ConnectED

What happens when you’re wildly successful in academia—but realize you want something else? In this episode of ConnectED , we’re joined by Dr. Ashley Ruba , a developmental psychologist turned UX researcher, coach, entrepreneur, and founder of After Academia. From studying infant emotion perception at the University of Washington to building a career and brand that empowers others to leave academi...

What makes a workplace truly well? It’s not yoga classes and kombucha on tap, it's leadership, culture, and thoughtful design.  In this episode of ConnectED, we sit down with Dr. Patricia Grabarek , an I/O psychologist, author of Leading for Wellness, and co-founder of Workr Beeing. From researching personality typologies at Penn State to advising global organizations, Patricia shares how her...

What kind of leadership does it take to thrive in extreme environments? And how can research on offshore oil rigs translate into boardrooms and trading floors? In this episode of ConnectED , we sit down with Dr. David Carnegie , a leadership and talent strategist with decades of experience advising C-suite teams across global banks, asset managers, and high-growth companies. His journey began offs...

In this episode of ConnectED , we meet Dr. Lawrence Carter , a powerhouse educator, union leader, and systems thinker who recently earned his EdD in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. From lifeguard and PE teacher to instructional leader and board representative, Lawrence takes us on a journey marked by grit, strategy, and purpose-driven education. This episode is a must-liste...

When Dr. Sophia Diop was just five years old, she asked her mom a simple question:  "What’s the highest level of school?" Her mom said, "A doctorate." Sophia replied, “Okay, I'll go all the way to the top.” And she did. In this week’s episode of ConnectED, we dive into the incredible, multifaceted journey of Dr. Diop—chef, entrepreneur, IT professional, and global thinker—w...

What does it mean to truly learn something—and how do we design education that actually works? This week on ConnectED , I’m joined by Dr. Julia Phelan , learning engineer, researcher, consultant, and co-founder of Two Eleven. From her early days as a psychology major to earning her PhD at UCLA while raising two kids, Julia has spent over two decades helping individuals and organizations rethink ho...

What if your PhD wasn’t about having it all figured out—but about following your curiosity wherever it leads? This week on ConnectED , I sit down with Dr. Ashley Voeks , a first-gen college student from Detroit who earned her PhD in French Studies at UT Austin, dove deep into 16th-century literature and religious violence, and ultimately found her place in educational technology and customer succe...

What happens when a global security leader managing crisis across 60+ countries decides to pursue a PhD in the middle of a pandemic? In this episode of ConnectED , we sit down with Daniella Bove-LaMonica , Director of Crisis Management and Global Emergency Response at MetLife and doctoral candidate in Global Leadership & Change at Pepperdine University. In this candid and insightful conversati...

What if your PhD program didn’t exist yet—so you helped create it? In this episode of ConnectED , I chat with Dr. Dan Weberg , a nurse, author, Ironman athlete, and the first person to earn a PhD in Healthcare Innovation at Arizona State University. Dan’s story is one of curiosity, complexity, and courage—shaped by ER nights, complex leadership theory, and a refusal to follow the status quo. This...

What is the true purpose of a doctoral degree? Is it just a piece of paper—or something more profound? In this episode of ConnectED , we sit down with Dr. Trevor Gerhardt , a global educator, researcher, TEDx speaker, and thought leader in work-based learning. Originally from South Africa and now based in the UK, Trevor takes us through his rich and reflective doctoral journey—from training clergy...

What happens when you start a PhD at 20, discover your path mid-dissertation, and spend the next 30 years helping leaders unlock their potential? In this week’s ConnectED episode, we welcome Dr. Dan Hiltz , founder of Leadership Squared and longtime leadership development expert. With a PhD in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, Dan has designed and led programs for organizations like the...

How do you go from writing about colonial desert borderlands to managing complex programs in the logistics industry? In this week’s episode of ConnectED , we meet Dr. Morgan Veraluz , a historian turned program manager who now works at Expeditors, blending his love of research and analysis in a new professional space. We discuss: What inspired his deep dive into environmental and indigenous histor...

What happens when your PhD research collides with TikTok trends, chronic pain threatens your academic journey, and your mission becomes saving lives? Meet Dr. Emily Pfender , a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania studying maternal health and how social media is shaping reproductive behavior. In this thought-provoking episode of ConnectED , we explore: How Instagram influencers ar...

What happens when a high-powered tech executive walks away from a 20-year career to start a PhD? In this inspiring episode of ConnectED, Dr. Karin Moore shares her courageous pivot from corporate burnout to researching and advocating for women and girls in STEM. We cover: Why she left the tech industry to pursue a PhD How she built her dissertation around women’s lived experiences in STEM Her insi...

Ever wondered how to transition from academia to industry? Or how a PhD in Learning Design & Technology translates into corporate research? In this episode of ConnectED, Dr. Natalie Perez shares her unexpected journey from aspiring English professor to research scientist at Amazon. We discuss: ✨ How she transitioned from academia to industry ✨ The skills from her PhD that helped her stand ou...

How does a PhD in adult learning and leadership development translate into real-world impact? In this episode of ConnectED, Dr. Magali Balayn Lelong shares her journey from academia to consulting, the challenges of a PhD, and how she applies her research to leadership development and organizational transformation. She dives into: ✨ The burning question that led her to pursue a PhD ✨ The biggest...

How does a PhD lead to national conversations on housing, gentrification, and social inequality? In this episode, Dr. Kfir Mordechay shares his unexpected path into academia, the challenges of a PhD program, and how he uses data to uncover critical issues shaping cities and communities. From navigating imposter syndrome to making research accessible beyond academia, this episode is packed with ins...

The PhD journey is more than just research and dissertations—it’s about resilience, growth, and redefining what’s possible. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nelu Nedelea , Systems VP of Mission and Ministry at Mercy, to talk about his unconventional path, from growing up in Romania under communism to navigating the highs and lows of a PhD program while balancing work and family life. We dive i...

What’s it really like to research conflict and terrorism at the PhD level? In this episode of ConnectED , I sit down with Dr. Samuel Goldenberg to dive into his journey through academia, his research on suicide terrorism and political violence, and how he’s applying his expertise today. We talk about: Why he chose to pursue a PhD in political science The biggest surprises and challenges of his PhD...

🎙️ Welcome to ConnectED – The Podcast for PhDs at Every Stage! The PhD journey is exciting, challenging, and often isolating —but you don’t have to go through it alone. ConnectED is here to share real stories from PhDs at every stage—aspiring, current, and graduates—so we can learn, connect, and thrive together . Join me, Haille Trimboli, PhD , as I sit down with incredible PhDs to explore: ✅ Wha...