Angela Priest

Alma.Me

At Alma.Me, we help PhDs kick start their careers in industry through on-demand courses, online communities, networking, and resources to help them make the transition from academia to industry with confidence.

Co-Founder and COO

Groyu

At Groyu, we empower businesses to grow by acknowledging the fundamental importance of people across all aspects of business operations. We use a practical approach rooted in psychology, lean six sigma, agile, and project management best practices to help companies achieve scale, empowering their teams with streamlined processes and sound operational strategies to drive results.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Led a digital marketing company's organizational structure and customer onboarding overhaul, propelling an exceptional 63% improvement across critical metrics, accelerating the customer onboarding process by 78% (from 67 days to 15 days), doubling productivity, and cutting rework loops by 75%.

- Guided a CPG startup with a results-oriented approach and practical solutions to avert the decline of organizational values, advised the formation of a change management committee to drive the values' integration, articulation of corresponding behavioral guidelines, and narrative storytelling approach to promote buy-in.

Managing Director

wejo

Headed strategy, corporate development, and innovation functions, as an integral part of the senior leadership team, offering strategic guidance to foster growth in a big data, SaaS company while directly reporting to EVP, Strategy, and Innovation.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Championed and sponsored the successful pilot of an agile innovation approach, driving accelerated R&D with a 75% reduction in ideation and validation cycle time, from six months to just six weeks.

- Represented the organization in various industry events and company investor day as a company spokesperson, playing a key role in generating potential investment capital worth $50M.

Senior Vice President Strategy & Innovation 

GutCheck

Served as a pivotal member of the senior leadership team, overseeing the company's operations, continuous improvement efforts, and business analytics. Acted as a strategic advisor on operational synchronization for all business units while directly reporting to the CEO. Developed and executed a laptop refurbishment program during the pandemic, effectively managing the laptop shortage.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Orchestrated the timely procurement and integration of 80 new devices, inclusive of system installations, leading to the elimination of daily service incidents, previously averaging three per day.

- Led the centralization and integration of an enterprise-level supplier procurement with a competitive bidding process, and standard contract terms for performance to better manage risks and costs while controlling for redundant purchasing.

Vice President, Operations and Business Solutions 

Provided leadership and guidance to 34 team members and 12 offshores, overseeing supplier procurement, business process improvement, and business analytics. Offered expert advice and insights to the executive team while reporting to the Executive Vice President, Client Solutions and Insights. Engaged in close collaboration with the executive leadership team and internal stakeholders to create annual budgets and business strategies in alignment with organizational objectives.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Boosted customer satisfaction and retention by introducing an improved post-order customer engagement approach, leading to a substantial 33% expansion in average deal size, while sustaining a commendable 63% gross margin and achieving significant savings of over $500K.

- Architected the integration of customer success and customer delivery teams, leading the design of new roles and functional processes to support a streamlined customer service team.

Sr. Director of Operations, Client Solutions and Insights

Directed and mentored 22 team members and 12 offshores with key responsibilities in supplier procurement, business process improvement, and business analytics. Spearheaded process improvement initiatives for the customer success team following the integration of research operations.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Drove a substantial productivity boost, scaling monthly revenue 188% without incurring additional costs through streamlining processes, optimizing ways of working, and strategically rebalancing the tenure of talent on the team.

- Utilized customer feedback to bolster department effectiveness by establishing a three-year strategy and aligning manager and individual objectives (OKRs), resulting in an 84% client satisfaction rate and adaptation to aggressive growth objectives.

Senior Director of Research Operations

J.D. Power

Supervised and coordinated quality and process improvement initiatives for a large, globally distributed team of 100+ professionals handling project management, research execution, and field management. Served as a trusted advisor to the CEO, CFO, and Executive Vice President of Global Research Operations, contributing to informed decision-making and organizational success.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Established and enforced key performance indicators and reporting procedures to ensure timely identification and resolution of critical failures, resulting in enhancing operational visibility by 43%.

