In this episode, Chaperone host Pedro Resende speaks with Elena Hoffer, co-founder of Alma.me, about her transition from a PhD in immunology at the Karolinska Institute to entrepreneurship focused on supporting researchers’ careers.
Elena explains that many PhDs struggle not because they lack skills, but because they fail to reframe their expertise in a way that resonates with non-academic employers. She illustrates this with a striking example where simply reframing a CV transformed hundreds of rejections into frequent interview invitations. A central theme of the episode is proactivity, identified as the key mindset for successful career transitions, alongside communication, particularly the ability to influence and persuade.
Elena closes by recommending How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and inviting listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn, reinforcing the message that a PhD is a powerful asset - when it is translated and positioned effectively for the wider job market.
A must-listen for PhDs, postdocs, and institutions committed to better scientific career development.