A PhD Life Coach? Jen never imagined a career as a life coach. But after her own challenges in graduate school, she realized that her passions and talents would best be used as an academic, life, and career coach for graduate students and PhDs. Now, Jen has launched her own business where she helps PhD students and recent PhDs identify their own passions and launch meaningful careers. Listen to her interview to hear about her experience in graduate school, how she decided to become a PhD Life Coach, and her advice for current grad students.

Jen has a PhD in history from the University of Toronto. You can learn more about Jen on her website. She has many useful posts and resources about being a graduate student that I encourage you to go check out.

Biggest Struggle

• Not having a system for getting work done

Worst Moment

• Her committee gave her 4 months to finish her dissertation but she didn't have a system

Best Moment

• Creating a newsletter for the department during her first year as a PhD student.

Mindful Minutes Segment

• Habit: Listening well
• Book: Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis  by Joan Bolker
• Productivity Tool: Scrivener
• Best Advice: 1. Never explain and never apologize 2. The only good dissertation is a done dissertation
• Hobbies: Exploring the city, festivals, running, playing with her cat, and documentaries.
• Alternative PhD study: Philosophy of Science

Contact

• Twitter
• Website: http://fromphdtolife.com/
• Email: [email protected]

Intro and Outro Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music - Happy Rock