I’d recommend reflecting on your long-term career goals. If you’re considering further education, ask yourself if you need that deeper technical expertise or if you’d rather get started in the industry now.
I had some of the skills, at least scientifically; but was at the start a bit shy about the business side of things. Luckily, I had a great and experienced co-founder.
Be open to diverse career paths. Your research skills are valuable beyond academia.
I also was beginning to feel like the entire breadth of my skills were not reaching their potential as an academic.
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.
You’re never going to have an epiphany about what to do next. You just have to pick something and try it.
I’m getting to see the technology that I invented move from academia towards the clinic. The further I get down this process the more I can see the end result and it’s an exciting thing to observe.
