Name: Maria Garay (she/her)
PhD: Social Psychology, Tufts University, 2024
What was your main area of research?
I studied how White Supremacy ideologies impacted lay people’s perceptions of racial ambiguous folks, as well as how these ideologies continue to maintain systems of racism.
What is your current job?
I am the Consumer Insights Manager at Crunchyroll (Sony Pictures Subsidiary) in Los Angeles, California.
I use all sorts of data (primary, syndicated, or first party) to evaluate consumer trends and identify areas of opportunity. I also either conduct or oversee research vendors for global mixed-method research projects. I primarily help stakeholders in marketing, business operations, and business strategy.
The topic is something I never imagined I’d get to study. I love entertainment, media, and anime! So, being in a position where all of those intersect has been amazing. Furthermore, because we do so much global research, I am still utilizing elements of my PhD research (understand culture and influences of power). It’s been a wonderful combination of my degree, knowledge, and interests.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I searched for companies I enjoyed and looked for open research roles on their job boards. That’s how I found this role and many others I’ve interviewed for.
PhD graduate student ➡️ mixed method health researcher intern ➡️ junior research analyst ➡️ consumer insights manager
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
I decided not to pursue academia because I knew the pay ranges would not meet my needs (as someone who has an elderly mother to take care of) and I wanted to live in Southern California, specifically. I was also getting very burnt out from all the academic responsibilities (teaching, grant writing, reviewing papers, serving on committees), wanted to explore new research topics, and really really hated teaching! This was a very difficult decision because I had so much of academia incorporated into my identity and sense of self. It felt like grieving a part of my identity as an academic.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
This might be more relevant for current students.
Absolutely do an internship, several if you can. These opportunities will help you gain the right experience needed to land a job and will introduce more business acumen into your experience.
While you’re a student, and if available, take a business class (any introductory class). Business acumen is the largest gap academics will need to fill during their transition into industry, so filling that gap will tremendously help your interviews and career.
Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?
Someone once told me that it’s helpful to come into a new role and be the person to always ask for help or advice. As a woman, I did this, and I felt it had very negative ramifications. It painted me as someone with lots to learn, far behind, and maybe even dumb. It’s good to network and form positive relationships with those around you, but do so in a way that does not undermine your competence. Some will say you don’t need to state you’re a Doctor, because it sounds pretentious. But as a woman, you’ll need to prove why you deserve a seat at that table, because others will immediately assume you don’t. Stand by your degree and education with confidence.
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