Welcome to this insightful episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD, where we delve deep into the complexities of embracing life as a PhD and the broader challenges faced by those in academia, through the prism of our guest’s research on high-performing professionals from the gig economy. In this episode I’m joined once again by the Professor Sue Ashford from the University of Michigan, whose prolific research on self-leadership and personal growth sheds light on the unique pressures and opportunities faced by independent workers. Our discussion pivots around the emotional and psychological facets of working outside traditional organizational frameworks—themes that resonate profoundly with both gig workers and academics.
Sue Ashford is the Michael and Susan Jandernoa Professor in the Management and Organizations group at the University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business. She has previously taught at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and received her MS and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University.
Sue’s passion is using her teaching and research to help people to be maximally effective in their work lives, with an emphasis on self-leadership, proactivity, personal growth, and leadership and its development. Her teaching at the Ross School currently focuses on the executive MBA program (negotiation) and several short-term executive education programs (leadership, change, growth). She also teaches regularly in the Leading Women Executives program of the Corporate Leadership Center and for various companies.
Sue is an award-winning scholar, having published papers in the fields’ best journals in the areas of leadership development and leader effectiveness, middle management voice and issue selling, job insecurity, and individual proactivity (e.g., self-management and feedback seeking). Her research has been summarized as advice for managers in the Harvard Business Review, the Harvard Business Review blog, New York Magazine and The Conversation. Sue is a Fellow of the Academy of Management, recognizing the top 10% of scholars worldwide. She was awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Scholarly Contributions to Management by the Academy of Management in 2017 and the OB Division Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. Her recent book, The Power of Flexing: How to Use Small Daily Experiments to Create a Life-Changing Growth (Harper Collins), brings together all of her research and teaching over the years into one place to help people grow their personal and interpersonal effectiveness – to be both successful in today’s world and the person they most want to be.
In our conversation, Sue emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining a sense of self-value and the dangers of neglecting self-care, which can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Drawing on her substantial work, including the article “Agony and Ecstasy in the Gig Economy,” we explore the concept of ‘holding environments’ and the significance of creating supportive networks that anchor one’s professional life. Whether you’re navigating the solitary waters of a PhD or building your post-PhD career, this episode offers valuable perspectives on building resilience and fostering meaningful connections to thrive in increasingly personalized work landscapes. Join us as we chart these intricate terrains on Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD!
What we covered in the interview:
Purpose and Self-Value – Understand your WHY to drive productivity and navigate the academic landscape effectively.
Intentional Connection – Cultivate relationships that offer support, feedback, and a sense of community. They are as vital as your research.
Routine and Flexibility – Learn how small, daily practices can create a framework for innovation and manage the uncertainties inherent in independent work.
📌 Sue Ashford’s article “Agony and Ecstasy in the Gig Economy” and her book “The Power of Flexing” offer further insights into creating robust personal and professional identities.
🔗See the resources section below for links!
This episode’s resources:
Thank you, Sue Ashford!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Sue, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Sue Ashford a thank you message on Linkedin!
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You might also like the following episodes:
Sue Ashford – Building Skills Through Flexing
Jessica Schleider –Dealing With Mental Unrest in Graduate School
Sheena Howard – How to Leverage Academic Branding
Melissa Gismondi – The Power of Graduate Internships
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