This week on Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD we delve into the transformative power of graduate internships with the insightful Melissa Gismondi.

We explored her journey from academia to journalism, discussing the challenges, imposter syndrome, and the importance of seizing opportunities.

From running for clarity to connecting with mentors, Melissa shared valuable insights on navigating the transition from graduate school to the professional world.

If you’re a PhD student or someone pondering a career change, there’s much to learn from Melissa’s experiences. So, tune in and gain valuable takeaways that could shape your own career journey!

Share this episode with others and let’s keep the conversation going.

Melissa Gismondi

Melissa Gismondi is an award-winning writer and radio and podcast producer, whose work has appeared in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Walrus, The Globe & Mail, Literary Review and on the CBC Radio programs IDEAS, Tapestry, The Current and Writers & Company.

In 2019, the Writers’ Trust of Canada named her one of five ‘Rising Stars’ and she was the 2020-2021 New Media and Public Humanities Fellow at the Jackman Humanities Institute at the University of Toronto.

Melissa holds a PhD in American history from the University of Virginia.

What we covered in the interview:

  • Exploring Career Options:  Melissa Gismondi’s realization that the academic path did not align with her diverse interests – The value of taking advantage of opoprtunities and resources while in graduate school, such as internships, mental health services, and career counseling
  • Skills and Transitioning: Skills gained in graduate school that are valuable in various fields beyond academia – Emotions experienced after completing a PhD – Transitioning from a student to the professional world
  • Melissa’s Career Journey: Her internship experience and transition into journalism and podcast production – Dealing with imposter syndrome when changing professional spaces
  • Networking and Mentorship: The significance of connecting with supportive individuals for opportunities and guidance – Mentorship from senior producers and colleagues that impacted Melissa’s career journey

This episode’s resources:

Thank you, Melissa Gismondi!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Melissa, let her know by clicking the links below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:

Send Melissa Gismondi 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:

Sheena Howard – How to Leverage Academic Branding

Amal Abuzeinab – Flourishing in Your PhD and Beyond

Merle van den Akker – Debunking PhD Misconceptions

Wafaa Aldhafiri –Venturing Beyond Traditional Roles

As always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee 🙂

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