It's a Game, Not a Formula: How to Succeed as a Scientist Working in the Private Sector

You've spent years mastering the scientific method, but what if succeeding in industry isn't about following a formula?
 
In It's a Game, Not a Formula, scientist and industry veteran David Giltner offers an honest, eye-opening guide for scientists transitioning from academia to the private sector. Drawing from his own 25-year career and countless conversations with fellow scientists, Dr. Giltner shows that thriving in industry isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about learning the rules of a different game.
 
This book isn't a checklist or a how-to guide, it's a catalyst for a transformative mindset shift.
 
In this concise, conversational book, you'll learn:
 

• Why working in industry feels so different—and how to adapt without losing your scientific identity.
• The five critical habits of successful industry scientists.
• What hiring managers and corporate teams really value (hint: it's not your publication count).
• How to deal with ambiguity, decision-making under pressure, and the need for speed in a business setting.
• Why many scientists struggle in industry—and how to avoid those traps.

 
Dr. Giltner's writing is direct, personal, and full of the hard-earned wisdom of someone who's lived through the transition. Whether you're a postdoc considering your next step, a mid-career researcher thinking about a pivot, or a mentor guiding students toward non-academic paths, this book will help you see the private sector in a whole new light.
 
Because industry isn't just another career path; it's a different game. And the good news? Scientists make great players... once they know the rules.

Dr. David M. Giltner bridges the academia-industry divide from both sides.
 
Having spent 25 years developing cutting-edge technologies into commercial products, he understands exactly what companies need from a PhD scientist - and what sometimes makes them hesitant to hire one.
 
As a hiring manager, he's interviewed hundreds of PhDs for industry positions, seeing first-hand what separates successful candidates from the rest.
 
Through his industry career workshops he's taught thousands of researchers how to be successful by translating their scientific value into industry & business terms.
 
Dr. Giltner holds 7 patents and is a published author of 3 books on succeeding as an industry scientist.