I'm Marina Krutchinsky, a UX leader, mentor, and hands-on UXer from NYC.
Iâve been in the UX game for over 25 years, and Iâm here to share what actually works.
Whatâs important, is that my insights are current - as Iâm still actively leading UX at one of the worldâs biggest financial institutions.
Along the way, Iâve taught and coached thousands UXers, just like you, helping them turn their struggles into strengths and landing them roles and promotions at Amazon, Meta, Spotify, and other big name companies.Â
Iâve seen the wins and setbacks, the pivotal career leaps and the frustrating stalls.Â
After decades in the UX trenches, one thing is clear:
Those who understand their strengths and make intentional moves are the ones who stand out. Period.
Thatâs why I created UX Mentor Diariesâa no-fluff newsletter for experienced UXers and aspiring UX leaders who want actionable career strategies, honest insights, and guidance to move forward with confidence.
UX Mentor Diaries is where I share the insights, frameworks, and strategies Iâve gathered from over 25 years in the field and coaching thousands of UXers.
Why subscribe to UX Mentor Dairies?
Many UXers face career challenges that can leave them feeling stuck, like â
navigating office politics,
struggling with clarity in their career path,
or just knowing what the âright movesâ are to grow and build influence.
Iâve been there myself, and through years of coaching UXers at every stage of their careers, Iâve seen firsthand what works (and what doesnât) across industries, from startups to major corporations.
This newsletter is designed to help you cut through the noise and take actionable steps toward a career that feels both meaningful and powerful.
đ Whatâs included in your Paid Subscription:
You might wonder, âwhy should I pay $9 per month for a newsletter?â.
Well, by subscribing you will getâ
đ Unlimited access to ALL content, past and future:
Paid subscribers have full access to the entire archive of past posts and all future content.
Every Wednesday, I share deeper insights into common UX career traps and strategic moves that can fast-track your growth. This series dives into the less-talked-about tactics that help UXers build influence and avoid mistakes that slow down careers. Here is an example:
Every Saturday, I answer pressing âHow do IâŠâ questions from readers and my students. These insights provide practical solutions to everyday UX challenges, helping you tackle common issues with clarity and confidence. Here is an example:
Paid subscribers have full access to special series such as Failure Fridays, which tells the real stories of UXers who hit rock bottom and used those experiences to propel their careers forward. Here is an example:
As long as youâre a paid subscriber, youâll have access to all current and future series, along with the full archiveâgiving you a lifetime of UX resources at your fingertips.
As I mentioned earlier, Iâve mentored thousands of UXers, just like you, helping them turn their struggles into strengths and landing them roles at Amazon, Meta, Spotify, and other big name companies.
These arenât just feel-good success stories.
These are real UXers who learned how to stop sabotaging their own progress and started making moves that actually matter.
Iâm not here to fluff up your resume or rehash the same tired advice.
Iâm here to
help you see the gaps youâre blind to,
lean into your unique strengths,
and build a strategy thatâs not just about doing moreâbut about doing what actually gets results.
Weâll dive into your goals, your strengths, and the roadblocks youâre facing.
Weâll map out a plan that cuts out the fluff and gets you moving.
Iâll be your go-to sounding board every step of the wayâbecause this isnât just coaching, itâs about rewiring the way you think about your career.
This is your chance to get real about where youâre headed and start making the moves that count.
UX Mentor Diaries is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Subscribe to UX Mentor Diaries
Weekly insider tips to amplify your design influence & skyrocket your UX career (proven methods, not fluff). Read by 35,000+ future UX leaders across Substack and Linkedin.
VP, UX Design @ JPMorgan Chase by day. UX Mentor & Career Strategist by night. Mentored 2,000+ UXers on how to avoid career-killing mistakes & make moves that matter. Now writing about it in UX Mentor Diaries.
