Host: Sarah Schulz
Content
How do you go from writing papers to solving real-world problems? From deep academic dives to navigating corporate landscapes? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to make the jump from academia to industry, this panel is where you’ll get answers – and maybe a little inspiration, too.
We’re gathering a crew of peers who’ve successfully transitioned into the trenches of industry – and one who hasn’t. They’ve tackled the big questions: How do you translate your academic expertise into skills employers actually want? What’s the best way to handle rejection – or worse, radio silence? And how do you hold onto the parts of academia you loved while embracing the fast-paced, team-driven culture of industry?
Here are your panelists:
- Jochen Sprickerhof is a long-time IK participant. After studying applied system science at the Osnabrück University, he worked as a research assistent and different robotics startups. Currently he works as a freelancer for open source projects like Debian and F-Droid. You can find him here: https://jochen.sprickerhof.de/
- Susan Wache holds a Bachlor’s degree in Biology from FU Berlin and a Master’s degree in Cognitve Science from Osnabrück University. She dropped out of her PhD to become one of the founder of the startup feelSpace in 2015. Up until today, she is leading marketing and sales ad feelSpace (https://feelspace.de/en/).
- Benjamin Paaßen studied Computer Science/Machine Learning and received his PhD from Bielefeld University. After PostDocs in Sydney and Berlin and Deputy Group Lead at the DFKI, he assumed a junior professor position at the Knowledge Representation and Machine Learning group at Bielefeld University. (https://ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de/pers_publ/publ/PersonDetail.jsp?personId=49941564)
- Filiz Resim holds a BSc/MSc in digital media and is now working as a UI/UX designer in a company.
- Felix Hülsmann has a background in Computer Science and received his PhD from Bielefeld University. In 2019 he joined CLAAS, a global manufacturer of agricultural machinery such as tractors and harvesters. There, he started as software developer for embedded Linux. Three years later, Felix became System Architect. He mainly works on the development of autonomous and highly automated tractors. You can find some further personal information here: https://felix-huelsmann.de/
I’ll keep the conversation rolling, make sure we cover the important questions, and create space for you to chime in, too. So if you’re ready to start mapping out your next career move, grab a seat – we’ll give you a head start.
You have a question you want to see discussed in by the panel (and the audience)? Send me an email: sayhi@sarahcoaching.com.
Host
Sarah’s career journey can be encapsulated in one word: transformation. She transitioned from theatre studies to linguistics, from linguistics to artificial intelligence, and from there into management. These shifts were far from predictable, yet each felt like a natural progression. She has lived in five countries, each move spurred by a mix of stagnation and curiosity, turning what could have been restarts into continuous evolution. While the path hasn’t always been straightforward, it has taught her a great deal about adaptability, preventing burnout, seeking support, and taking control of my life.
As a certified ACC-level coach with the International Coaching Federation, she focus on career and personal development coaching for women in tech and academia. Her coaching style is creative and adaptable, incorporating principles of positive psychology, metacognition, and emotional work, with a strong emphasis on co-creating solutions with her clients.
Affiliation: EmpatheticAlly
Homepage: sarahcoaching.com