The Story behind Code-Switch

For four years, I worked part-time on a PhD in law while juggling several jobs. Over time, it became clear that a long-term future in academia wasn’t guaranteed. Opportunities were limited, and despite the effort I was putting in, I started to question whether staying on that path was the right decision.

Choosing to leave the PhD wasn’t straightforward. It meant stepping away from something I had committed to for years, and that came with a lot of uncertainty. But as I spoke to others, I realised I wasn’t alone. Many researchers were grappling with the same doubts about where their careers were headed.

That experience led me to start Code-Switch, with support from a Flying Starter award from the University of Manchester. I wanted to offer researchers practical ways to navigate their careers with more confidence. Whether they stay in academia, move into industry, or decide to launch their own ventures.