Jesse Mercado🇺🇸

About Jesse Mercado

AI, UX & Learning Experience Design | Career & Portfolio Mentor at Maven

AI, UX & Learning Experience Design | Digital Products & Career Mentoring

I help designers and other professionals turn complex ideas and emerging technology into usable products, practical learning experiences, and clearer career decisions.

My background spans enterprise UX, learning, design technology, and digital products at Amazon, Chewy, Korn Ferry, Sysco, and TechnipFMC. I bring that hands-on perspective to mentoring.

Together, we can review your portfolio, clarify your professional positioning, prepare for interviews, or plan a transition across design and learning roles. We can also explore how AI fits your design workflow and identify capabilities to develop next.

Expect candid feedback, specific examples, and actionable next steps. My aim is to help you explain your decisions, show evidence of your skills, and build work you can stand behind.

ADPList recognized me as a Top 50 Graphic Design Mentor for July–September 2026. My 100-session milestone reflects sustained mentoring activity, not a promise of career outcomes.

Expertise

Sessions with Jesse Mercado

• Career Direction & Clarity Session (60 min): Feeling stuck, considering a career change, or unsure what your next move should be? In this 60 minute session, we’ll look at where you are now, where you want to go, and what may be holding you back. Together, we’ll identify a clearer direction and practical next steps you can take after the session.
• Job Search & Career Positioning Strategy (60 min): Take a strategic approach to your job search instead of simply applying to more roles. In this 60 minute one on one session, we’ll evaluate your current job search, positioning, resume, LinkedIn presence, and target opportunities. We’ll identify what may be limiting your results and develop a focused strategy to help you position yourself more effectively and pursue stronger opportunities.
• Portfolio & Personal Brand Strategy (60 min): Your portfolio and personal brand should make it clear who you are, what you do, and why someone should choose you. In this 60 minute one on one session, we’ll evaluate your portfolio, positioning, messaging, and professional presence to identify what’s working and what needs improvement. You’ll leave with focused recommendations to strengthen how you present yourself and your work.
• Design Career Strategy Session (60 min): Get strategic about what comes next in your design career. In this 60 minute one on one session, we’ll evaluate where you are today, identify what may be limiting your growth, and build a focused strategy around your goals. Whether you’re trying to advance, specialize, transition into another design discipline, or reposition yourself for stronger opportunities, you’ll leave with clear priorities and actionable next steps.
• AI Career Strategy for Designers (60 min): Learn how to use AI as a strategic advantage in your design career. In this 60 minute one on one session, we’ll evaluate your current workflow, identify where AI can increase your productivity and capabilities, and explore practical ways to integrate AI into your work. We’ll also discuss how AI is changing your field and how you can position yourself to stay competitive as the industry evolves.

What mentees say

“I had an excellent mentorship session with Jesse! He was patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable throughout our conversation. He has genuine interest in helping others succeed. He took the time to listen, share valuable insights, and offer thoughtful guidance. Jesse created a welcoming environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and exploring ideas.”

“It's my second time meeting Jesse and he gave me incredibly helpful guidance for my upcoming interview. He quickly identified what the role and hiring manager were looking for and helped me build a focused, strategic preparation plan. His advice was specific and actionable, especially on how to present my experience and demonstrate the skills that matter most.”

“Jesse was fantastic to chat with. He gave honest, actionable feedback and quickly identified the biggest opportunities to improve my portfolio and positioning.”