Maria Kouroumali
Ertegun Administrator at University of OxfordI love having conversations with students, hearing about their research, and working alongside different Ertegun Directors
I love having conversations with students, hearing about their research, and working alongside different Ertegun Directors
I really enjoy being challenged to think ambitiously and creatively about complex problems, learning from internal and external experts, integrating knowledge across sectors and seeing the impact of my work on a daily basis.
It might feel safe and comfortable to stay in a role you have become proficient in, but exploring other career paths can lead to exciting new opportunities.
I am finally doing something I love and that gives me confidence, something that allows me to use my existing skills but also get new ones.
In my case, it was the technical knowledge. However, a PhD is much more than that…
Lots of tech companies are looking for people with creative skillsets – there are many ways people from a humanities background can get involved!
Take the risk! The worst thing that can happen is you go back to academia with a (relative) wealth of industry experience – especially compared to your colleagues. The best thing that could happen is you find a full-filling career.
I feel very fortunate to have done a year in industry placement as an undergraduate – it nudged me towards research projects with an applied focus from the very start.
I have always tried to understand what really motivates me and “gets me out of bed” in order to steer my decisions in that direction. It is also about taking opportunities that come by and sometimes taking a leap of faith
You’re never going to have an epiphany about what to do next. You just have to pick something and try it.
Be like a cat. Cats don’t have imposter syndrome; each cat believes it’s the most special cat in the world. If you’re doing a PhD, be a cat.