Transitioning from Academia to Business: An Interview with Dr Michele Veldsman

From her early fascination with neuroscience to establishing PlayRoom, a startup designed to make parenting easier, safer and more connected Dr. Michele’s story is a practical guide through academia's rigors, the transition to industry, and the leap into entrepreneurship.

This article peels back the curtain on her strategic career moves, the importance of networking, and how she turned setbacks into stepping stones, providing a blueprint for those aspiring to carve their own paths in similar fields.

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Michele's Education and Early Career Moves

"From A levels to a job in Singapore working in a sleep lab, my path wasn't straightforward" Dr. Michele shares, reflecting on her beginnings. Her initial interest in psychology during school evolved into a passion for neuroscience, leading her to pursue Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol.

However, it wasn't the degree itself but the hands-on experience she sought out that truly shaped her early career. "I was really interested in the brain... I tried to find jobs in laboratories where I could do more brain-based stuff but struggled," she explains.

This drive took her all the way to Singapore, where she delved into research on sleep deprivation and brain imaging, an experience that laid the groundwork for her future in academia and beyond.

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Ph.D. Life: Juggling Academia and Financial Necessities

Discussing her Ph.D. journey, Dr. Michele doesn't shy away from the hardships: "I would get up at 4 or 5 am, write, go to work...and then write again." Her story during this period is a testament to the dedication required to navigate the demanding world of academia, especially when financial pressures loom large.

"To bridge the gap between my writing up for my PhD and needing to live and pay my rent, I started working in the Department of Energy and Climate Change," she adds, highlighting the often overlooked aspect of academic pursuits: the need for financial stability. 

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From Academia to Biotech

Reflecting on her career, Dr. Michele pinpoints her move from academia to industry as pivotal, ‘my entire identity was around being an academic neuroscientist. Only 5% of people in academia become professors," she states, highlighting the competitive nature of academic roles.

Oxford marked a significant epoch in Dr. Michele's journey, as she engaged in a dual endeavor—analyzing brain images and exploring population health data while working in an enriching freelance consulting role that bridged the gap between academia and industry. She provided insights for tech companies and consultancies, savoring the application of her research in a broader context, which gradually steered her towards the industry horizon.

Her participation in RisingWISE, a program designed for Oxbridge women in STEM, was instrumental. "The program made me deeply reflect on my values and passions, leading me to realize they didn't align with academia," Dr. Michele explains.

Her move to Cambridge Cognition as Director of Neuroscience marks a significant shift, underscoring the importance of aligning career choices with personal values and interests. Networking, a skill she honed over the years, played a crucial role in this transition, as she notes, "networking is one of my strong suits."

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Launching Playroom

Beyond her career in science and tech, Dr. Michele ventured into entrepreneurship with Playroom, a social network aimed at making parenting easier. This side project exemplifies the potential for scientists to apply their skills and passions outside traditional career paths. "I started a company called Playroom... At its heart, it's a social network for parents who have children under 10," she shares, highlighting the creative application of her expertise to address real-world problems.

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Overcoming Challenges: Glass Ceilings and Work-Life Balance

Dr. Michele candidly addresses the challenges she's faced, particularly as a woman of colour in science and tech. "Yes, I think probably the standard glass ceiling challenges," she admits, discussing her experiences with gender and racial biases in both academia and industry. Yet, it's her approach to overcoming these obstacles that offers valuable lessons, "networking is one of my strong suits... I was always building my network, knowing how insecure academia is."

Dr. Michele, a mother of two, has faced childcare challenges, emphasizing that accessibility and affordability are universal issues across industries. She highlights the struggle of balancing work with parenting, often requiring odd hours and making certain tasks difficult. Work-related travel and late hours can pose additional obstacles. “you're juggling constantly when you're working, or you're having to work really weird hours and there's certain things that you can't always do. You get sometimes excluded from things as it's difficult to be out late.”

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Mentors 

Throughout her career journey,Dr. Michele has been fortunate to encounter remarkable mentors and role models who have profoundly influenced her path. Transitioning to Oxford, her professor there emerged as an exceptional leader, he was ‘ an incredibly good leader, who really got the best out of people. So would really quickly understand where your strengths were. And then play to those, the kind of person who you’d come out of a meeting with and be so excited to do this and, really feeling motivated”.

Presently, her chief scientist boss continues to inspire, demonstrating understanding and support for her responsibilities as a parent. Alongside these key figures, she has cultivated strong peer networks, including connections from accelerators and organizations like Founder Land, a supportive community of women of color founders.

Additionally, she has actively engaged in mentorship initiatives, having established a global mentoring program within a large society and personally mentored individuals throughout her academic and professional journey.

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Advice for the Future

When asked about advice for her 18-year-old self, Dr. Michele emphasizes the importance of introspection and active participation in one's career journey:

Spend longer thinking about what you really want to do, what your values are. Don't just go for things because they are offered to you and make deliberate choices about your education and career path.

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The Road Ahead: Aspirations and Ambitions

Dr. Michele's journey offers a wealth of insights for women navigating their own paths in science and tech. From the importance of seeking hands-on experience to the value of networking and the courage to pivot when necessary, her story is a blueprint for embracing change, overcoming challenges, and pursuing one's passions with resilience and determination.

Looking to the future, Dr. Michele shares her aspirations both for her role in the biotech industry and her entrepreneurial ventures. "My personal ambition is to be full time on Playroom and for it to be in the hands of hundreds of thousands of parents," she reveals, showcasing her ongoing commitment to making an impact through her work.

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