The Evaluation Couch

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.