamontenegro.ca</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.linkedin.com/in/mariamontenegro</a>

68. How Evaluators Answer "What Do You Do?" Live from C2026

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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.

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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.

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