$820 / month
2 calls per month (30min/call)
Unlimited Q&A via chat
Expect responses in 3-4 days
Hands-on support
I help designers and product professionals land roles, earn promotions, and stay competitive in an AI-driven tech industry.
Read 165+ mentee reviews below ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Here are the results from the past 12 months (April 2025 to March 2026, Sample of
Over the past 12 months, 39 of 42 mentees landed full-time roles at design-mature companies or Series B-D startups.
The median time from portfolio overhaul to offer was 7 weeks.
AI is changing what companies expect from designers. The strongest candidates are no longer just good at screens, flows, and visual polish. They can design AI-powered workflows, explain product strategy, build trust into intelligent systems, and show how their work drives business outcomes.
That is where I help.
About Me
I currently lead product design for Apple Intelligence, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, Phone, and Contacts at Apple.
Over the past 20+ years, I’ve led design teams at Apple, Google, and BlackBerry and served on hiring committees across Apple, Google, and Microsoft. I’ve reviewed thousands of portfolios, conducted hundreds of interviews, and helped designers navigate every stage of the hiring process.
My mentorship sits at the intersection of UX, product strategy, AI product design, hiring, and career growth.
Proven Results
✅ 39 of 42 mentees landed full-time roles over the past 12 months
✅ 94% placement rate from April 2025 to March 2026
✅ Median time from portfolio overhaul to offer: 7 weeks
✅ 89% of mentees requiring visa sponsorship secured sponsored roles
✅ 165+ public reviews from mentees
✅ 20+ years of design leadership experience
✅ Hiring committee experience across Apple, Google, and Microsoft
✅ Mentees have landed roles at major technology companies, design-mature organizations, and Series B-D startups
AI-Focused Mentorship
A growing share of my mentorship now focuses on helping designers adapt to an AI-driven industry.
I help mentees:
• Turn AI-related work into strong portfolio case studies
• Design better AI-powered workflows, recommendations, copilots, dashboards, and decision-support systems
• Explain trust, transparency, user control, automation, and human-in-the-loop decision making
• Position themselves for AI product design, enterprise AI, platform, and strategic product roles
• Use AI tools to improve research synthesis, ideation, portfolio development, and interview preparation
• Understand how AI is changing hiring expectations for UX and Product Design candidates
How My Mentorship Works
Most mentorship programs focus on meetings.
I focus on outcomes.
My mentorship combines structured live sessions with daily offline feedback, so we make progress every week instead of waiting for the next call.
Part 1: Daily Offline Support
This is where most of the growth happens.
You’ll receive:
• Portfolio reviews
• Case study critiques
• AI project feedback
• Interview preparation
• Hiring manager feedback
• Design exercises
• Job search strategy
• Career coaching
• Written feedb
5 out of 5 stars
John was phenomenal. I went back and forth for a while on whether I even needed a mentor and tried to figure everything out on my own first. Looking back, I wish I had worked with him sooner. He completely changed how I approach my portfolio, resume, and interviews. He helped me turn my work into a clear, structured story, refine my resume to match what recruiters are actually looking for, and prepare for interviews in a way that feels natural and confident. Before working with him, I struggled to explain my work and wasn’t sure if I was on the right track. Now I go into interviews feeling prepared, confident, and much clearer in how I present my experience. Within a few weeks of refining my portfolio, I started getting traction with interviews. What stood out most was how honest and practical his feedback was. Nothing felt generic or surface-level. Every session had clear, actionable next steps, and I always knew exactly what to improve. Really grateful for his help. It made a much bigger difference than I expected.
Lite Plan • 1 year
5 out of 5 stars
I can’t recommend John enough. When I first started working with him two years ago, I was a fresh bootcamp graduate struggling to find my footing. Thanks to his guidance, I didn’t just break into the design industry—I’ve already navigated a promotion from Associate to Mid-level designer in less than a year at my current company. John’s greatest strength is his structure. His resources and strategies are incredibly clear, which took the guesswork out of my professional development. Unlike some mentors who give vague advice, John provides actionable feedback that makes it extremely easy to identify and execute next steps. He has a deep understanding of the current market and knows exactly how to help a mentee plan for it. I am incredibly thankful for his support and would encourage any designer looking to level up to work with him.
Standard Plan • 2 years
5 out of 5 stars
I had a truly great experience working with John. From the very first session, I felt listened to and understood. His feedback was thoughtful, practical, and always tailored to my specific goals and challenges. What I appreciated most was his ability to ask the right questions - not just giving answers, but helping me think more clearly and confidently about my next steps. The sessions were well-structured, yet flexible, and always left me with concrete takeaways and a clear direction. I would highly recommend John to anyone looking for honest guidance, strategic thinking, and genuine support in their professional growt
Lite Plan • 2 years
Mentees who work with a mentor for 3+ months reach their goals 2x faster than those going it alone. Long-term mentorship means fewer false starts, more focused sessions, and support that builds week after week.
97% satisfaction across all mentors
Personalized feedback and growth plans
Trusted by thousands of mentees
John Smith
Senior UX Design Manager at Apple | ex-Google, ex-Microsoft
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One-off sessions with John
One-off sessions are a great option if you're looking for specific advice on a certain topic.
If you're looking for a mentor, and you're just not sure about how this all works – this one is for you. In a casual, …
Some big interviews coming up? In this 1-hour session, you'll receive actionable feedback on your interview presence and readiness. Choose one of the following to …
Whatever doesn't fit the mold: Get a full hour to discuss your career challenges -- be it working within a complex organization, navigating your career, …
As a UX hiring manager, I’m very familiar with the UX hiring process. I can help you prioritize what you need to prepare, plus give …
Whatever doesn't fit the mold: Buy a package of 3x 1hour sessions to discuss your career challenges -- be it working within a complex organization, …
