What if your next job wasn’t about status, but about passion?
In this powerful episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, David sits down with George Appling—former McKinsey partner, telecom CEO, and now a self-described “passionpreneur.” George shares his journey from high-level executive roles to building a portfolio of ventures that light him up: a Renaissance festival, a meadery, a summer camp, and a nonprofit equine therapy program for veterans.
His story is a masterclass in designing your life around values, freedom, and joy—especially relevant for PhDs contemplating a non-academic path.
Whether you’re in grad school, finishing a postdoc, or already working in industry but craving more alignment, this episode will challenge you to rethink success and inspire you to take bold, intentional steps toward a career you truly love.
George Appling is an author and entrepreneur whose extensive career spans across countries, industries, and sectors. In 2009, he dedicated his professional life to building businesses he is passionate about, including a mead-making company, a medieval festival, a summer camp, and a non-profit equine program for first responders and veterans.”
George is also a Vistage Chair who helps CEOs and business owners experience the joy of doing what they love and succeeding. But perhaps his most significant qualification as a mentor is the fact that he loves his life, and he intentionally created it for himself.
George holds 2 Masters degrees from Harvard and 2 Bachelors degrees from Texas A&M. He was a junior partner at McKinsey & Co and a lead partner at Booz & Co. He served as president of a business unit at Siemens, the COO of Brightstar, and the CEO of a $1B cellphone distribution company.
🔍 In this episode
What sparked George’s radical pivot from corporate to creative entrepreneurship.
Why setting a “calendar deadline” changed the course of his career.
The power of long-term planning for freedom and flexibility.
How to identify your passion – even if it feels buried.
- Strategies to use your business or academic experience in unconventional ways.
See the resources section below for George’s links!
This episode’s resources:
Thank you, George Appling!
If you enjoyed this conversation with George, let him know by clicking the link below and leaving him a message on Linkedin:
Send George Appling a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
You might also like the following episodes:
Chris Kent – Leveling Up Into Entrepreneurship
Margaret Magdesian – Making Scientific Entrepreneurship Work
Fabrice Marquet – Moving From the Bench to Business Development
Chris Humphrey – Rebranding the PhD