- Streamlined resolution process and ownership for reoccurring quality issues and operational failures by conducting impactful Kaizen events on B2C ratings and B2B flagship products, including U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, Automotive CX and IQS Studies, and others.

Senior Manager, Performance Improvement

Served as Chief of Staff, driving the development of a team consisting of 21 highly competent Project Managers and implementing performance improvement processes to improve quality and streamline B2B business processes.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Played a key advisory role, contributing to a $1.1B valuation exit for the prior parent company.

- Facilitated the professional development of project managers through hands-on leadership, contributing to a 50% promotion rate to PMO leadership roles within a two-year timeframe.

- Directed the standardization of corporate operational metrics, leading to improved accountability, enhanced objectivity, and validated information by Project Managers, which resulted in a substantial annual revenue recovery of $5M+.

Senior Project Manager, PMO Operations Lead / Chief of Staff

Oversaw the design and execution of research projects for diverse clients in retail, automotive, and public sectors, ensuring the alignment of research methodology with project objectives and deliverables.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Spearheaded the development of a robust standard operating framework and procedures for the research business unit to drive operational excellence, leading to significant improvements in efficiency and consistency.

- Identified new opportunities for research projects, propelling the growth and expansion of the research business unit.

Research Manager

Administered the design and planning of new syndicated research programs in the Government, Healthcare, Pharmacy, and Retail sectors. Managed a team comprising four interns and two direct reports, providing effective leadership and guidance.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Drove a culture of continuous improvement by actively seeking opportunities to refine research methodologies, processes, and deliverables, leading to elevated quality standards in customer programs.

- Supervised the successful launch of new syndicated research programs, meticulously coordinating timelines, resources, and logistics for a seamless implementation.

Research Supervisor

Lieberman Research Worldwide

Designed and guided market research, providing advisory services to clients in the entertainment industry.

Vail Resorts

Gathered market research data, performed analysis, and issued weekly reports to guide strategic decision-making related to the guest experience and brand perceptions.

Market Research Interviewer

UCLA Anderson Executive Education

Drove the implementation and refresh of database systems to support executive education programs.

Database Administrator

I'm a data geek and process nerd who loves to build people up and help them grow. For 20 years, I've been turning chaos into order at companies across all stages of growth to ensure that their teams flourish. I'm now throwing my passion for helping people into helping PhDs, PostDocs, and Mid-Career Researchers get jobs in industry. My goal is simple: to help brilliant minds thrive outside the academic world and make real impact in their new careers.

Check out my website to learn more: www.alma.me

PhDs & PostDocs: Here's how to stop your resume from getting ignored and start getting interviews.

Most resumes from PhDs and academics get rejected in the first 10 seconds.

Not because you're unqualified, but because they're written for academia, not industry.

Hiring managers scan for IMPACT in seconds. 

Most academic resumes bury their impact behind descriptive text and publications.

The result?
You look like every other candidate.
Your skills look theoretical.
Your potential never gets noticed.

Here's the framework that the PhDs we coach use to land 1 interview for every 14 applications:

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
- Opens with a clear snapshot of personality traits, role, years of experience, and focus area
- Highlights core technical strengths and tools
- States career motivation and connects it to company goals

SKILLS & EXPERTISE
- Curated list of 8-10 high-value skills
- Shows both technical depth and breadth that will be demonstrated in the professional experience section to hook the reader

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Each section begins with a brief "role snapshot" to set context
- Uses impact-based bullet points: 
     - Action: what you did
     - How: How you did it
     - Results: The measurable outcome or tangible benefit
- Keeps each bullet point under 197 characters for fast readability
- Prioritizes results over responsibilities

EDUCATION
- Listed last; by the time they get here, they're already interested.

It's not about technical jargon, more publications, or more degrees.

It's content that shows value QUICKLY, positioned the way hiring managers actually read.

Which part of your resume do you struggle most with?


