Dr. Thato Motlhalamme on Pursuing a PhD That Pushes You Outside of Your Comfort Zone
12/15/21 • 42 min
Today on the show we invite Dr. Thato Motlhalamme, who is here to impart some valuable and hard-won advice on pushing your comfort zones, trusting your voice, and standing up for yourself in spaces where you aren’t being heard! Author of Holding the Knife's Edge: Journeys of Black Female Scientists, Dr. Motlhalamme tells the story of her life-long love of science, her passion for addressing the knowledge gap between plant medicine and allopathic treatment, and how she intentionally chose her PhD program because she wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone. She shares with us how she navigated having a faculty advisor who did not have a definitive project timeline, and the experience of co-authoring a book about black female scientists with her mentor, as well as the various pivots in her career that led her to the creation of this much-needed book. We dive into why it was the right decision to change universities, burnout, and the unexpected reprieve because of the pandemic, plus you’ll hear some great insights on beginning your PhD with the right frame of mind, and how to navigate the difficult moments by asking the right questions. In closing, Dr. Motlhalamme shares her top advice for Black women in science and academia and reflects on not underestimating the value of your contributions in spaces where you think you’re out of your depth. We hope you join us today for this inspiring conversation with our Cohort Sista scientist.
Connect with Dr. Motlhalamme on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about her book, Holding The Knife's Edge by visiting her website.
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.
Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.
Thank you for listening!
Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org
Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org
Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests
Follow Us on our social media platforms:
Today on the show we invite Dr. Thato Motlhalamme, who is here to impart some valuable and hard-won advice on pushing your comfort zones, trusting your voice, and standing up for yourself in spaces where you aren’t being heard! Author of Holding the Knife's Edge: Journeys of Black Female Scientists, Dr. Motlhalamme tells the story of her life-long love of science, her passion for addressing the knowledge gap between plant medicine and allopathic treatment, and how she intentionally chose her PhD program because she wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone. She shares with us how she navigated having a faculty advisor who did not have a definitive project timeline, and the experience of co-authoring a book about black female scientists with her mentor, as well as the various pivots in her career that led her to the creation of this much-needed book. We dive into why it was the right decision to change universities, burnout, and the unexpected reprieve because of the pandemic, plus you’ll hear some great insights on beginning your PhD with the right frame of mind, and how to navigate the difficult moments by asking the right questions. In closing, Dr. Motlhalamme shares her top advice for Black women in science and academia and reflects on not underestimating the value of your contributions in spaces where you think you’re out of your depth. We hope you join us today for this inspiring conversation with our Cohort Sista scientist.
Connect with Dr. Motlhalamme on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about her book, Holding The Knife's Edge by visiting her website.
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.
Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.
Thank you for listening!
Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org
Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org
Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests
Follow Us on our social media platforms:
Previous Episode
Dr. Bukola Salami on Advancing the Academic Ranks Quickly and Developing a Robust Program of Research
There's a common perception that if you wish to pursue academia and tenure, then you need to solely focus on institutional work. Today I'm speaking with Dr. Bukola Salami, an Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of the Intersections of Gender Program at the University of Alberta, who is living proof that that isn't the only way. Dr. Salami received her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Toronto, where she studied the experiences of Filipino migrants, who work as caregivers in Canada. In her short career, Dr. Salami has established a robust program of research that intersects Immigrant Health and Workforce Mobility, Black Canadian Health and Well-being, Immigrant Mental Health, Nurse Mobility, and COVID vaccine hesitancy. In this episode, Dr. Salami first outlines her doctoral journey and its valuable work on the intersection of immigration experiences and workforce development, before imparting her top tips for graduate students and new faculty members when navigating the politics of an academic department. Hear her recommendations for collaborating with other scholars to increase publication, as well as how to develop a program of research to advance your career. This episode is overflowing with hard-won and discerning advice for those already in academia or wishing to begin with the right footing; we hope you join us today!
Connect with Dr. Salami on Twitter and LinkedIn.
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.
Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.
Thank you for listening!
Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org
Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org
Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests
Follow Us on our social media platforms:
Next Episode
Season 2 Overview and Season 1 Recap
Have you missed us? Welcome to 2023 and our exciting new season of the Cohort Sistas Podcast. Thank you for a phenomenal first season! In this episode, we shed light on why you haven’t heard from us and what brings us back now, before recapping some of our biggest takeaways from season one. We also give you a sneak peek of what we look forward to bringing you in season two. Finally, we remind you why we share these stories and encourage you to share in the success and struggles of women just like you. So tune in now to be inspired to stick with us for our new season!
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.
Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.
Thank you for listening!
Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org
Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org
Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests
Follow Us on our social media platforms:
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