PhD in the Field: Dr. David Carnegie’s Journey from Offshore Platforms to Global Strategy

What kind of leadership does it take to thrive in extreme environments?
And how can research on offshore oil rigs translate into boardrooms and trading floors?

In this episode of ConnectED, we sit down with Dr. David Carnegie, a leadership and talent strategist with decades of experience advising C-suite teams across global banks, asset managers, and high-growth companies. His journey began offshore—in the literal sense—as an HR leader in the oil and gas industry, where he became fascinated by the leadership dynamics on remote production platforms.

That curiosity led to a PhD at Aberdeen Business School, where David explored the impact of first-line supervisors in high-risk, high-pressure environments. Since then, he’s built a career at the intersection of research and industry, bringing academic rigor to some of the world’s most complex organizations.

We discuss:
➤ What sparked David’s interest in offshore leadership and led him to pursue a PhD
➤ The experience of researching on oil rigs (including 43 days offshore!)
➤ How his findings surprised senior leaders—and why context matters more than you think
➤ Practical tips for writing, networking, and staying motivated in a solo research journey
➤ How to bring academic rigor into fast-paced commercial environments

David also shares candid insights about life post-PhD, why he didn’t pursue a tenure-track path, and how graduates can translate their research skills into real business impact.

Resources Mentioned:
➤ The Competent Manager by Richard Boyatzis (1982) - https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...
➤ David’s newsletter: The Super Supervisor -   / the-super-supervisor-7340097863017730051  

Connect with Dr. David Carnegie:
➤ LinkedIn: David Carnegie, PhD -   / david-carnegie-phd  

Follow Me for More:
➤ Instagram:   / connected.phd  
➤ LinkedIn:   / haille-trimboli  
➤ YouTube:    / @theconnectednetwork  
➤ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4dAIZCE...

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