👉 Need help getting more interviews? Check out our job search program on our website: www.alma.me. We have 1 more space available this week.

#phd #jobsearch #careers #humanresources

PhD Career Guide | Hiring Manager | 20+ Yrs Building High Performing Teams | COO @ Alma.Me

I love my job! 
Last month, 3 PhDs landed industry roles through Alma.Me's job search program.

It's a great reminder of what happens when PhDs have the right strategy, tools, and support - getting hired is about working smarter, not harder.

Here's what their journeys looked like:

⭐ PhD, Neuroscience -> Field Application Scientist ⭐ 
      * Key Challenge: Too narrow in job search, high competition
      * Applications: 6
      * Companies Interviewed: 1
      * Time to Offer: 17 days

⭐ PhD, Biomedical Sciences -> Medical Scientist ⭐ 
      * Key challenge: Lack of industry experience & positioning
      * Applications: 39
      * Companies Interviewed: 1
      * Time to Offer: 2 months

⭐ PhD, Behavioral Neuroscience -> Data Scientist ⭐ 
      * Key Challenge: Difficulty matching and positioning skills
      * Applications: 70
      * Companies Interviewed: 5
      * Time to Offer: 3.5 months

Each of their stories were unique because each of THEM is unique. It's why our program provides structure, but the strategy is always tailored to individual strengths and positioning.

Couldn't be prouder of these folks for crossing the finish line!


👉 Are you a PhD or PostDoc struggling with your job search?
Check out our job search program on our website: www.alma.me
We accept 2 new people each week.

#PhD #jobsearch #careers

Easy template for messaging a hiring manager to introduce yourself after applying for a job:


Hi [Hiring Manager First Name],

I recently applied for the [Job Title] role at [Company Name]. I'm really impressed by what the company is doing with [company initiative, goal, or value]. My past experience includes:

- [Something cool and related to what the company is doing]
- [Another cool thing]
- [Something else cool to wow them]

I've attached my resume for reference. Would I be a fit for this role? If so, are you open to a quick call?

Thanks,
[Your First Name]


It's short, sweet, and to the point, respecting their time and focusing their attention on the relevance of your background.

👉 What more help with your job search? Check out the job search program on our website. We accept 2 new PhDs per week.

#phd #careers #jobsearch

"I didn't apply to that job because it had director in the title. I'm not qualified."

One of the PhDs in our job search program shared that they were deciding what jobs to apply for based on the level in the title.

But the trust is that you don't need to meet 100% of the qualifications to be considered.

If you meet 50-70%, apply.

Let the hiring manager decide if you're a fit. Don't count yourself out before you even read the job description.

If you don't apply, it's an automatic "no".

Apply first. Doubt later.


👉 Do you need help figuring out what jobs to apply for? Check out the job search program on our website: www.alma.me

We accept 2 new PhDs per week.

#phd #careers #jobsearch

li_at

JSESSIONID

Almost every PhD I coach makes the same mistake when they start interviewing.

When asked "Tell me about yourself" or "Why this company?", they walk through their degrees and work history. It feels like the right way to answer, but it's not what these questions are about.

These aren't technical questions. They're human ones.

Interviewers are trying to get a sense of who you are, what drives you, and whether you care about the role you're applying for.

People with stronger connections to their work tend to be higher performers.

A strong answer should cover 3 things:

1️⃣ Why you do what you do
2️⃣ Where that motivation comes from
3️⃣ How it connects to the role

One of our clients made this shift after getting stuck at recruiter screens.

When she changed to this approach, she started moving to second- and third-round interviews almost immediately.

The lesson? When you're asked a personal question, give a personal answer.


👉 Are you a PhD struggling to get past recruiter screens? 
Check out our job search program on our website: www.alma.me
We accept 2 new PhDs each week.

#phd #jobsearch #careers #humanresources

Only 10-20% of hiring teams actually read or use cover letters.

But many PhDs spend hours tailoring them.

