PhD to Consultant:
The First PhD Accelerator Programme by Kohlrabi

Overview

In January 2025, Kohlrabi launched the inaugural cohort of its PhD to Consultant Accelerator Programme—a 12-week training initiative designed to support PhD students in developing consulting and transferable skills while gaining clarity about their career direction beyond academia. This holistic programme welcomed students from a wide range of disciplines, all with some research experience, and aimed to equip them not only with practical consultancy knowledge but also the personal confidence to articulate their value in the world of work.

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Phase 1: Translating Research into Real-World Value

The programme unfolded across three structured phases. The first four weeks were dedicated to intensive skills-building, where participants explored how their existing research capabilities could translate into tangible, client-facing deliverables. They examined how to shift their communication from academic outputs—such as journal articles—to outputs with direct value for clients, including impact reports, policy briefs, case studies, and rapid reviews. This phase was highly practical and helped demystify what research consultancy actually looks like in real-world contexts.

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Phase 2: Live Client Projects and Consultancy Practice

The middle phase of the programme brought these skills into action. Students were placed in pairs and partnered with real-world clients—small business owners and organisations—where they spent four weeks managing and delivering live consultancy projects. Alongside this, they received focused training in leadership, communication, and client relationship management. Much of this period revolved around the complexities of expectation setting, time-bounded delivery, and agile thinking—core challenges in consultancy that contrast sharply with the flexibility and open-endedness of academic research.

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Students found themselves adapting quickly. Whether managing shifting client priorities, negotiating boundaries, or refining deliverables to remain within scope, they were tasked with thinking strategically under time constraints. From conducting survey-based data analysis to compiling case studies for business strategy, each team tackled different challenges with professionalism and creativity.

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Phase 3: Career Reflection and Future Planning

The final phase zoomed out to focus on long-term career development. Students reflected on what kind of work energised them and how their strengths and values aligned with different career paths. A career panel with cross-industry professionals helped broaden perspectives. Despite the diversity of their methods and outputs, all participants shared a renewed sense of direction—and, most importantly, confidence in their skills.

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Client Feedback: Professional Impact from Day One

Crucially, feedback from clients was glowing. All rated the quality of consultancy as above average compared to prior experiences with ‘real-world’ consultants:

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“What stood out most was their ability to interpret the data and their commitment to practically producing a deliverable we could use.”​

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“Their work will definitely help us refine and direct our organisational strategy. Really well done and pleased with the output!”

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These projects produced real-world impact—proving that not only did these trainees learn fast, but they delivered at a professional standard.

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Peer Mentoring: Building Confidence and Community

Interactive, peer-to-peer mentoring was another vital layer of support. Through structured mentoring sessions, participants had the chance to reflect, share challenges, and navigate emotional hurdles like imposter syndrome. The programme wasn’t just about technical growth—it focused equally on confidence building, values identification, and navigating the psychological aspects of career transitions

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What’s Next + How to Take Part

This first cohort laid a strong foundation for what’s set to become a flagship offering. With its mix of hands-on learning, personal development, and practical career insight, the PhD Accelerator Programme has already proven its value for students, clients, and Kohlrabi itself. As one participant reflected:

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“I developed more awareness about myself and my capabilities [and] increased confidence in my transferrable skills.”

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With another cohort launching in September 2025 and plans to run the programme biannually, Kohlrabi continues to champion the idea that PhD researchers have much to offer—and with the right support, they can thrive far beyond academia.

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👉 Register Interest in Kohlrabi’s PhD Accelerator: link