On the 155th episode of What Is a Good Life?, I’m joined by Julian Kirchherr. Julian combines a career as a Partner at McKinsey & Company with his role as an Associate Professor at Roskilde University. At McKinsey, he co-leads the firm’s public sector work in Europe, focusing on people and organisational performance, while his academic research centres on the circular economy. He ranks among the most highly cited circular economy scholars worldwide. He earned his PhD from St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and is the author of The Lean PhD: Radically Improve the Efficiency, Quality and Impact of Your Research.
In this conversation, we explore curiosity, autonomy, and the value of diverse experiences. Julian also discusses caring too much about external demands, and how this can undermine autonomy, meaning, and impact.
This episode will resonate with anyone carving out their own path and explores what it can take to make your own impact.
For more of Julian's work:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-kirchherr-42a52032/
For more of my work:
Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own good life through:
- 1-on-1 coaching and online group courses: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/individual-coaching
- The podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos
- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/individual-coaching
00:00 Curiosity Over One Question
02:35 Bullshit In Academia
07:23 Autonomy And Freedom
09:01 Disillusion With Academia
12:18 Early Intellectual Influences
14:55 Myanmar And Outsized Impact
19:59 Pre-Academia Model
26:12 Energy From Dual Roles
30:02 Bias Toward Action
42:50 Bridging Knowledge And Practice
46:51 What is a good life for Julian?