Moving from academia to industry can be a big decision for many professionals, but it can also be a necessary step in order to explore new opportunities and gain a broader range of experiences. For me, the decision to move from academia to industry came after several years of working in research and teaching roles. While I enjoyed my work in academia, I felt that I was ready for a new challenge and a chance to apply my skills and knowledge in a different setting.

I decided to join a startup as the first step towards my transition into industry. I got a job offer from Connected Health, a Singapore based startup wroking in Digital Healthcare areas. Working in a startup offered me the opportunity to build something new and to be a part of a team that was dedicated to creating innovative solutions. It also allowed me to gain a broader range of experience in areas such as product development, marketing, and customer relations.

One of the main reasons why I chose to work in a startup was because it gave me the chance to step into the industry more easily. As a startup employee, I was able to develop a network of contacts and gain a better understanding of the business landscape in my field. This experience was invaluable in helping me to understand the challenges and opportunities that were available in the industry.

Working in a startup also gave me a chance to broaden my experiences beyond just engineering. In addition to working on engineering solutions, I also had the opportunity to join different trade shows and showcase my solutions to potential customers and partners. This allowed me to learn more about the sales and marketing aspects of the business, which helped me to understand the bigger picture of how the engineering solutions I was developing fit into the market.

Overall, my experience working in a startup was a positive one. It gave me the chance to explore new opportunities and to apply my skills and knowledge in a different setting. It also helped me to build a network of contacts and gain a better understanding of the industry. If you’re considering a move from academia to industry, I would highly recommend considering a startup as your first step. It can offer you a chance to broaden your experiences and to develop the skills you need to succeed in the industry.

Here are a few book recommendations related to moving from academia to industry and working in startups:

1. “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries
2. “The Startup Owner’s Manual” by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf
3. “Crossing the Chasm” by Geoffrey A. Moore
4. “The Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton M. Christensen
5. “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
6. “The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
7. “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz
8. “The Lean Product Playbook” by Dan Olsen
9. “The Entrepreneur Mind” by Kevin D. Johnson
10. “Getting to Yes” by Roger Fisher and William L. Ury.