Coaching for PhDs

Your degree doesn't limit your career options. It makes your options unlimited.

Whether you're wanting to leave academia or have already left, there's a fulfilling career out here for you.

Take The First Step

Fieldnotes is my weekly(ish) newsletter - filled with honest reflections and actionable advice on navigating life after academia.

Is the grass actually greener on the other side? Subscribe below to find out.

YOUR GOAL

A fulfilling career is one that...

An animated GIF featuring a circular icon with a gold lightning bolt in the center, symbolizing energy. Small golden lines radiate outward from the circle, pulsing to create an effect of glowing or emitting energy. At the top of the circle, two small leaves sprout. The animation gives a dynamic and energetic feel.

Gives you energy

Your career excites you. You can slip into a "flow state" for hours.

An animated GIF featuring two raised hands, one outlined in black and the other in gold, symbolizing volunteering, support, or community engagement. Above the hands, three small hearts float and pulse, emphasizing themes of kindness, generosity, and care. The animation adds movement to the hearts, enhancing the sense of appreciation and positivity.

Helps other people

Your career has impact. You're improving lives, directly or indirectly.

An animated GIF featuring a three-bar chart with increasing heights, symbolizing growth, progress, or success. A rising diagonal arrow connects the bars and leads to a glowing gold star at the top, representing achievement or reaching a goal. The animation adds movement to the elements, reinforcing themes of improvement, advantage, or upward momentum.

Plays to your strengths

Your career suits you. You're good at your job, and it shows.

An animated GIF featuring a calendar or planner icon with a small clock overlay, symbolizing scheduling, time management, or planning. To the left of the calendar, there is a vertical timeline with three gold circles connected by a line, representing a structured sequence of events or tasks. The animation adds subtle movement, reinforcing the theme of organization and scheduling efficiency.

Supports your life

Your career comes second. You have time and money to enjoy your life.

Life is short. If your career isn't fulfilling, let's change it.

MY APPROACH

Tell me your goals. I'll give you a strategy.

The modern job market doesn't deter me. Neither does entrepreneurship. I've landed a new industry job every year since 2022 and built a successful business in a notoriously difficult market. How?

Because I'm a strategist. I see patterns where others see complexity. I see a way forward when others assume there isn't a way. And I've created a career strategy exclusively for me - my brain, my values, my strengths, and my life.

I can help you do the same. Working together, we will:

Identify your big goals
‍(life is short. what's on your bucket list?)

Uncover your unique strengths
(yes, even you have strengths - I'll show you)

Explore ALL your career options
‍(including a few you've never considered)

Create YOUR career strategy
(personalized for you, not for someone else)

Take small steps forward
‍‍(you'll get homework + my feedback)

Stay curious. Keep growing
(the only real failure is not trying)

Since 2022, I've helped over 500 PhDs take the next step in their career. My clients come from all disciplines, career stages, and countries. No personal situation is too challenging or hopeless - you always have a way forward.

You just need to take the first step.

Take The First Step

ABOUT ASHLEY

I'm still exploring life after academia.

A portrait of a person with short, dark brown hair, wearing a blue button-up shirt with a white floral pattern. They have a confident expression with a subtle smile and slightly raised eyebrows. Their earrings are large, gold-colored, and shaped like sunflowers. The background is softly lit with a warm, golden glow, complementing the earthy tones of their outfit. The lighting casts gentle shadows on their face, highlighting their features.

A graphic design featuring a bright blue background with a large orange circle in the center. Surrounding the circle are multiple colorful, curved lines in green, yellow, blue, and red. Inside the orange circle, the word "QUESTIONER" is displayed in bold, white uppercase letters. Below it, the phrase "I’ll comply—if you convince me why." is written in dark blue text. At the bottom of the circle, in smaller white text, are the words "#FourTendencies" and "GretchenRubin.com." The design represents the Questioner personality type from Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies framework, emphasizing a preference for logic and justification before following rules or expectations.

