What if your time in grad school wasn’t wasted—but the foundation of a life you’re just beginning to design?

This week on Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, Ashley Jablo—career coach, strategist, and founder of Life Design School—joins us to talk about reinventing your path after academia. From her own journey through government layoffs, business school pivots, and career uncertainty, Ashley shares how to move from shame and regret to clarity, purpose, and creative momentum.

We break down her 4-step Life Design framework—Discover, Define, Imagine, Iterate—and explore tools you can use right now to gain confidence, reconnect with your values, and start taking small but powerful steps forward. Perfect for PhDs, postdocs, grad students, or anyone feeling stuck or lost after a big transition.

🎧 In this episode:

What to do when your academic path falls apart
Why “no experience is wasted” in your career journey
How to reframe failure as part of your unique story
Building clarity through small joyful actions
The power of “onlyness” and owning your personal narrative
Using iteration to make sustainable, low-risk career moves

💡 Whether you’re post-PhD, considering a non-academic career, or just navigating change, this episode will show you how to start where you are and design a path that fits who you are now.

🔗 Ashley’s Clarity Kit (Free Workshop): https://lifedesignschool.co

📌 Keywords: PhD career clarity, grad school regret, non-academic careers, postdoc transition, life design, burnout recovery, job search strategy, academic identity, coaching for PhDs, career reinvention