Dr. Kenny Mostern was a tenured professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville when he decided to pack it in. When he did, he wrote On Being Postacademic (a must-read for academic leavers). In this podcast interview, he explains the winding path from teaching English literature to founding his own business running elections for unions (more proof that your post-academic job doesn’t necessarily have to have much direct linkage to your research!). Like so many other former academics I’ve interviewed, Kenny ultimately points to happiness (or lack thereof) as the driving factor for his escape from academia. I gotta tell ya, I like this running theme.
Press play to hear the podcast (or click here for the URL). Check out the highlights:
- 1:30 – 4:45 Kenny discusses his reasons for leaving and how he made the decision to put his family life first.
- 4:45 -8:30 We talk about the idea of security that ostensibly goes along with having tenure and the things that make people feel like they can’t escape academia (including the “I can’t do anything else” feeling).
- 8:30 – 11:45 His first post-academic job was at an arts non-profit, where he was able to cultivate his entrepreneurial skills, which is what helped him launch his businesses. Kenny is very frank about the five years of economic struggle that he faced, and the necessity of financially relying on his partner.
- 11:45 – 17:00 Kenny details the work he does managing elections and how he happened to fall into doing this, plus the skills he brought from his academic work.
- 17:00 – 19:30 The keys to his success? Guts, the support of a partner, strong analytical skills, putting himself “in opportunity’s way,” statistical knowledge, openness and having no immediate financial need.
- 19:30 – 21:00 Should people take a non-dream job when leaving academia? It depends. Tenured posts offer both a monthly cheque and no one looking over your shoulder. You may have to choose between the two.
- 21:00 – 22:20 The last few minutes of this podcast are probably my favourite out of any I’ve ever recorded.
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