When Dr. Sophia Diop was just five years old, she asked her mom a simple question:
"What’s the highest level of school?"
Her mom said, "A doctorate."
Sophia replied, “Okay, I'll go all the way to the top.”
And she did.
In this week’s episode of ConnectED, we dive into the incredible, multifaceted journey of Dr. Diop—chef, entrepreneur, IT professional, and global thinker—who recently completed her PhD in Global Leadership and Change at Pepperdine University.
In this episode, she shares:
➤ How her background in acting, culinary arts, and consulting shaped her leadership lens
➤ Why athletes as peacebuilders inspired her dissertation, and the SMD model she developed
➤ How she balances a tech career, entrepreneurship, and research—without losing focus
➤ Why she believes the PhD is less about a title and more about personal meaning
➤ Her advice: “Don’t think too much. Don’t listen to people. Look within—and just go.”
This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “too all over the place” for a PhD. Sophia proves that your multidimensional self is the strength—not the barrier.
Resources Mentioned:➤ Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl➤ Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman➤ The Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Huntington
Connect with Dr. Sophia Diop➤ LinkedIn - Sophia D, MBA
Stay Connected with Me:
➤ Instagram: @connected.phd
➤ LinkedIn: Haille Trimboli, Ph.D.
➤ YouTube: @TheConnectEDNetwork
➤ Spotify: ConnectED
Love this episode?
Drop a review, tag a PhD friend, or share your favorite quote with us. This podcast was made for the curious, the driven, and the globally minded—just like you.
Tune in now on YouTube or Spotify.
#PhDWithPurpose #GlobalLeadership #WomenInDiplomacy #AthleteLeadership #Peacebuilding #DoctoralJourney #PhDLife #LeadershipDevelopment #ConnectEDPodcast #MultidisciplinaryScholar #EmotionalIntelligence #PersonalGrowth #GlobalThinker
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