We are committed to mentorship and building community.
Whether you’re early in your UX career or need to brush up on your portfolio, our mentors can help guide you.
Mentors have a limited capacity for mentees, so time with a mentor is first come first serve. Please contact us if you’re interested in becoming a mentor!
Mentors
Malachi Atkinson / Web Strategist @ Belt Creative
Hello! I’m Malachi Atkinson, Web Strategist at Belt Creative and the proud Founder of MAVE Design. My expertise spans Web and Visual Design, along with SEO strategies, focusing on empowering businesses and creative individuals who aim for unparalleled excellence in their brands. Beyond my professional realm, I’m passionate about creating music and advocating for black mental health. I’m excited about the opportunity to collaborate!
Shubham Kulkarni / Product Researcher @ QVC
Hello UX Team! I’m thrilled to be here as a mentor. I started my career as a mechanical engineer and made a bold pivot into UX, driven by a deep interest in the digital design industry. My journey began as a UI Designer, which led me to Philadelphia to pursue a master’s degree. Since then, I’ve been working as a Product Researcher with QVC.
Over the last five years, I’ve developed a strong balance between business strategy, design, and research. If you think my experience might help you transition or grow in the UX field, please feel free to schedule some time with me through my ADP list or Calendly. Looking forward to connecting!
Emma Coath / UX Designer @ Clarivate
Emma Coath (she/her) is a socially driven UI/UX designer based in Center City, Philly, PA. She is passionate about connecting with others and creating impactful, user-centered designs. She graduated from Tyler School of Art and Architecture GAID BFA program, Temple University in 2020. She has worked in a non-profit organization as a freelancer, designed for hospitals, and currently works in the academic library world at Clarivate. Emma's experience spans non-profit, healthcare, enterprises, library websites, accessibility, UX research, AI, chatbots, and more.
She is located near the Barnes Foundation in Center City and prefers in-person meetings with a maximum of two 30-minute meetings per month. Rules: first come/first serve basis and 5-minute radius of Center City - use her Calendly link :)
Her schedule is open on Wednesdays and off on holidays. Emma especially enjoys mentoring other women of color and the LGBTQ+ community as an ally and advocate. She looks forward to giving back as a mentor. Emma had 3 UX AIGA Design mentors in the past and has continued mentoring other young professionals since 2024.
Lacey Althouse / UX Designer @ Minitab
Hi, I’m Lacey! I’m a UX researcher and designer with 7 years of experience helping technical teams build user-centered solutions that drive real impact. At Minitab, I design tools that help businesses analyze data, visualize insights, and improve processes. I love helping people grow their careers—whether it’s building relationships with stakeholders, getting your work noticed, or standing out in a competitive field. If networking feels overwhelming, I’m happy to help make those connections easier. Whether you're just starting out or leveling up, I’m here to support you!
Melanie Mauller / Senior Design Researcher @ Think Company
Melanie is a Senior Design Researcher at Think Company, a Philly-based research and design agency where she partners with clients across industries, from healthcare to enterprise tech, to better understand the people they serve and build more thoughtful, inclusive experiences. She’s especially drawn to work that challenges assumptions, uplifts voices that are often overlooked, and drives real, human-centered change.
As a PhillyCHI mentor, Melanie supports both emerging and experienced UX researchers. Whether you're just getting started, navigating a layoff, growing your network, or deep in the weeds of a tough research project, she’s here to help you think it through. Her goal is to empower people to be bold, ask better questions, advocate for themselves and their users, and move forward with confidence. She brings curiosity, care, and a collaborative spirit to every conversation, and believes great research (and great mentorship) starts with listening and creating space for others to thrive.