Building Sustainable Academic Careers
Empowering People
Strengthening Institutions
Janine Deakin Consulting
Strategic Academic Career Planning
Academics are exhausted because they’re operating in systems that make clarity, alignment and sustainable direction incredibly hard to find.
WHAT I DO
I help academics find their True North, that point where identity, values, wellbeing and institutional reality align.
I work with early‑ and mid‑career academics, whether they are education‑focused, research‑focused, or balancing both, who want clarity about their next steps and a strategy that aligns with who they are and the realities of university life.
I help bring identity, values, wellbeing and institutional expectations into alignment. My approach is confidential, pragmatic and grounded in how universities actually function. I don’t offer motivational coaching or generic advice. I offer senior‑level academic strategy (the kind that acts as a compass, not a pep talk) for people who want to move forward with purpose, confidence and a clearer sense of direction.
My Approach for Individuals
Politics, incentives or role boundaries often constrain internal mentors and line managers. I say what often goes unsaid. I name risks, misalignments, workload traps and promotion gaps directly but with empathy and respect.
I focus on senior‑level, pragmatic guidance, including:
Promotion readiness
Workload design & sustainability
Institutional navigation
Research trajectory & positioning
Together, we build a clear, realistic five‑year plan aligned with your values, strengths, wellbeing, and institutional context.
Structured, Specific, One to One
Understanding of academic culture
A structured one-on-one engagement
Realistic 5 year plan
Funding cycles, performance expectations, workload pressures, interdisciplinary positioning - I work within the specific constraints of your field and institution, not around them.
This is a direct consulting relationship built around your specific trajectory, timeline, and institutional context.
Each engagement closes with a clear, realistic five‑year career plan you can use for decisions, performance discussions and promotion planning.
Workshops for Universities
Alongside individual strategy sessions, I deliver targeted workshops designed for the specific needs of the institution.
These workshops complement, rather than duplicate, the work of line managers or the institution's Professional Development/Researcher Development teams. If you’re a university leader looking to strengthen your academic workforce and support sustainable, long‑term career development, I’d welcome a conversation about how we can partner effectively.