The host focuses on these areas for skills upgrades:

• Digital Academic Presence: This isn't just about having profiles on academic platforms. It's about strategically creating a networked scholarly identity across platforms to increase research visibility and impact.
• AI-Powered Networking: This involves using AI tools to strategically map connections, identify collaborators, and optimize research communication for broader reach and impact.
• Content Transformation: This is about turning complex research into compelling content that resonates with different audiences while maintaining academic integrity. This includes crafting engaging narratives, using visuals effectively, and optimizing content for various platforms.
• Impact Acceleration and Measurement: This involves going beyond traditional metrics like citations to measure impact across various vectors, such as practical applications, policy influence, and public understanding. It also includes strategically timing the release of research outputs for maximum effect .
• Sustainable Impact and Future-Proofing: This is about building systems that ensure research continues to have impact over time, even as the academic landscape changes. This includes creating adaptive content architectures, evolving networks, and systems for tracking long-term impact.

The host emphasizes that these skills are not about self-promotion, but about ensuring that research reaches the right audiences and creates real-world change. The host argues that in today's digital academic landscape, these skills are essential for maximizing research impact and ensuring that knowledge is shared and used effectively.