John S.

I had the privilege of being mentored by John for over six months, and his guidance has truly transformed my career. As a Senior Product Designer who hadn't experienced strong design leadership before, I found John's expertise and empathetic approach incredibly refreshing and supportive. John helped me tackle various challenges while I was applying for new jobs. From tailoring my resume and creating case studies for my online portfolio to preparing for interviews, he guided me through the entire process seamlessly. One of the biggest hurdles John helped me overcome was presenting my work through engaging storytelling. His strategic feedback and tailored advice turned my career and work into a cohesive, compelling narrative. The insightful articles and practical tools he provided were also invaluable. John's mentoring approach is both structured and adaptable. He took the time to understand my specific needs and goals, and he was always ready to adjust his strategy based on my progress and any new challenges that arose. I am incredibly satisfied with John's mentorship. His guidance has had a lasting impact on my career, and I highly recommend him to anyone looking to grow in their career, regardless of their level of seniority.

I collaborated with John S. for over a year. Even at our first meeting, I could tell he had a lot of experience - he was super well-prepared and responded quickly. But what really made him stand out was his resourcefulness and positive attitude. It felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air during those tough times when things were challenging at work and in my personal life. He provided invaluable support and showed empathy and understanding that reignited my motivation. It reminded me in a deep way why I was on this path in the first place. And his resume revisions were praised by a recruiter for being authentic and "innovative". Under John's guidance, I restructured my case studies. But it was an educational process where I learned how to really craft those narratives myself, moving away from the overused "bootcamp" model. Although structured, his mentorship is not rigid; he adapts to your evolving needs. When I was curious to explore more about Design Ops, he quickly provided resources explaining what that transition would lead to, my future career opportunities and if that would be a good choice for me. At first, I didn't even bother with cover letters. But John showed me how to "sell" my work, which had felt impossible before. Looking at those cover letters and my final resume, I thought I'd done a lot of interesting work, the opposite of how I previously failed to see value in my own efforts. John helped me recognize my value and potential. When it came to the final stage, the job interview requiring past references, John quickly stepped in because one of my former managers was slow in responding. It did lend a certain impressive quality, having a reference come from someone of John's considerable professional experience. I'll smile remembering his cheery "Hello, hello!" greeting our sessions. John left an impression by providing clarity during an ambiguous time.