How to Position Yourself Outside Academia With Alessandra Wall

Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD

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Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, the podcast that explores unconventional career paths for PhD graduates.
In today’s episode, “How to Position Yourself Outside Academia,” our host David Mendes engages in a captivating conversation with Alessandra Wall, an esteemed executive coach, psychologist, and founder of Noteworthy. Alessandra shares her rich insights on how neuroscience can enhance professional interactions and offers valuable strategies for women leaders, particularly those from male-dominated industries.
Throughout the episode, Alessandra delves into effective communication techniques, emphasizing the power of emotional storytelling and the strategic use of one’s PhD credentials. She also tackles the often daunting task of simplifying complex ideas for broader audiences. With practical advice on managing job interviews, building social capital, and overcoming social anxiety, Alessandra’s expertise serves as a guiding light for anyone seeking to leverage their academic skills in new and impactful ways.
David and Alessandra also discuss the importance of mentorship, the cultural nuances of academic titles, and the critical role of emotional intelligence in professional settings. So, whether you’re contemplating a career pivot or simply looking to enhance your leadership skills, this episode is brimming with actionable insights and inspiring stories to help you thrive beyond the thesis. Tune in and join the conversation!

Executive coach, speaker, author, psychologist, and founder, Dr. Alessandra Wall has been coaching top leaders to success for over 20 years.

As a women leadership expert, she specializes in supporting senior executives in high-impact, male-dominated industries to lead powerfully and impactfully without compromising their values, career fulfillment, or quality of life.

Her work has transformed the lives of hundreds of executive women in the US and Europe and changed workplaces for the better at scores of companies ranging in size from agile start-ups to Fortune 100.

What we covered in the interview:

• 💡 Effective Communication is Crucial: Simplifying complex concepts and using emotional language can significantly enhance your interactions. As Alessandra aptly put it, explain your work as if you’re talking to an “intelligent 12-year-old.”
• 🧠 Leverage Neuroscience for Better Interaction: Initiating conversations in a positive emotional state can transform your communication. Strategic breathing techniques and openly acknowledging nervousness can help build rapport during interviews.
• ⚙️ Transform Academic Skills for Broader Applications Your analytical and strategic skills developed during a PhD can be transformative in various professional settings. Understand and convey the impact you can make with these skills, tailored to diverse audiences.

🔗See the resources section below for Alessandra’s links!

This episode’s resources:

• Website | NoteworthyInc.co

Thank you, Alessandra Wall!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Alessandra, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:

Send Alessandra a message on Linkedin!

Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!

You might also like the following episodes:

Sara Thompson – Out of the Box Careers Post-PhD

Anca Bodzer –From PhD to Project Management

Andrew Ceperley – Building Fulfilling Academia Adjacent Careers

Paulina Cossette – From Faculty to Editing