From PhD to Founder

Aditi Paul, Founder of Dr. Paul & Company, shares how she went from a PhD in Communication Studies to creating a mission-driven organization supporting immigrants through mentorship and education.

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👔 The Job 👔

Aditi Paul is the Founder of Dr. Paul & Company in the New York City Metropolitan Area, where she helps immigrants access talent-based pathways to permanent residency in the U.S.

Her organization provides a mentorship network built by and for immigrants — offering peer support, expert guidance, and educational resources to help people thrive.

Best part of the job:

• The autonomy: Aditi created her own role, on her own terms — and she loves the freedom to define her work and its impact.

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🛣️ The Path 🛣️

Aditi’s path to founding her company was shaped by personal resilience and professional reinvention. After earning tenure in academia and navigating the tech world as a UX researcher, she decided it was time to build something of her own.

Key steps in her career journey:

• PhD graduate ➡️ tenure-track assistant professor ➡️ tenured associate professor ➡️ principal UX researcher ➡️ founder of Dr. Paul & Company

Her current role didn’t exist — so she created it. A reminder that sometimes the most fulfilling career is the one you build from scratch.

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🧠 The Decision 🧠

Leaving academia wasn’t a simple choice — it was a necessary one. Aditi filed a Title IX case against a senior professor while going up for tenure. Though the professor was eventually held culpable, the justice delivered fell far short of what was deserved.

Combined with the low academic pay in a high-cost city and the pressure of visa sponsorship tied to her job, the decision to walk away after tenure was both personal and pragmatic.

Aditi shares this part of her story for others in similar situations — especially those navigating visa sponsorship or Title IX cases. You are not alone.

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💡 The Advice 💡

• Adaptability is power: The ability to learn and adapt — core PhD skills — were key to Aditi’s many career pivots.

• Own your journey: Every step of her career was earned, not given. Especially as an immigrant woman in a predominantly white field, Aditi’s story is a testament to perseverance.

• Academia isn’t the only path: Your degree gives you options. Use them.

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🔑 The Takeaway 🔑

Aditi didn’t just transition careers — she transformed her experience into a platform for others.

Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience, adaptability, and self-determination can lead you to build a career — and a life — that aligns with your values.