The Company You Keep
Why Your Network May Be Your Most Important Career Investment Yet
“I am what I am because of who we all are.”
~Definition of Ubuntu, a Bantu concept popularized by Nelson Mandela
As another year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on one of the most transformative lessons of my personal and professional journey: the profound impact of the communities we choose to cultivate.
I have learned that communities not only shape the work we do today but also the trajectory of our lives tomorrow.
The institutions where I’ve worked, the research collaborations I’ve pursued, and the academic circles I’ve joined all stem from a deliberate effort to surround myself with people whose intellectual rigor and principles align with my own values.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, this feels like an ideal moment to reflect on the personal choices that define our professional paths.
The Power of Your Academic Network
At the end of every semester, I pause to think deeply about the colleagues I engage with most often.
What drives their scholarship?
How do they challenge and inspire me to grow as a researcher and educator?
Am I surrounding myself with people who remain curious, innovative, and supportive—or those who’ve become jaded or disengaged?
These questions take on particular significance during this time of year, as we reset our professional goals and renew our short and long-term vision of what lies ahead.
As Jim Rohn wisely said:
“You are the average of the five people closest to you.”
I’ve always gravitated toward scholars who push boundaries and challenge traditional paradigms, knowing their ambition and curiosity will inspire me to do the same.
None of us wants to be the weakest link in our academic circles.
And, being surrounded by driven colleagues is a powerful motivator—especially during the pre-tenure years, when the challenges can feel overwhelming.
Choosing to Be Intentional
Looking back, I’m struck by how blessed I’ve been.
During graduate school, I had friends and mentors who recognized my potential and pushed me to give my all. In my early years on the tenure track, I connected with colleagues who not only supported my research agenda but also challenged me to rethink what I believed was possible in academia.
These relationships have been the cornerstones of every meaningful accomplishment in my career.
As I move forward, I now realize it’s even more important to be intentional about the academic relationships I nurture.
Some faculty, after securing tenure, grow comfortable and resist intellectual risks. Others prioritize stability or feel that challenging conventional wisdom is no longer practical given the constraints of funding or departmental politics.
Yet, there is another group—one that gives me immense hope.
These are the academics who remain intellectually hungry, the ones who constantly seek new ways to innovate, expand their impact, and follow their deepest scholarly passions. They understand that venturing into uncharted territory is not just an act of courage.
It’s an essential part of realizing their full intellectual potential.
Building the Community You Need
As we prepare to turn the page to a new year, I believe the key to success is to build relationships with colleagues who share your academic mindset.
Do your peers share your drive for ambitious research?
Are they equally passionate about mentoring, teaching, or advancing discourse in your field?
These are the questions that can guide us in cultivating the academic communities we need to thrive. If you’re striving for scholarly excellence, it’s worth asking:
Are your academic peers doing the same?
Ultimately, the academic communities we build reflect not only our aspirations but also the values we hold most dear. Surrounding yourself with passionate, innovative, and driven colleagues is more than a career strategy—it’s an act of self-investment.
These relationships form the foundation of your intellectual journey, offering support, perspective, and motivation when challenges arise.
As you step into the new year, take time to foster these connections, seek out those who inspire you, and remember that the company you keep can shape your path as much as your individual efforts.
Three Steps to Strengthen Your Academic Circle
To help you reflect and plan for the year ahead, here are three actionable steps to nurture your academic relationships:
1. Reevaluate
During these quieter weeks between semesters, take a moment to reflect on the five academic colleagues that you engage with most frequently.
Who are they, and what roles do they play in your academic life?
Do their goals, values, and ambitions align with where you see yourself heading?
How do they challenge or inspire you to grow as a scholar and educator?
Honest answers to these questions can reveal whether your current academic circle is aligned with your aspirations.
2. Reengage
Authentic academic relationships thrive on vulnerability and shared purpose. Don’t be afraid to share your uncertainties about the tenure process or your research challenges. Leading with humility can foster deeper connections, as your colleagues likely share similar experiences.
Have you made an effort to genuinely connect with colleagues who inspire you?
How can you share your own challenges and goals in a way that deepens mutual understanding?
Are there faculty members whose insights or mentorship you’ve been overlooking?
Use the new year as an opportunity to reconnect or foster more meaningful conversations.
3. Recharge
Relationships require consistent attention to grow. Show your colleagues that you value their work by offering support, feedback, or simply a listening ear.
What regular habits (e.g., meetings, calls, or project check-ins) can you establish to maintain these connections?
How can you celebrate your colleagues’ accomplishments in ways that feel authentic and meaningful?
Are there collaborative opportunities you can explore to strengthen your academic community?
By reflecting, reengaging, and recharging your academic relationships, you’ll build a network that sustains and energizes your work in the year ahead.
A Foundation for the Future
Meaningful academic relationships inject energy into our work and help us see the possibilities beyond what we thought was achievable.
As we close this year and look toward the next, remember that surrounding yourself with ambitious, passionate scholars isn’t just about networking—it’s about building a foundation that sustains your academic journey.
In moments of doubt or fatigue, it’s these relationships that remind us of the value of our work and the potential within us to accomplish what once seemed impossible. They challenge us to hold our scholarship to the highest standards—not just for the year ahead, but for the entirety of our careers.
As Audre Lorde reminds us,
“Without community, there is no liberation... but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist.”
Building the right academic relationships is not about conformity—it’s about creating spaces where differences fuel innovation and shared purpose propels us all forward.
A Personal Note as the Year Ends
As this year ends, I’m reminded of something deeply personal:
I am the scholar I am because of the family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and peers who continue to motivate and inspire me.
Or, as I write at the end of the acknowledgments section of every article I publish:
I am, because we are.
As my family and I celebrate Kwanzaa this week, I’m particularly moved by its principles—unity, self-determination, and collective work and responsibility—which remind me of the power of community to shape our futures.
May the coming year bring us closer to the communities we aspire to build—and may those communities inspire us to dream bigger, aim higher, and work harder than ever before.
We need it now more than ever.
Becoming Full,
P.S. If this newsletter resonated with you, please share it with colleagues who might benefit from reflecting on the power of academic relationships. And if you’ve found creative ways to build or strengthen your academic community, I’d love to hear your insights in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going!