From PhD to CEO

Jen Harrison, Founder & CEO of Read Write Perfect, LLC, shares how she went from a PhD in English Literature to helping graduate students finish their degrees — with sanity intact.

👔 The Job 👔

Jen runs an online dissertation‑coaching business from Pennsylvania. She mentors folks 1‑on‑1 and in group workshops on:

• Writing & research strategy

• Accountability, focus & motivation

• Self‑care and work‑life balance

She specializes in supporting women—especially BIPOC women—who feel isolated and underserved in academia. Her mission is to make sure no woman feels too alone to complete her degree successfully.

Best parts of the job:

• Seeing stressed students reclaim confidence and make progress

• Teaching without institutional red tape

• Building a mission‑driven business on her own terms

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🛣️ The Path 🛣️

She launched Read Write Perfect during the pandemic, after watching a wave of grad students struggle with poor feedback, absent mentors, and crushing isolation.

Her path so clearly demonstrates a passion for teaching which she now utilizes in her own business.

Key steps in her career journey:

• PhD Graduate ➡️ College Professor ➡️ Higher‑Ed Administration ➡️ K‑12 Teacher‑Training ➡️ Private Tutoring Company ➡️ College Professor ➡️ Dissertation‑Coaching CEO

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🧠 The Decision 🧠

After several years in academia, Jen was left burned out and financially insecure.
The pandemic became her breaking point—and her clarity point:

• Job security? Weak.

• Well‑being? Declining.

Leaving was hard in the moment, but hindsight shows it was the right move. She still gets to teach (her first love), now without a bit more freedom to do it her way.

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💡 The Advice 💡

• Start with passion: List every way you could drive real change in the area you care about—then explore the unconventional options.

  “Be open-minded. The best opportunities usually come when you think outside the box.”

• Leverage the degree: The PhD’s biggest value is the credibility & expertise it grants when you step outside academia.

• Run your own race: Your path ≠ anyone else’s. Judge it against your goals and values—no one else’s metrics.

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🔑 The Takeaway 🔑

Jen’s journey proves a PhD isn’t a cage—it’s a launchpad.

By pairing your scholarly credibility with entrepreneurial thinking, you can build a career that serves both your mission and your well‑being.

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🙋‍♀️ Note from Ashley:

Hi all, Happy Tuesday :)

I just wanted to acknowledge that navigating the career transition from academia, especially while still in academia, can feel lonely and isolating. Trust me - I get it.

I hope you feel less alone by reading these stories of successful PhD transitions. I know I do.

Make sure to take Jen’s advice and try not to compare your career journey to someone else’s. It’s perfect if it’s true to you.

- Ashley