How to Uncover Your Core Values With Matteo Tardelli

Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD

Welcome back to Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD!

I’m your host, David Mendes, and today, I’m thrilled to dive into an enlightening conversation with Matteo Tardelli, a seasoned professional in the biotech sector and an advocate for aligning career choices with personal values. In this episode, Matteo opens up about the intricate process of uncovering one’s core values and how they play a pivotal role in making fulfilling career decisions.

We’ll explore his journey from academia to industry, touching on his experiences and challenges in job hunting, especially in the realms of biotech and consulting. Matteo also shares practical advice on conducting thorough company research, the significance of informational interviews, and the importance of introspection in the job search process. Additionally, Matteo will discuss his latest book, “Beyond Academia: Stories and Strategies for PhDs Making the Leap,” offering invaluable insights for PhD students navigating transitions outside academia.

Get ready for an episode filled with actionable strategies, personal anecdotes, and thought-provoking discussions that can help you align your career path with your personal values and find true satisfaction in your professional life. Tune in and let’s go beyond the thesis with Matteo Tardelli!

Matteo Tardelli transitioned from academia to biotech, management consulting, and MedTech, and now heehelps other PhDs do the same by providing actionable steps and execution plans.
His work has been featured in publications such as Nature Careers, Chemistry World, The Biochemist, and Inside Higher Ed. Matteo has spoken on post-PhD career success at Ivy League institutions and has been invited as a panellist at career development conferences across the U.S. and Europe.

As the author of The Salmon Leap for PhDs: Swimming Upstream – A Transition from Academia to Industry (2020) and Beyond Academia: Stories and Strategies for PhDs Making the Leap to Industry (2023), his books have become essential reading in the PhD career development space, selling over 4,000 copies on Amazon. His latest book, Beyond Academia, has garnered over 100 positive reviews on the platform. Additionally, he recently launched the BA Newsletter, which features human stories on PhD careers and has already gained hundreds of subscribers.

What we covered in the interview:

• 💎 Identify Your Core Values: Matteo emphasizes the importance of understanding your core values to align your career with what truly matters to you. This might include proximity to family or maintaining a flexible work schedule.
• 🧭 Thorough Job Research: Before applying to a company, conduct informational interviews and connect with former employees on LinkedIn. This due diligence can provide invaluable insights into the company culture and help you avoid potential mismatches.
• ♻️ Genuine Communication: Authenticity in job interviews is crucial. Matteo stresses being straightforward about your values and skills rather than trying to fit an expected mold. This transparency helps ensure your job role aligns perfectly with your personal and professional life.

Matteo’s journey and advice can be a game-changer for anyone looking to make informed and value-driven career decisions.

🌟 For more insights and actionable strategies, listen to the full episode! 🌟

🔗See the resources section below for MAtteo’s links!

This episode’s resources:

• Matteo Tardelli’s Substack | beyondacademiaphd.substack.com
• Matteo’s Twitter | @salmon_phd
• His latest book | Beyond Academia

Thank you, Matteo Tardelli!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Matteo, let him know by clicking the link below and leaving him a message on Linkedin:

Send Matteo a message on Linkedin!

Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!

You might also like the following episodes:

Sara Thompson – Out of the Box Careers Post-PhD

Mary Poffenroth –Navigating Our Fear of Change

Andrew Ceperley – Building Fulfilling Academia Adjacent Careers

Alessandra Wall – Positioning Yourself Outside Academia