A Scholarly Ascent
It is with great enthusiasm I share a pivotal update.
I have relocated to Penang Island Malaysia where I am pursuing a PhD in Management at Spectrum International University College. Whilst this transition is certainly a significant geographic shift from San Francisco, too it represents the deepening of my commitment to continued learning, leadership, strategy formation, and contribution to the transformative potential of organizational theory and practice.
My pursuit of a PhD in Management builds upon the foundation of my MBA, my professional experience in Project Management, and the work I continue to do here, through The Braided Strategist. It is a natural evolution of my intellectual curiosity and strategic practice, now channeled into rigorous academia.
Through this program, I anticipate:
developing specialized knowledge in leadership theory and practice, with a focus on non-hierarchical organizational design
contributing valuable original research that challenges conventional paradigms and offers actionable insights for organizations navigating modern complexities
publishing work that bridges the academic and practitioner communities, translating theory into tools for meaningful change
collaborating with a global network of scholars and leaders whose perspectives are sure to sharpen my own
achieving the personal and professional milestone of earning the title Dr. Alicia Rae Drost, a designation that reflects not only academic achievement but expertise in the field of management
It is important to me I retain & give voice to the perspective that this trajectory is not merely about what I will gain from this program; I do not enter this journey as an empty vessel eager to be filled with knowledge, but also as an experienced leader with distinct perspectives shaped by years of strategy formation, cross-cultural engagement, and investment in the human-centric dimensions of leadership. Accompanying my presence is much that will enrich discours, challenge assumptions, and expand [perhaps dismantle] the boundaries of what organizational design means in the modern world.
PhD program aside, something I aspire to pass onto others through example and motivational mentorship is a perspective founded on confidence. Too often the narrative around new academic or professional pursuits revolves gratitude for an organization’s acceptance of them; when an institution chooses us from a list of candidates we celebrate having been selected, forsaking acknowledgement of how fortunate the institute is to have our skills or expertise. It’s excellent an opportunity for you to shine presented itself, but the organization is fortunate to have your shining self within it too.
While I do not take lightly or ungratefully the opportunity to learn and conduct research under the professionals at my university, I also recognize a shared benefit to this arrangement. The work I am committed to produce is catalytic. It holds the potential to reshape how organizations, large and small, approach leadership, collaboration, and change; disrupting the status quo with actionable alternative solutions.
Too, my return to Malaysia provides a layer of personal resonance too. There exists alignment between place, purpose, and possibility. In large part this resonance is ineffible, but deep within me is the understanding that I am positioned exactly where I am meant to be.
To those who follow my work, have hired my services, or otherwise collaborate with me, thanks for being here. Should you wish to support my work, research, and studies - which more often than not is conducted from aesthetically pleasing coffee shops - I invite you to Buy Me A Coffee.
Kindly,
The Braided Strategist’s Alicia Rae Drost, MBA
