In this episode of Exiting Academia, I walk through a real transition story: moving from a PhD in Education Policy Analysis into a Senior Research Consultant role. The point of these interviews is always the same—make the “mystery” of leaving academia less mysterious by showing you what the work actually looks like, how people translate their training, and what employers are really paying for outside the university. If you’re sitting there wondering whether your research background is “too academic,” this is exactly the kind of pathway I want you to study. We focus on how to reframe academic skills (research design, evaluation, writing, stakeholder communication) into industry language, and how to position yourself for consulting-style work where impact, timelines, and clients matter. I also emphasize the practical career-coaching angle: you need a clear narrative, a targeted job search strategy, and materials that speak to the role—rather than a CV that assumes the reader already understands academia. If you’re considering education policy, research consulting, or any applied research role, use this episode to map your next steps and build a plan you can execute.