Guest Blogger: Jennifer M. L. Adelhardt
DBA Scholar, Adjunct Professor
In the movies, the stereotypical 40s-something dude going through a midlife crisis will drop 100 grand on a shiny new sportscar.
I opted to drop $100k on a piece of paper – not the Alpha Black Lotus for you MtG fans, but on pursuing a terminal degree, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
When I applied to the DBA program, I had worked at the same company for over a decade. I am proud of my successful career there, punctuated with growth, job moves, and promotions. Even so, I knew I needed something new, and outside the walls of the corporate environment to which I had grown accustomed to continuing to learn and grow. I attended industry conferences and networking events, traveled nationwide for work, and picked up books and podcasts. Still, something was missing. While my career was thriving, I felt a growing need for a new challenge that would push me beyond the boundaries of the corporate environment and into a realm of deeper intellectual exploration.
In my DBA application, I wrote about my interest in researching leadership traits that support environments where high-performing teams thrive and corporate environments that foster team psychological safety. I was convinced that this was precisely what I wanted to pursue, and for a semester and a half, no one could convince me otherwise. Then came the class that changed my dissertation's trajectory: entrepreneurship's micro-foundations. A single assignment in this class opened my eyes to entrepreneurship's incredible possibilities and research opportunities.
My eyes lit up as I passionately presented my proposal for a paper exploring the impacts of aspects of neurodiversity on entrepreneurial ventures. At that moment, I knew I needed to learn more and contribute to this space's academic body of knowledge.
As I continue on this path, I see my role extending beyond academia and corporate consulting. I want to advocate for and contribute to a world where neurodiversity is accepted and celebrated, helping shape environments where all brain types can thrive.
What began as a plan to use the DBA to bolster my corporate credentials has evolved into a larger mission to contribute meaningfully to academia and the world. Now, as an adjunct professor, I am inspired to shape the next generation, fostering environments where all brain types - neurotypical and neurodiverse alike - are valued for their unique contributions. My dream is to help build a world where diversity of thought isn't just tolerated but is recognized as a true cornerstone of creativity and innovation.
