Careers in Your Ears

Nick Lynn, Senior Director at Willis Towers Watson, expertly transitioned from a Geography lecturer to an Employee Engagement Consultant. He discusses the evolving landscape of work and emphasizes the growing importance of research skills in business. Nick shares insights into fostering employee motivation and the pivotal role of feedback. He also reveals the daily challenges of consultancy, highlighting innovation and collaboration as keys to success. Listeners gain a fresh perspective on how academic backgrounds can enhance skills sought in the corporate world.

Kai is a senior lecturer at the Manchester School of Art, at Manchester Metropolitan University and was previously a research fellow at King's College London. She also has a very successful career as an artist. In this episode she tells us about how her skills and experiences as an academic and an artist have led her to her current role. We also explore equality, inclusion and neurodiversity in academic life and the importance of being yourself in job interviews. Apologies for the sound quality. This episode was recorded online and there is some background noise and distortion.

What does it mean to work in health policy?  What does a policy researcher do day to day?  And, if your research has been in one topic, how do you transition into another area?  Listen to this short podcast where Kate Murray talks with Dr Deborah Fenney from The King’s Fund and find out more about being a research ‘geek’.  We’re always interested to hear from our listeners: get in touch if you have any ideas of who you’d like us to interview or specific questions you’d like us to ask people.  Tweet @kcldo1thing or email careers@kcl.ac.uk.

This bonus episode was taken from our live recording at the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference earlier this month, where we led a Special Interest Session along with KCL’s post-grad student led 'Postdocalypse' podcast! This episode concerns how to get researchers’ voices heard and other reasons why we set up our podcasts. We have a few tips and advice for setting up podcasts, and some audience questions too. Enjoy! Postdocalypse podcast link: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/postdocalypse-kings-college-london-health-sciences/id1369174654?mt=2 Vitae - supports the professional development of researchers: www.vitae.ac.uk/ 

Stephanie Arnold, a Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca specializing in oncology, shares her journey from PhD student to industry professional. She discusses the pivotal role of engagement in activities like committee roles and mentoring, which guided her career decisions. The conversation touches on the balance of PhD responsibilities with leadership, the importance of networking, and proactive career planning. Arnold emphasizes aligning personal preferences with career paths and highlights practical strategies for PhD students navigating their futures.

Vicki Tipton talks with Craig Dooley, KCL's E-Learning Development Advisor in the Centre for Doctoral Studies. In this edition of Careers in Your Ears, Craig and Vicki focus on part time and remote PhD students. How do they manage their career thinking and planning with everything they already have to juggle? What support is available at King's to help part time and remote PhD students.  Information for King's PhD Students and Research staff on how to book an appointment and links to resources:  https://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/careers/Current-Students/Researchers  

Julia Yates, an expert in Organisational Psychology, and Tristram Hooley, a portfolio worker focusing on careers and social justice, dive into the evolving world of career planning. They discuss innovative career methods and the unique challenges women face, particularly in STEM. The conversation highlights the impact of automation on job markets and the importance of mentorship. They also touch on the ethical dimensions of career satisfaction, emphasizing the need to align personal values with professional paths for true fulfillment.

In this episode Kate Murray, Careers Consultant, talks with Dr Alessandro di Bona, an EU Exit Policy Adviser. You'll hear about Alessandro's time as a PhD student and whether it connects to his current role. He has some top tips too, for those aspiring to change careers. 

Max Bourgognon, a former post-doc turned Insights Manager at Roche, joins colleagues Chiara Marchetti, Claire Gibson, and Jessica O’Neill to discuss their shifts from academia to the pharmaceutical world. They share personal stories about navigating uncertainty and finding satisfaction in roles that impact patient care. The importance of communication skills, networking, and translating academic expertise to industry needs also take center stage. Listeners gain valuable insights on making successful career transitions after a PhD.

It's International Women's Day 2019, and the campaign this year is 'Better the Balance, Better the World', so in today's bonus episode we talk to Dr Sarah Barry, a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Biology at King's College London about her career in academia and why the gender balance in chemistry isn't really there yet.  At the end of the podcast Sarah refers to a report by the Royal Society of Chemistry on the diversity landscape of the chemical sciences and an article by Carolyn Bertozzi about achieving gender balance, we've included them here for ease of reference: RSC Diversity Landscape Report Carolyn Bertozzi Gender Balance Article #betterforbalance