Beyond the University: How Research Can Build Careers, Brands, and Influence.

 For many students, writing and completing their dissertations is seen as the culmination of many arduous years of academic study. Years are spent writing, researching, revising and ultimately defending a research project that is often the most intellectually challenging task in an academic's life. Following its completion however, many dissertations vanish into university archives with minimal recognition outside academic circles.

However, this situation is fast changing.

 In our knowledge and communication based world today, research has transcended its status as an academic requirement and has transformed into an extremely powerful tool for personal and professional branding, career progression, influence within and across industries and recognition throughout the world. Researchers who can leverage and position their work, will find that a dissertation is just the beginning for them, and a vehicle to move well beyond their universities.

The significance of a dissertation has far more importance than just an academic achievement as it represents a display of discipline, expertise, analytical ability, problem-solving skills, original thinking, and perseverance, qualities highly valued in virtually any professional field, whether business, health care, technology, education, consulting, public policy, or a growth-orientated sector. Today's organisations increasingly require research-driven decision-making, businesses want experts to be able to identify trends and provide recommendations based on rigorous analysis, and governments seek research in the policy development field and educational organisations desire experts in academic leadership. As a result researchers possess many valuable 'real-world' skills – often of far more value than they perceive!

One of the largest mis conceptions amongst researchers today is that their research is only of value in academic spheres; when often, dissertations tackle issues relevant to the broader world in terms of leadership, sustainability, health care, technology, education, consumer behaviour or social change – something organisations or industry bodies genuinely care about.

The issue is not a lack of research value but visibility,

Many researchers have been trained to write primarily for the examiner, whereas broader audiences seek insight and practical information delivered more accessibly. When scholars are able to effectively adapt their written research to different media, its reach and impact potential expands considerably.

From one dissertation many different forms of professional content can be created, and one piece of research can turn into journal articles, blogs, white papers, courses, conference presentations, books, podcasts, webinars, consulting frameworks, training materials, and many other forms of knowledge sharing; that once just quietly resided in a university archive. The increasing use of digital platforms by professionals globally also contributes to this, as it allows researchers' findings to become known internationally – via tools such as LinkedIn, Medium, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, YouTube and webinars.

This is further complemented by the importance of personal branding in the contemporary world; with research providing professionals with the substance that makes them recognizable within the industry. Consistent publication, interaction within professional forums and delivering speeches helps scholars build authority over time. When a researcher combines his or her expertise with the ability to make that expertise seen, influence is inevitably created.

Research can also be the foundation of entrepreneurship, with many professional consultants, coaches, trainers, educators and start-up founders basing their careers and business models on their specialized areas of research and academic knowledge. A dissertation project can thus become the starting point for establishing a consulting practice, educational tool, or digital service and in essence, intellectual capital has now become a highly lucrative commodity. Global reach often begins in modest ways; one article can lead to an invitation to speak or collaborate, while one published idea can gain global attention.

Unfortunately researchers may sometimes feel their work isn't valuable enough, feel compelled to strive for perfection prior to sharing, rely on institutional approval for the importance of their work, and remain so immersed in the academic environment that the opportunities beyond it are never explored.

The future for researchers looks dynamic, as not only will they need to produce a dissertation, but also develop the ability to communicate their research, contribute as a thought-leader, an educator, an innovator and indeed a public intellectual in order to gain an influential position.

A dissertation shouldn't just be an end-point. In essence it's the development of an intellectual identity which holds the key to career success, authority, and reach. By stepping beyond academia and sharing their knowledge, scholars truly realize the power of what they have created.

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