42. Be brave with Dr. Natalia Bielczyk

Dr. Natalia Bielczyk tells the story of feeling burned out in her PhD program. And in an effort to rest and regain a sense of interest and excitement in her work, she decided to take a year off. In that time, she allowed herself to explore and engage her non-academic interests. This time investment led her to the career in which she now finds herself--a career she very much loves. For those who are struggling to feel a sense of ease and clarity in their academic careers, Natalia advises to watch your mental patterns and expectations, learn how to read people, and know that life does not have to be difficult. In the end, Natalia urges academics to be brave and if academia isn't working for them, try other career options because, as she notes, we only have one life. Find Natalia's offerings for early-career PhDs transitioning to industry at her website: https://ontologyofvalue.com/