Lessons I Learned Transitioning From Academia To Program Management

One of the hardest things I have had to do is the transition from academia into the industry (more specifically, program management). The first time I had to say it out loud to my advisers, I felt like I was letting so many people down and I knew, it would most likely be a lonely journey. I knew I was going on a journey that people in my “circle” were not familiar with or agreed with so I braced up for the journey ahead.

While it has so far been the most fulfilling decision I have made, it was one journey that taught me so many things about myself and life in general. While there are many resources on the internet to guide you through the technical side of transition, I found that the following lessons guided and anchored me through the process.

1. Understand your “why”: The truth is, transitioning to another industry can be difficult so before you make that decision, you want to make sure it is a very well thought out process. You need to evaluate yourself critically and know what transferrable skills and strengths you have. When the rejections and advice from well-intending people start pouring in, your why will ground you. Chrisse Kayode, a design strategist at Parson’s School of Design gives a beautiful representation of self-evaluation beautifully in this article.
2. Be intentional about communicating your skills: If you have evaluated yourself effectively, you should have listed out your transferrable skills from doing a Ph.D. You should have also found parallels between your research work and the industry you are venturing into. The next thing is to learn how to communicate these skills eloquently and intentionally. Prepare a well-tailored introduction that describes what you are and do.
3. Though it might be a solitary journey, don’t isolate yourself: You need to find a community of people in your intended industry. Find people who have done similar transitions. Interact as much as possible. Look for online communities and offline communities. I cannot over-emphasize how Linkedin and Twitter can be used to do this effectively. Curate your timeline to aid your growth.
4. Keep learning: Invest in developing yourself. Take courses to develop both your hard and soft skills. Some skills that were instrumental for your growth in academia might not necessarily help you in your desired industry. Know the tools that are relevant in the industry and learn to use them.

While this list is not exhaustive, know that transitioning can be quite difficult but it is absolutely possible and you can do it. Be ready to reach out to as many people as you need to; you will be shocked at how many people are willing to help.