$900 / month
Start free, decide later
Marina is a former VP and Head of Design who has worked at Amex and JPMorgan. She has more than 25 years of UX experience across startups, agencies, and large companies, and has coached more than 2,400 people since 2016. She helps designers strengthen resumes and portfolios, build influence with stakeholders, and plan next career moves.
Based on 22 verified mentee reviews
When you reach a certain level of seniority in your design work, there will be a moment when you start feeling like you great work's being taken for granted.
At that point, a small voice in your head may start asking: Why am I still here? Ar this level? Why does no one with power seem to appreciate my worK?
Well, somewhere between Senior and Director, the rules of the game change.
Great design work stops being enough, indeed.
I know because I lived it. 25+ years in design - from startups to agencies to enterprises like Amex and JPMorgan.
If we haven’t met yet, my name is Marina Krutchinsky, former VP and Head of Design and hiring manager, and now a design leadership coach helping you close that gap between your competence and power. The designers I coached in the past now lead teams at Amazon, Meta, Spotify, Google.
For the last couple of years, I’ve even been writing about it all in my Substack: UX Mentor Diaries - behind-the-scenes lessons from 25+ years in UX leadership: the politics, patterns, scripts, most importantly and unspoken rules to accelerate promotions.
I do the same work in our one-on-ones, in a personalized way. You bring me a real situation, I'll tell you what's really happening underneath it - the political read, the piece you're missing, the thing your manager won't say to your face.
Together, we figure out a plan you can run with by Monday morning.
If you're ready to start, book a session.
(I only coach on Wednesdays. Spots are limited.)
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Get weekly career acceleration strategies → https://uxmentor.substack.com/
I also post frequently on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrutchinsky/
5 out of 5 stars
After navigating many changes at my company, working with Marina transformed how I approached uncertainty, leadership, and my own career growth. She broadened my perspective, helped me craft effective strategies with executive teams, and guided me to rediscover strengths I had overlooked. Marina’s mentorship deepened my industry knowledge, refined my leadership portfolio, and sharpened my storytelling to support my ongoing professional development. Her feedback was always actionable, empowering me to recognize and position my unique skills and values for advancement. Above all, Marina’s encouragement and swift support rebuilt my confidence during challenging times and fueled my career progress. I highly recommend Marina to anyone looking to develop their executive presence, overcome career obstacles, and reach their next level of growth. She helped me shift my perspective, communicate more effectively, and deliver a clear narrative that highlights both business value and ongoing career advancement.
Standard Plan • 5 months
5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been feeling lost in my career for quite some time. I’ve read a lot of books and listened to a lot of podcasts. I just wasn’t getting the ‘giant leap’, or finding the breakthrough I needed. Thankfully, I came across Marina — I’m not quite sure through which platform. Whatever the case, I’m really glad I decided to invest an hour of her time. She put so much work in, to figure me out professionally and to see things about me that I could not see in myself. She asked incisive questions and made some compassionate but blunt recommendations, which she compiled and shared in a set of documents. I’m so grateful for her time and patience. I now feel that I have a sense of who I am professionally and, even better, who I could be. I have a plan of action and a new outlook on the future of my career. I wholeheartedly recommend her. Thank you, Marina.
Session
5 out of 5 stars
This was just our first session and it felt like Marina already knew me and the challenges I’m facing. She got straight to the core of things with clarity and empathy. What stood out immediately was how experienced she is. She’s clearly been through similar situations herself and has coached others through them, so everything she shared was grounded in real-world examples. There was no fluff, no generic advice. She gave sharp insights and frameworks I could apply right away.
Session
People come to me stressed, confused, stuck in their own heads.
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Ex-JPMorgan VP teaching designers how power actually works. Weekly tactics on visibility, influence, and corporate fluency. Click to read UX …
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You tell Marina your goals. They see exactly what you want to work on before session one.
You meet within days. Marina reviews your application and books your first session, usually within a day or two.
You leave with a plan. Concrete next steps and a weekly rhythm from your very first week.
Marina Krutchinsky
VP & Head of Design at ex-JPMorgan, ex-Amex
Enter your email and we'll let you know when Marina has open spots. You'll also get a link to manage your wishlist – no account needed.
Book a free intro call with Marina
Connect with Marina in a quick call (usually 15-20 minutes)
What's included in the trial?
Every trial is a little different–here's what Marina says about their trial:
We'll meet for a quick call (usually around 15 minutes) where we:
- Discuss your goals and how I can support you
- Coordinate logistics like time zones, meeting frequency, and communication methods (I offer regular sessions only on Wednesdays)
