Today’s episode is a little different from the rest of my “leaving academia” series—because instead of talking about what I left behind, I’m sharing what I moved toward: building a business as a scholarpreneur, specifically, a writing coach and developmental editor.
I’ll walk you through how I found my way into academic-adjacent entrepreneurship, how I reconciled my skepticism about “business,” and what it’s looked like to build something that actually aligns with my values. If you’ve been craving a way to keep your scholarly work alive—just without the institution calling the shots—this episode will speak to you.
I’ll also share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way—the mindset shifts, the unlearning, and the surprising overlap between running a business and thriving as a scholar. My hope is that this conversation helps you imagine new possibilities for your own career path, whether that means starting a side project, offering coaching or editing services, or simply rethinking what scholarly or academic-adjacent work can look like.
For those considering this path, I recommend Paulina Cossette, who has a podcast and a course on becoming an academic entrepreneur.
Podcast: Leaving Academia and Becoming a Freelance Editor
Course: Becoming an Academic Editor
