What If Success in Entrepreneurship Academia Isn't What You Think?

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-25

What does it actually mean to build a successful academic career in entrepreneurship today? That's the question that brought about 20 people together at Trinity Business School in Dublin on May 14, 2026. PhD researchers, early-career academics, seasoned scholars, speakers, and organizers all gathered for the ECSB Professional Development Workshop (PDW). The goal wasn't to hand out a roadmap. It was to create space for honest conversation about what academic life really looks like—and to imagine what it could become. ### The Straight Line That Rarely Exists We're often told academic careers follow a neat path. Publish. Secure funding. Get promoted. Build an international reputation. Simple, right? Except it rarely works that way. The workshop gave people room to push back on that narrative. Academic careers move in fits and starts. There are highs, sure. But also long stretches of uncertainty, transitions that feel like starting over, and moments when you wonder why you chose this path in the first place. All of this happens against a backdrop of performance metrics, publication rankings, and impact measures. Those things matter—no one's pretending they don't. But participants pointed out something important: when you define success only through those lenses, you shrink what's possible. > "Success isn't a destination you reach. It's a practice you return to, again and again, even when the metrics don't reflect it." That idea threaded through the entire day. ### A Day Built for Reflection, Not Just Information The program mixed keynote talks with hands-on workshops, creative exercises, and open discussion. It wasn't a typical conference where you sit and absorb. People were asked to participate, to think, to share. Dr. Deirdre McGillicuddy from University College Dublin kicked things off with "Educaring from the Heart." Her session focused on wellbeing, self-care, and rediscovering your purpose in education. It set a tone that felt supportive rather than performative. After coffee and informal networking, participants dove into "Through the Looking Glass"—a reflective activity that asked them to examine their own academic journeys and where they hoped to go. ### Gender, Equity, and the Systems We Navigate Dr. Briga Hynes from the University of Limerick led a session called "Getting to Where We Need To – A Gender Perspective." It opened up conversations about structural barriers in academia and what it takes to build more inclusive environments. Later, participants worked through "Picking up the Pieces," connecting the morning's discussions to their own experiences. It was a chance to name challenges, recognize resilience, and think about what comes next. After lunch, Professor Gary Kerr from Atlantic Technological University ran an interactive session titled "Playing the GAME: Understanding What Others Want… Shhhhhh." Attendees explored the unspoken expectations that come from institutions, reviewers, colleagues, and stakeholders—and how to navigate those pressures without losing yourself. The day wrapped up with a creative exercise called "A Creative Pause – Vocalising What We Are Anticipating: Hanging Thoughts." People shared hopes, concerns, and ambitions for their careers. It was a fitting end to a day that valued honesty over polish. ### What This Means for the Future of Entrepreneurship Scholarship Here's the takeaway: meaningful academic careers take many forms. There's no single template. And the more we pretend there is, the more we alienate people who don't fit that mold. - Wellbeing isn't a luxury—it's foundational to doing good work over the long haul. - Authentic scholarly identity matters more than chasing someone else's definition of success. - Systems shape us, but they don't have to define us. If you're building a career in entrepreneurship academia—or anywhere in higher education—this workshop sent a clear message. You're allowed to question the script. You're allowed to define success on your own terms. And you're not alone in wanting something different.