Ep. 223: Dr. Janice Gassam Asare on Leveraging LinkedIn To Build Research Opportunities
Janice Gassam Asare
Ph.D. Organizational Psychology
Hofstra University
We've got a remarkable guest on the Cohort Sisters podcast today, none other than Dr. Janice Gassam Asare. This multifaceted personality's accomplishments range from being an industrial organizational psychologist to one of LinkedIn's top voices in racial equity. On our journey with Dr. Gassam Asare, we learn about her passion for psychology which led her from her dreams of healthcare to her unexpected love for industrial organizational psychology. She takes us through her academic journey, and why she shifted gears from an MBA program to focus on her true passion, influenced by her parents.
Buckle up because we're also getting real about the challenges that come with establishing a niche in a field dominated by diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Gassam Asare shares her intriguing original doctoral research idea about manipulating skin color and religious headgear on LinkedIn profiles to study hiring bias. Unfortunately, budget constraints led her to change course and research the impact of disclosing mental health issues on hiring instead. Our conversation explores the critical importance of advocating for oneself, especially when your research topic is related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Lastly, we dig into the potential of LinkedIn as a powerful tool for networking and professional growth. Our guest shares her inspiring journey of leveraging this platform to secure speaking engagements, forge communities, and even land a writing role with Forbes. She also talks about her transition from academia to her own consultancy, shining a light on the unique challenges she faced as a Black woman in this sphere. Don't miss out on her advice about bringing research expertise to large corporations, and how LinkedIn can be an invaluable resource for networking and professional growth. Tune in, grow, and be inspired!
Key Points From This Episode
Dr. Janice Gassam Asare's background and accomplishments.
How her journey took from dreams of healthcare to industrial organizational psychology.
Importance of embracing duality and expressing personal style.
The potential impact of Chat GPT technology in healthcare.
What to consider when choosing a doctoral program.
Challenges and triumphs of pursuing a doctoral degree.
Necessity of developing relationships and networking on LinkedIn.
How to lessen student loan burdens.
Finding a community of Black women in academia is essential for support.
You are not alone in your doctoral journey!
About the cohort sistas podcast
The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women and femmes with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to subscribe to The Cohort Sistas Podcast on your favorite podcast streaming platform, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.