One of the biggest things we advise when we coach PhDs is that they don't spend more than 10 minutes updating their cover letter for each application.

And guess what happens?
The amount of time they spend on their cover letter doesn't change their volume of interviews.

Why?
Because the cover letter doesn't really matter all that much.

Moral of the story?
Make sure you're spending your time where it counts: (1) targeting the right jobs (2) reaching out to the right people.

👉 Are you struggling to figure out the right "formula" to get job interviews? Check out our job search program on our website: www.alma.me
We accept 2 new PhDs / PostDocs per week.

#phd #careers #jobsearch

One of many hard truths in the job market right now:

Networking doesn't work like it used to. UNLESS you already have a network.

If you're a PhD still in your program, start planning your next steps now, so you can build those connections for later.

It'll give you a leg up in your job search after you defend.

#phd #jobsearch #careers

I've spent the past week prepping multiple PhDs in our program for job interviews. 

Here are 3 things that come up during almost every prep call:


1. Be yourself - this will make you come across more credible than putting on a persona

2. Trust your expertise - you don't have to use the "right" words to sound like an expert, you ARE an expert

3. Don't overprepare - this can make you sound scripted and if the questions are asked a different way, it can throw off your answer 


Happy Monday! 

#phd #careers #jobseaech

Most PhDs who join the Alma.Me job search program land at least one interview within their first month.

Many of them spent months (sometimes years) applying to 100s of jobs without a single interview before this.

To them, it feels like magic. But it's not. It's method.

Here's what we have them do:

1️⃣ Focus the search
Instead of using a scattershot approach to apply for every job under the sun, we have them pick one type of role to go all in on.

2️⃣ Tailor the application once (not for every application!)
We rewrite their resume and cover letter specifically for that type of role, so they don't have to spend hours tailoring it for every position. This gives them the element of speed.

3️⃣ Follow up with outreach
Every application is paired with cold outreach, so they can increase their visibility to decision makers (hiring managers, the hiring managers' peers, or their boss).

That's it. Three steps. Simple, but not easy.

It's a marketing process.

When you narrow your focus to your target audience, align your story, and take proactive steps to get in front of decision-makers, interviews start happening fast.

One interview leads to another, and it builds confidence. And confidence builds momentum.

👉 Are you a PhD struggling to gain momentum in your job search?
Check out the job search program on our website (link in comments)
We accept 2 new PhDs each week.


#phd #careers #jobsearch

If you were selling a product, you wouldn't lead with all the things it CAN'T do.

But that's exactly what many PhDs & PostDocs do in interviews.

They try to reassure the interviewer by detailing everything they don't know. 

It's well-intentioned - they're trying to be honest and how that they're not an imposter. But it usually backfires.

Interviewers aren't looking for disclaimers. They're looking for clarity.

-What are you good at?
-How do you think?
-What can you already bring to the table?

If you don't know something, don't spiral. Just say you don't know and relate it to something you DO know.

One of the PhDs we work with couldn't get past recruiter screens. When we reviewed his interview responses, this was the issue. He was over-explaining his gaps instead of highlighting his strengths.

We helped him reframe his answers and almost immediately, he started progressing to 2nd and 3rd round interviews.

So, here's your reminder: Don't lead with your limitations. Lead with your value.


👉 Need help reframing your experience to land a job?
Check out our job search program on our website: www.alma.me
We accept 2 new PhDs/PostDocs per week.

Resume-writing AMA!
 
Every other week, our PhD career community holds a live virtual call to:
-discuss career topics,
-celebrate wins,
-and support each other.
 
Next Wednesday, we’re talking about the best way to write your resume for industry roles.
 
Also, you'll get access to our Alma.Me resume masterclass! 
 
We hope you’ll join us!
 
Details:

Wedesnday, Sept 24
9 am CT / 4pm CET
 
We hope you’ll join the community and call here: 
 
alma.me/community-sign-up

 #phd #jobsearch #careers

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