“It’s Not Wrong to Want More” Building Wealth Without Leaving Your Values Behind with Gertrude Nonterah

Send us Fan Mail“It’s not wrong to want more.” - Gertrude NonterahIn this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Gertrude Nonterah, founder of The Bold PhD, to talk about career pivots, personal branding, wealth building, and the complicated relationship academia has with money.Gertrude shares her journey from earning a PhD in microbiology and immunology to unexpectedly losing her postdoc position when her lab shut down. What followed was a difficult job search that forced her to rethink how academics present themselves outside the university system. She explains how learning to communicate her skills, build a personal brand, and transition from an academic CV to an industry resume completely changed her career trajectory.The conversation also dives deep into money mindset in academia. Gertrude challenges the unspoken belief that pursuing money somehow makes academics “less virtuous,” arguing instead that financial stability, wealth building, and intellectual pursuits can coexist. As an immigrant who built everything from scratch, she shares why financial independence, investing, and creating opportunities for future generations matter deeply to her.Neeka, Inga, and Gertrude also discuss:The opportunity cost of pursuing a PhD and postdocDelayed earning power and investing timelines in academiaWhy many academics struggle to talk about themselves professionallyThe importance of starting to invest early, even with small amountsPersonal branding and LinkedIn strategies for PhDsEntrepreneurship, lifestyle businesses, and redefining successHow wealth can create freedom, flexibility, and legacyGertrude also shares practical financial advice she wishes she had learned sooner, including the power of compounding, fractional investing, and overcoming the belief that “I don’t have enough money to start.”This episode is an honest, empowering conversation for academics navigating career uncertainty, financial anxiety, or the tension between intellectual passion and financial goals.If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.