| Roundtable: Mentoring via the Independent Consulting TIG: Enhancing the Value of Professional Affiliations |
| Roundtable Presentation 201 to be held in the Boardroom on Thursday, Nov 12, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM |
| Sponsored by the Independent Consulting TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Norma Martinez-Rubin, Evaluation Focused Consulting, norma@evaluationfocused.com |
| Becky Melzer, Evaluation Edge LLC, becky@evaluationedge.com |
| Abstract: Independent consulting offers the option of evaluation practice in various contexts: nonprofit, corporate, educational, government, and international settings. Experience and skills that distinguish self-employed independent consultants from their colleagues are assets to the field of evaluation. Mentoring transfers knowledge from a seasoned professional to a new, independent entrant to the field. This merits attention: 1) The successes and failures of independent practices can inform evaluators' professional development; 2) acquiring knowledge from an experienced evaluator decreases the learning curve to launch or grow an independent practice; and 3) mutual benefit may exist when the mentor-mentee relationship matches personal and professional interests in the AEA Guiding Principles for Evaluators, particularly with regard to practice competence and integrity. This roundtable session will highlight findings from a survey administered through the AEA Independent Consulting TIG. The survey was in response to member interest in finding a mentor to enhance learning beyond formal training programs. |