Entrepreneurial career pathway
This pathway is for doctoral candidates interested in commercialising their research or launching their own ventures.
Key focus areas
- Innovation and commercialisation skills
- Development of an entrepreneurial mindset
- Industry networking
- Project and time management
- Communication skills
- Leadership
Flagship programmes
Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme (DELP)
The year-long Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme (DELP) introduces doctoral candidates at the University of Auckland to innovators, and develops entrepreneurial skills that create impact across any field. Applications for 2027 open in August 2026. Learn more.
Doctoral Personal Leadership Programme (DPLP)
The Doctoral Personal Leadership Programme (DPLP) is a powerful foundation for your personal and professional growth, cultivating self-aware, purpose-driven leadership. It includes three group mentorship sessions, as well as six workshops. Applications for 2027 are not yet open. Watch out for announcements in Doctoral News.
Recommended opportunities
These opportunities include a wide variety of on-demand resources, programmes, courses, workshops, and other events.
Year 1
- Central Doctoral Induction
- Academic and Research Integrity Canvas course
- Social and networking opportunities
- Responsiveness to and engagement with Māori
- Research ethics
- Finding Information workshops
- Finding Information resource
- Writing in English
- Academic English Hub
- Writing Effectively
- Referencing
- Research impact
- Writing a Data Management Plan
- Preparing for your Confirmation Review
- Intro to IP and Commercialisation
Year 2
- Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme (DELP)
- Velocity $100K Challenge
- Three Minute Thesis competition
- SGS Research Showcase
- Crafting your Research Elevator Pitch
- Publishing your research
- Designing research posters
- Presenting your research
- Interpersonal Communications series
- Project management
- Wellbeing in Academia series
Year 3
- Doctoral Personal Leadership Programme (DPLP)
- Research to Innovation Hatchery
- Preparing for your Doctoral Examination
- Thesis Formatting
- Career Development for Doctoral Candidates series
- Start-up Fireside Chats
Notes to remember
- Balance additional activities with research progress
- Not all activities will be relevant for every candidate
- You will likely also need to engage with research methods/technical training relevant for your own project/discipline
- Discuss plans with supervisors, both during the training needs analysis required as a candidature milestone, as well as regularly throughout your candidature
- Document all development activities for your CV