The author shares their journey from aspiring professor to becoming a 'pracademic'—someone who combines academia and practical application. After feeling overwhelmed in their tenure-track position at Utrecht University, despite publishing praised theoretical work, they sought a more impactful path. This led them to resign partially from academia and return to McKinsey, allowing them to leverage both their academic research and consultancy experience. The adopted identity of 'pracademic' enabled a balance between scholarly contributions and delivering real-world outcomes.
In the academic world, there is a strong emphasis on publishing and theoretical contributions, but I longed for practical impact and real-world change.
I found myself feeling overwhelmed and out of control, caught in a system where conceptually-driven work was celebrated over impactful real-world application.
The transition to become a pracademic allowed me to maintain my academic role while also embracing a consultancy mindset, merging theory with practice.
Adopting the identity of a 'pracademic' helped me navigate my dual interests and responsibilities, satisfying my desire for impactful work while contributing academically.
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