For those of you considering a career in the professoriate and for newly minted assistant professors, the bad news first. Yes, academic success is partly based on merit, but also a little bit of luck. This is not to discourage you, as I think it’s a great career choice. I just want to convey a realistic assessment of it, because getting tenure is both an obstacle course and a marathon race.

You need a lot of different types of people on your road to success. Different people bring different influences and abilities. The information from a book called UR A Brand by Catherine Kaputa has been helpful to me.

As a practitioner, a business woman and an academic in the public service, I often serve on interview panels and also am asked to assist students and practitioners with getting or changing their job in these challenging times.