"I Wish I Hadn't Waited So Long": How to Build a Business With Your Academic Expertise

You stayed. You pushed through. You asked for help—and got gaslit instead.

If that just hit a little too close to home, this episode is for you.

Julia Gray's post-academic path included a government job before she began building her business as an editor and a communications and culture specialist.

In this conversation, Julia gets honest about what it feels like to reinvent yourself after academia.

We talk about the identity shift that happens when you leave behind the job title of "professor," what it looks like to build a business when you're completely terrified, and why she wishes she'd stopped waiting for academia to get better—sooner.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

💡 What "knowledge mobilization" is and how it became the foundation of Julia's business

💡 The postdoc experience that ended badly—right before the pandemic hit

💡 How quiet quitting in a faculty job became the push she needed to find the exit

💡 The identity crisis of going from "professor" to "government employee" to "business owner"

💡 Why being terrified doesn't mean stop—it means equip yourself

💡 How Julia is using public writing, Instagram, and free workshops to build her audience and business

Whether you're mid-escape or just starting to wonder if there's a way out, Julia's story is a reminder that the path doesn't have to be linear—it just has to move forward.

🎧 Watch, subscribe, and share with the academics in your life who need to hear this.

Resources Mentioned:

Website: https://www.thejuliagray.ca

Instagram: @_gray_julia

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-gray-phd/

Get Julia's newsletter: https://julia-gray.kit.com/f0f9eb26db

Timestamps:

2:15 - Creative Projects and Knowledge Mobilization

4:30 - Navigating a Challenging Postdoc Experience

7:00 - The Pandemic's Impact and Career Collapse

9:15 - Transitioning to Government Work

11:30 - The Identity Shift: Professor to Public Servant

14:00 - Building Your Own Business From Scratch

17:00 - Monetizing Your Expertise: A New Challenge

19:30 - Developing Culture Building Skills

22:00 - The Power of Experimentation in Business

25:00 - Mastering Instagram for Business Growth

28:00 - Finding Your Platform: Podcasts and Blogs

30:30 - Upcoming Workshops and Public Writing

33:00 - Embracing Fear and Seeking Support

35:30 - Don't Wait: Leave Unhappiness Behind

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