A person wearing a purple doctoral graduation gown and velvet tam with gold accents poses thoughtfully against a geometric gold and yellow background with triangular patterns. They rest their chin on one hand, gazing into the distance with a confident and contemplative expression. The academic regalia, including the velvet panels and sleeve bars, signifies the achievement of a PhD degree. The overall composition is celebratory and scholarly, highlighting a moment of academic accomplishment.

Words fail when asked to describe myself. I am, and have been, many things:

Developmental Psychologist. Writing Tutor. Yoga Teacher. UX Researcher. Coach.

Academic. Tech Worker. Entrepreneur.

North Carolinian. Seattleite.

Eldest daughter. Sibling. Partner. Friend. Cat mom.

First-generation college student. Queer. Neurodivergent.

Writer. Synthesizer. Meditator. Storyteller. Creator.

And everything else I've yet to discover.
(hopefully "best-selling author" is on that list)

I'm currently pursuing an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential with a target completion date of late 2025.

MY PHILOSOPHY

8 things I know to be true

Development doesn't end in childhood. Developmental change is the only constant in life. You're still growing and changing as an adult, and that change is something to be welcomed, not resisted.

You always have a choice. You may not like your options, but you always have a choice. Changing your mindset is a choice. Doing nothing is also a choice. Focus on what you can control and make a choice from there.

There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. There is only the solution that works best for YOU - your brain, your values, your strengths, and your life. No one else knows what's best for you, not even me. Only you know.

You are responsible for your life. This includes your career, your decisions, and your emotions. No one can force you to do anything. I can illuminate a path for you, but I can't make you walk it. You must take your own steps.

Life is too short to live someone else's. The biggest regret of people in hospice is "I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me." Prioritize your dreams, not others' expectations.

There's more to life than work. The second biggest regret of people in hospice is "I wish I hadn't worked so hard." Putting boundaries around work allows you to spend time with your loved ones - the people who matter most.

You are a good person. You're allowed to make mistakes. You're allowed to feel confused and to not know all the answers. Your feelings are valid - including whatever you're feeling right now.

There is only the present. You don't have a time machine, so you can't change the past or see into the future. You have to live in this moment. There is so much to be grateful for right now, in the present.

6 values that guide me

A black and white sunflower icon featuring a circular center with multiple elongated petals radiating outward in a symmetrical pattern.

growth

A black and white cherry blossom icon featuring a symmetrical five-petaled flower with a small circular center. Each petal has a slightly curved shape, giving it a delicate and natural appearance.

honesty

A black and white chamomile icon featuring a circular center with multiple elongated petals radiating outward in a symmetrical pattern. The design is simple, clean, and minimalistic, resembling a stylized representation of a chamomile flower.

kindness

A black and white poppy icon featuring a stylized flower with a rounded center and four broad, slightly irregular petals. The design is simple, minimalistic, and elegant, resembling a poppy flower.

curiousity

A black and white lotus icon featuring a symmetrical flower with multiple pointed petals arranged in layers. The design is simple, elegant, and minimalistic, resembling a stylized representation of a lotus flower.

creativity

A black and white tulips icon featuring two stylized tulip flowers with elongated petals and stems. The design is simple, elegant, and minimalistic, resembling a classic representation of tulips.

authenticity

SCHEDULE COACHING

Ready to take the first step?

A traditional coaching session is 60-minutes in length. We will spend the first session co-creating a career strategy plan with specific goals that will guide our work together.

The remaining sessions will focus on moving you closer to your goals. During these sessions, I will ask you questions to help increase your self-awareness, gain clarity around your challenges, and develop effective solutions. I won't tell you want to do I will guide and empower you to make the best decision for yourself. This is what will lead to lasting change in your life.
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Coaching packages are 6 sessions ($1350) or 12 sessions ($2400). Sessions can be scheduled on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly cadence, depending on your needs and goals. Each package includes a recording of each 60-minute coaching session and email support between sessions.

You will also receive lifetime access to the After Academia Community and all workshops as they are released. Within these workshops is where you'll receive written feedback on any materials.
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To get started, schedule a free, 30-minute strategy session to ensure we're a good fit to work together!

Please email hello@ashleyruba.com if you have any questions or if none of the times below work with your schedule.