Former Georgetown Law ICJI Expert — Academic Support & Career Coaching for Law Students and Aspiring International Lawyers

From the first time we spoke, Marilena shared so much wisdom and insight that was immediately applicable to the communications and leadership challenges I was facing. She balances empathy and knowledge to go at the right pace, taking you on a journey to build confidence and put new suggestions into practice. She unlocked a new skillset I really needed and made it feel easy. I have already recommended Marilena to friends and colleagues and would do so again without hesitation.

I've found working with Marilena to be extremely helpful. She brings a clear structure and confidence to each session, and always seems to know how to approach the next step in the process.

So far we've worked extensively on refining my CV, identifying suitable opportunities, improving supporting statements, and developing my LinkedIn profile. More recently we've begun discussing interview preparation and networking strategies, which feels like a natural progression as my job search evolves.

What I've particularly valued is that the sessions are practical and tailored to my circumstances. Rather than offering generic advice, Marilena takes the time to understand my background and helps me present my experience more effectively and strategically.

I've chosen to continue booking sessions because I feel the work we've done together has been worthwhile, and I think the longer-term focus on interviews, networking and career direction will be equally valuable.

We studied together. I also attended A presentation by Marilena and a fellow course alumni on finding work in the Human Rights Sector. This proved both interesting and insightful, including information on further studies. I would highly recommend the coaching service for the experiential knowledge alone.

Working with Marilena during the early phase of my human rights career was a complete game-changer. She doesn't just look at your CV, she sees your true potential, breaks down the overwhelming job market into an actionable strategy, and gives you the exact confidence and tools you need to build a striking CV. Her meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organisation skills helped me navigate the initial chaotic entry level job hunt. She was my absolute anchor from my master's graduation to my first big corporate breakthroughs, and her brilliant guidance was instrumental in helping me build a successful global career in human rights.

I am a professional colleague of Marilena and we know each other through the human rights sector. I am a human rights lawyer, independent human rights consultant, career coach and academic based in London. A few years ago, Marilena hosted an online event for aspiring human rights professionals which was excellent. She provided incredibly useful, thoughtful and practical advice on pursuing a career in the sector. She offered personal insights and advice from her own human rights career which gave the session real depth. I know that Marilena will be an excellent career coach and will walk alongside you with care and compassion.

I worked with Marilena through the LEAD School, where she was a speaker and mentor for young leaders. From the start, she stood out for her professionalism, clear thinking, and genuine commitment to helping others grow.

Marilena combines deep expertise with a warm, encouraging approach. She explains complex ideas simply and helps people recognize their own potential. Her practical, honest guidance is exactly what students and young professionals need when building career confidence and direction.

I highly recommend Marilena to anyone looking for a mentor or career advisor who works with integrity, empathy, and a real dedication to helping people succeed.

I send warm wishes from sunny Armenia.

A recruitment specialist- Marilena- encouraged me to be more confident in my approach to job applications because the experience I got from volunteering has given me unique skillsets and expertise but most importantly many years of experience. I just need to package myself well and apply for roles more aligned to my purpose and experience.

I did just that and it has had a significant impact.

Marilena's coaching was a turning point for me early in my career. I was shortlisted for a highly competitive ICRC traineeship alongside over 800 applicants, and while I had the CV and qualifications, her guidance empowered me to find my voice and truly own the interview. That breakthrough laid a strong foundation for my international career, which eventually led me to land different roles at the United Nations. Her ability to help clients tap into their inner confidence is unmatched, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to make their next big professional leap.

This week I had a really precious meeting with Marilena. We spoke about life, career, job market, Generation X work views, and so many other subjects. This girl definitely has an original approach. If you're stuck in your life, searching for jobs with no success, wondering about your work-life balance, or just lost, she's the one you need to reach out to.

Marilena understands the struggle because she felt it in her very own skin. Go on. Change the way you see things. And thrive.

Before connecting with Marilena I had been applying to jobs for about 1 year with only a few resulting in interviews. The interviews that I did get ended at the hiring manager level. In all cases it was not clear what I could have done differently to progress further.

In speaking with Marilena in a diagnosis session, it became clear that I was not delving deep enough into understanding what problems the role was intended to solve for the organization. What also became clear was that while I have good experience, I was not communicating it in a manner that made alignment with the role understandable and actionable for the hiring manager. Marilena delved into some of the structure provided by her Blueprint framework and how it could help with interview preparation to better position myself and go into interviews feeling more confident about what I have to offer.

The other key takeaway from our session was on how to authentically increase my visibility and highlight my positioning on LinkedIn. She provided advice on how my unique cultural and cross-sector perspectives could be a good angle for my posts in order to build a network in a manner that does not feel forced or performative.

Marilena's overall demeanor is calm, relatable and level-headed. She takes the time to listen to and understand your frustrations and challenges and relates it to either her own experiences or those of her other clients (whilst maintaining confidentiality). The diagnosis session provided actionable next steps I could take. I think such a session would greatly benefit anyone who has been on the job market for a while and needs clarity on what they can do to get unstuck and successfully land a new job.

I met Marilena through a mutual friend, and she has been amazing at coaching me during my job search.

She has helped me understand how to stand out during interviews and how to effectively demonstrate value to future employers.

Every time I had a question or needed to prepare for an interview, she found time in her schedule to support me.

If you are looking for someone knowledgeable and a great listener, I would definitely recommend her

I was recommended Marilena as a career coach by a friend. Marilena and I had a long discussion about where my career currently is, the current market for the roles I have been looking at, and how to adapt my positioning moving forward.

Importantly, Marilena provided me with her blueprint: an incredibly useful guide to assist in working out your alignment with a role, and how to position your experience to align with a role. Her blueprint is structured in a manner that is easily followable and is transferable to any role you are applying for to help put your best foot forward.

Marilena provided realistic, yet kind advice and I would happily recommend her to anyone struggling with the job search.

Marilena is very thorough and thoughtful. She has really helped me with my confidence! She really prepares for the lessons and leaves you with great materials you can use over and over.

I had my introductory call with Marilena and it was such a positive and helpful conversation. She has such a positive attitude and outlook which gives you the confidence to continue pursuing your goals.

I highly recommend Marilena's services. She was instrumental in helping me reach the interview stage, offering guidance throughout the process. Her lessons are in-depth, and the resources she provides are well-structured, practical, and tailored to individual students.

After asking within a group of human rights professionals, I hired Marilena to help me with some CV writing. Marilena helped me tailor my resume. She is meticulous about detail and a true professional, applying the STAR method to the job personification. Marilena picked up little things that did not stand out to me. She has an excellent knowledge of the development sector. Marilena also helped me with a cover letter. In addition, she has also assisted me with some transcription. Marilena is a true professional, and I would recommend her to others.

It is no doubt hard to highlight the most important skills when applying for a job, but what I really appreciated in Marilena’s thoughtful guidance was that she pointed out what would be the best for me, and in the end, it perfectly and successfully worked for me.

As a result of Marilena’s excellent and supportive guidance, I got to the interview stage and got the job as a Project Manager in one of the established feminist non-profit organisations.

As a woman of color, often having conversations with career coaches often feels very unrelatable. Marilena is very empathetic, and guides in a way that helps you reset your thinking and it is empowering. I can't recommend her enough to help you review your career strategies and also for preparing for interviews.

I requested Marilena’s input into a piece of written work. I chose Marilena because she has extensive professional experience and knowledge in the field of human rights and has an eye for editorial detail. The feedback that she gave me was helpful regarding the content and structure of my work. Marilena proved herself to be fair, reliable, and professional. I therefore recommend Marilena as a tutor.