PhD Students: Where are they now? – Dr Eric D.Waters
Dr Eric D.Waters started his doctoral studies, researching how normative rules and organisations affect the use of information and communication technologies. This decision was influenced by his own experiences during his career. Adopting and helping others learn to adopt new workplace technologies.
Later on, Eric travelled to Austin, Texas, where he adopted a secondary research stream investigating the role of communication in creating and scaling new ventures. Later, completing his studies and graduated in Texas.
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Tips for choosing a good supervisor
After 10 years in the corporate world, Eric decided later on in life to become a doctoral student. He was fortunate enough to connect with an advisor who had a similar history and who related to Eric as a professional, not solely as an academic.
Eric found it was a great benefit, as his advisor would be able to pick up on the cultural differences between industry and academia and helped him address his blind spots.
Not to mention, Eric’s supervisor has a robust network. She allowed him to tap into it as he entered the job market.
Eric advises current PhD students to choose an advisor who is open to you pursuing a non-academic career path if a tenure-track role is not an option. Taking note that all advisors should still be supportive and open to assisting you in continuing your career after graduation.
Life after completing a PhD?
Shortly after Eric completed his PhD, he was fortunate enough to land a tenure-track professor role at Marque University, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Due to the pandemic in 2020 and the impact it had on academia, Eric was forced to re-evaluate his career and soon became a consultant at Accenture. Where he remains to this day.
What skills from your PhD do you still use today?
To date, Eric helps organisations navigate the human side of large scale digital transformations. He uses his research and analytical skills gained from his doctoral studies to perform stakeholder assessments or change impact analysis.
Eric elaborates on how his presentation skills from years of instruction in the classroom and presenting research at conferences come in handy when explaining complex change deliverables to directors and VP’s.
How has your PhD shaped your career path or influenced where you are today?
On reflection, Eric talks about how his PhD exposed and prepared him for a career path that might have been otherwise unavailable.
It is clear now that Eric has a wider variety of paths that he can take and not be limited. Completing his PhD has made him more critical, curious and more sceptical. He is now less likely to be influenced by opinions and ideas that are not data-driven or empirically derived.
What are you hoping to achieve in the future?
After transitioning from academia into consulting. Several colleagues and PhD students have reached out to Eric asking for advice on the transition and making a similar career shift.
Due to tenure-track positions becoming more difficult to obtain, moving forward Eric would like to offer himself as a resource to graduate programs, who face challenges, placing their students in non-academic roles.
In the future, he would consider a fractional PhD-to-industry career transition thought partner.
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Meet the Host: Dr Eric D.Waters
Dr Eric D. Waters is a Management Consultant aligned to Accenture’s Talent & Organisation practice, based out of Houston, TX.
A former professor of organisational communication and veteran of the automotive industry. He contributes over 15 years of organisational development experience in both corporate and academic settings.
Leveraging a unique “pracademic” skill set drawing on state-of-the-art research and industry best practices, Dr. Waters is a valued expert and advisor for companies seeking a partner in future-oriented talent transformation, leadership development, and change management. Over the last five years, he has led/executed organisational development projects impacting 11K-50K employees.
Dr. Waters holds a PhD in Organisational Communication & Technology from the University of Texas – Austin, an M.B.A. in Management from the University of Texas – Arlington, and a B.B.A in Marketing from Western Michigan University. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 100 Black Men of America, the Association for Talent Development, and the National Black MBA Association.
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