Elin Filbey

About Elin Filbey

I love museums. But it took me 10+ years, an expensive masters degree, and my sanity to realize they didn’t love me back (at least not in the way I wanted them to).Now, I help museum professionals build sustainable, fulfilling careers beyond the museum field.After more than a decade in museums, I know what it feels like to pour your energy into a field that doesn’t always give back. I loved the work, but I was exhausted, underpaid, and unsure how to translate my experience into something new.When I transitioned out of museums, I realized how powerful our skills truly are. Skills like storytelling, research, education, project management, collaboration are so valuable outside the field.Today, I’m an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified coach and founder of Deaccessioned Career Coaching. I help museum, arts, and culture professionals reimagine their careers, uncover transferable skills, and find meaningful roles in new industries.My clients have titles like \"curators\",\"educators\",\"registrars\",\"exhibit developers\",\"collections managers\" and the folks whose business cards should really just read “I do everything here\".Together, we:Identify transferable skills and professional strengths.Explore career transitions into other industries like higher education, nonprofits, tech, and communications.Develop career strategies, resumes, and interview confidence.Build sustainable, values-driven careers that align with your goals.Through 1:1 coaching and the Deaccessioned Wing community, I’ve helped museum professionals translate their expertise into roles that value their creativity, leadership, and perspective.If you’re ready to turn your museum experience into a sustainable, rewarding career, without starting over, you’re in the right place. Follow me for content on career transitions for museum professionals, transferable skills, career clarity, and sustainable work beyond museums.

Experience

1. Career Coach

   Deaccessioned Career Coaching

   Sep 2020 — Present

   Maintain caseload of virtual coaching clients, including tracking client progress and case files for reporting purposes• Partner with clients to realize and reach their goal of career transition• Coach clients in a highly personalized, dynamic, and client-centered manner that demonstrates actionable growth and tangible results

Education

• University of Chicago

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Comparative Human Development

  2008 — 2012

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  Certified Professional Coach Program

  2021

• The George Washington University

  Master of Arts in Teaching, Museum Education

  2013 — 2014

• The George Washington University

  Master's degree, Museum Education

• University of Chicago

  Bachelor of Arts - BA