ABOUT
Don Back, PhD MBA
When I Grew Up, All I Wanted To Be Was A Scientist …
From an early age I was absolutely fascinated by science, technology, new knowledge and what they can do for society. All that I wanted to be was a scientist and off to university I went. With a BSc and a PhD I set off to Post Doc in the US then back to a faculty position in Canada. I was living my dream… until there were two unexpected events.
The first was one of our periodic economic downturns that disrupted my pursuit of a national scholarship. I didn’t get it. What was I going to do? I’d been invited to reapply, but was this a signal to look elsewhere?
I reapplied and won one of very few scholarships in the next competition. I’d won the scholarship and was on my way. Or so I thought.
The second event was my realization that life of a faculty member is much different than that of a post doc. It certainly wasn’t the scientist life of my dreams. Much of my time was spent teaching, chasing grants and doing administrative work. I love teaching, but the rest was not pursuing science as I saw it. I was almost never in the lab.
I Wanted Out …
The process of leaving the university was shockingly isolating. My faculty colleagues saw my desire to do more with my life at best as me turning my back on academia or as my failure as an academic. I couldn’t have a conversation with them about the opportunities I saw.
I felt like a black sheep.
The isolation, alienation and sense of failure were horrible.
It felt like I was being shunned from the brotherhood.
“Don, Do You Ever Miss The Science And Technology?”
People in academia often ask me if I ever miss science. Truth is that I’ve dealt daily with more science and technology than I ever did as a faculty member. My career has been incredibly rewarding and has taken me around the world.
Oh, The Things I’ve Done …
Along the way, I’ve built the curriculum for a new 3-year biotechnology training program, been a managing director of 2 venture capital funds and funded or built more than 2 dozen companies. I’ve also been a vice president tasked with managing research teams in a large innovation agency.
I founded my own company, now in its 18th year of operations. Our team helped fund and build three research centres, structurally optimize cancer clinical trials organizations and coach many young companies through their early growth. I’m currently providing part-time executive services to a productivity organization to help build an advanced services and manufacture service centre in collaboration with a leading Polytechnic.
The Things I’ve Learned …
My journey has given me experience both as a job seeker and as the hiring manager. I’ve also had the experience of building great teams and coaching other managers how to hire and manage high performing employees. Through this journey I’ve learned how little effort Universities put into preparing graduates to search for jobs and learning the skills and behaviors to build and grow your career. Job searching and career building are essential life skills that you will use throughout your life. They can be learned. I will teach how to learn, practice and master job search strategies and skills to get a job and build a career.
Clear Process For Success …
Through hiring, developing, promoting and advancing PhDs and other talented people I’ve developed a clear step-by-step system to enable career success. The process starts with an intense focus on your career goals, where you are and where you want to be. It is highly customized to your unique situation. Most people need help building a career and overcoming the limitations that life in academia has created, preventing you from creating the life and career you desire.
It’s about YOU and what you need to succeed.
Together, we can get you there.
If you are interested, contact me by email at don@phdcareeracademy.com and we’ll set up a phone or Zoom call to talk about your goals and how you can reach them. These sessions are a lot of fun, but there is no pressure.
Email me at: don@phdcareeracademy.com
Click the botton below and schedule a call with me.
On A Personal Note …
You can take the guy out of the lab but you can’t take the lab out of the guy. My career has been at the interface of science and business translating the strange jargon of each to the other.
I’m a science guy and avid naturalist thru and thru. I’m endlessly curious about science, nature and technology. Early on any given morning you are likely to find me outdoors walking, enjoying nature and photographing coyotes, birds and other wonders of nature.
