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Changing Academic LifeAuthor: Geraldine Fitzpatrick
What can we do, individually and collectively, to change academic life to be more sustainable, collaborative and effective? This podcast series offers long-form conversations with academics and thought leaders who share stories and insights, as well as bite-size musings on specific topics drawing on literature and personal experience. For more information go to https://changingacademiclife.com Also see https://geraldinefitzpatrick.com to leave a comment. NOTE: this is an interim site and missing transcripts for the older podcasts. Please contact me to request specific transcripts in the meanwhile. Language: en Genres: Business, Careers, Education Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Jen Heemstra on Accidental Leadership (CAL 138, S8E3)
Episode 3
Tuesday, 10 February, 2026
Prof. Jen Heemstra from Washington University in St. Louis in the US shares her journey from a research-focused bimolecular engineer to accidental leader and now author of the insightful book 'Lab Work to Leadership.' Jen speaks about the challenges faced by academics moving into leadership, recognisning that we are often untrained and unprepared for these roles. She shares insights from her book focusing on self-leadership, leading others, and coaching future leaders. Jen talks about the importance of building trust, creating a positive lab culture, giving and seeking feedback, and the significance of modeling behavior for emerging leaders. Jen also reflects on her personal experiences, including her struggles to get tenure and maintaining a work-life balance.00:29 Introduction and Welcome03:09 The Birth of 'Lab Work to Leadership'05:43 Navigating Academic Challenges08:29 The Worst Day: Tenure Rejection12:14 People Showing Up and Getting Tenure15:49 Embracing Leadership in Academia That We Are Not Trained For21:26 Building a Collaborative Lab Culture30:35 The Importance of Self-Leadership and Self-Awareness33:27 The Role of Coaches and Mentors35:02 The Importance of Feedback37:01 Challenges in Giving and Receiving Feedback38:46 Understanding Individual Needs in a Lab Environment43:59 Building Trust and Psychological Safety49:37 Coaching Future Leaders56:50 Balancing Professional and Personal Life58:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts58:56 OutroRelated Links:About Jen: Heemstra Lab at Washington Univ in St. LouisJen’s webpage and LinkedIn ProfileBook:Jen Heemstra, Labwork to leadership: a concise guide to thriving in the science job you weren’t trained for, 2025, Harvard University PressPeople:Troy ChampResources: Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration, 2014, Penguin.Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, 2010, Harper Collins.Birkman Personality Inventory
