Making a PhD Work for YOU: Dr. Nelu Nedelea’s Blueprint for Success

The PhD journey is more than just research and dissertations—it’s about resilience, growth, and redefining what’s possible. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nelu Nedelea, Systems VP of Mission and Ministry at Mercy, to talk about his unconventional path, from growing up in Romania under communism to navigating the highs and lows of a PhD program while balancing work and family life.

We dive into:
✅ Why he pursued a PhD in Global Leadership & Change
✅ How he discovered his research focus (and why you don’t need to have it all figured out from day one!)
✅ The challenges of imposter syndrome, work-life balance, and staying motivated
✅ The real-world impact of his dissertation on leadership and belonging in healthcare
✅ What life looks like after a PhD—career shifts, public speaking, and continuous learning

Book Recommendations from Dr. Nelu Nedelea:
📖 Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell: https://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story...
📖 The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. by Robin Sharma: https://www.robinsharma.com/books/the...
📖 The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Joy-Lasti...

Connect with Dr. Nelu Nedelea:
🔗 LinkedIn: ⁠Nelu Nedelea⁠:   / nelu-nedelea-ph-d-2aa11284  

Follow ConnectED for More PhD Stories & Career Insights:
📸 Instagram:⁠@ConnectedPhD⁠:   / connectedphd  
🔗 LinkedIn:⁠Haille Trimboli⁠:   / haille-trimboli  
🎧 Spotify:⁠Listen Here⁠: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YcX...

If this episode resonated with you, let us know! Drop a comment or DM and share with a fellow PhD navigating this journey. 🚀✨