This episode kicks off a special miniseries, K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes, offering an inside look at our coaching calls. K to R Essentials is structured around four key themes—Vision, Leadership, Strategy, and Planning—and this series explores each one.

The focus of this episode is vision—the foundation of a successful research career. One of the biggest challenges researchers face is articulating what they truly want, beyond external expectations or institutional pressures. In our coaching calls, we guide students through deep reflection to identify their North Star, the intellectual and scientific contribution that will define their career.

In this episode:

• The difference between intellectual impact and interpersonal impact—and why both matter for your research legacy.

• How to shift from output and productivity to real impact and contribution in your field.

• Why comparison is one of the biggest roadblocks to clarifying your vision—and how to stop unfairly measuring yourself against others.

• The danger of limiting your vision because you don’t have a clear roadmap—and why you don’t need all the steps mapped out to move forward.

• Why protecting your intellectual curiosity is key to your success and sustainability in research.

 

Join me in this episode as we reframe your thinking, challenge limiting comparisons, and help you reconnect with the research vision that will drive your career forward.