Hi there! I’m Mel Bruce founder of The Leveraged PhD. I earned my Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing in 2013.

After a decade in academia, I found myself asking more and more if my academic career was right for me. I was burnt out and tired of not making a real impact. I began to ask: what might my life look like if I were to leave academia? If I could move back home near my family and have more freedom to where I put my efforts?

As I was contemplating this, the toxic environment of my department came to a head, and I received the push I needed to make a change.

I quit my tenure-track professorship to create a life of joy and prosperity for myself and my young family. I assessed the skills and passions I had (teaching, knowledge of marketing and business, and love of helping others) and started coaching businesses.

After growing a successful coaching business that gave me lifestyle, financial, and location freedom, I looked back with fresh eyes, the reality of what academia was for so many PhD sank in. I started thinking…

What if PhDs had a way to learn how they can add significantly to their annual income? With speaking gigs? Coaching? Consulting? Or freelance work? Or passive income from an online course?

I founded The Leveraged PhD to do just that! I believe that entrepreneurship is a fantastic way for PhDs to create lives of joy and prosperity. A life that will allow you to use your knowledge and passions for impact and income without sacrificing your well-being.