Why a PhD when I was 46 years old?

Carine VINARDI

LinkedIn, ThesesFr

Merci beaucoup d'avoir accepté l'interview.

What is your background and when did you do a PhD?

• I started as an Engineer (French Engineering School) and I have been working for 27

years in different industry. I was not neither decided and nor interested by a PhD following my initial studies at this time. I needed a hands on job.

• I made my PhD at the middle of my career while I was working for General Electric. I was

a Top Executive, full of practices and experience and at this time, I had already wrote 2 books, made teaching and several conferences as Lecturer. All started with a discussion with my future Master of Thesis Benoit Eynard (Professor) from UTC Compiègne.

Could you tell us more and explain why and what decided you?

My book and especially the second one, was a made with a lot of Feedbacks of Experience, with a “practice to theory approach” (how the proven experiences can be explained by science and academics). When Benoit Eynard explained me that with my experience and publications I could apply for a PhD with a specific path, I started to investigate.

I decided to start the process end of 2017, not for a Short Term professional goal but as I way to step back on my experience, reflect and (re)connect with Academic fields and people.

It was a cultural and personal very exiting challenge and I got my PhD in 18 months.

What does it change to make a PhD this way?

Two main elements to highlight:

• First is the approach and the way to do it:

  • When you are young and you make a PhD in a more traditional way, you select a topic, make a state of the art, start from assumptions and make experiences to confirm or infirm: it is a theory to practice approach (called hypothetico-déductif in French)

  • When you are senior, you can make a PhD with your practice to connect (or not) with theory approach. You have a Thesis to submit but the state of the art is easier and faster and you have experience on the topic (called empiro-inductif in French)

• Second is the intensity and workload:

  • When you are young and you make a PhD, it is your Full Time job for 3 years.

  • When you are senior, you can use a long free slot (rare) or make it while you are working. It was my choice. General Electric was supporting me however I had to deliver my job first.

Therefore, I made my decision with my family as I worked evenings, week-ends and vacation for 18months… . But it worsts it !

What did your PhD add to your career?

Out of the expertise on the topic, nine months after my PhD, Covid19 took place and impacted companies. I left GE for a position of R&D and it gave me additional opportunities. I joined Tarkett for R&D and Operations Executive Vice President in summer 2020. Having a PhD was a true advantage when you lead R&D and Innovation.

What are your main take aways?

Academics and Companies could better benefit each other and I want to contribute to it. There is no one way to learn and innovate: idea (theory) to practice completes a practice to ideas (theory) approach. I am writing my 4th book and I am thinking on how to continue in this direction.

What tips or feedback for people who read and could be potentially interested?

• You can do a PhD when you want and when you are ready!

• You do not need to have a job goal to make a PhD while you are already working.

• If you make it while you are working, you will need to work hard and it is a family decision (like for a MBA).

• You always need to find a sense (like when you are younger) to find the internal resource to make the right effort.

• Your Master of Thesis is an Academic Mentor, you will grow with him/her.