Coaching and Guidance for Globally Mobile Academics
I help international graduate students and early career academics stop second-guessing and start moving forward with confidence, clarity, and a plan that fits.
So you can finally
Understand what’s really expected of you
Trust your own judgment
Make decisions about your future with direction instead of doubt.
Robert (Robby) Cserni, PhD
Founder
Are you constantly working but always feel behind?
Get feedback that makes no sense
Sit in meetings wondering if you’re the only one who doesn’t know the rules.
You’re not.
It’s not that you’re struggling.
It’s that nobody told you what the rules actually are.
Your supervisor’s feedback contradicts itself, and you’re afraid asking for clarity will make you look incapable.
You’re managing a foreign language, cultural codes, and institutional norms you didn’t grow up with.
Your colleagues seem to know unspoken rules that nobody shared with you.
You’re making career decisions with no clear picture of what success even looks like here.
And the hardest part? You can’t tell if the struggle is normal or a sign you don’t belong.
Navigating academia shouldn’t be this isolating.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
I know what it feels like.
And I know what nobody tells you.
Here’s what I learned after years of moving between academic systems in the US, Romania, and the UK.
Academic systems don’t explain themselves. The rules that shape your career are the ones nobody writes down.
How to read power.
How to position yourself.
How to ask for what you need without appearing demanding.
How to know when silence means approval and when it means concern.
I didn’t learn this from a textbook. I learned it by being inside these systems:
As Managing Editor of a peer reviewed journal, seeing how academic writing is really evaluated across 14 issues.
As Senior Program Director, coordinating international visiting scholars navigating the exact transition you’re in right now.
As a coach, working with 62 senior leaders whose real challenge was never technical. It was learning to navigate complexity, build influence, and lead with clarity under pressure.
That’s what I bring to our work together.
Not theory.
Not advice from the outside.
The pattern recognition that comes from 15 years inside these systems, seeing them from angles most people never get.
And that’s exactly what I’ll help you see too.
Working together is straightforward
Coaching gives you space to think clearly, strategies to advocate for yourself, and confidence to move forward. Less stuck. More strategic. Clearer about what comes next.
STEP 1
Tell me what’s stuck
Book a 30-minute call or send me a message. We talk about what’s feeling unclear, what you’re working toward, and whether coaching makes sense for you right now. No pressure. Just clarity.
STEP 2
I’ll create a plan that fits
If we’re a good fit, I’ll design a coaching plan to help you achieve your specific goals: Navigating interpersonal dynamics. Building a writing practice. Making decisions about your future. Whatever’s blocking your progress.
STEP 3
You move forward
Through our sessions, you’ll identify what’s really challenging you, understand what’s within your control, and discover how to advocate for yourself effectively. Less doubt. More direction.
My Story
I’m Robert (Robby) Cserni. I have a PhD in Sociology from Stony Brook University and 15 years of experience teaching, researching, and coaching across the US, Romania, and the UK.
I’ve served as Managing Editor of Men and Masculinities, a peer reviewed journal, producing 14 issues including the 20th anniversary special issue.
I’ve coordinated international visiting scholars as Senior Program Director at Stony Brook, taught at Rhode Island College with evaluations of 4.85/5, and served as Affiliated Visiting Scholar at the University of Bucharest.
I’ve coached 62 senior leaders at Makers Academy through the challenges that credentials alone don’t prepare you for: navigating complexity, building influence, and leading with clarity under pressure.
But here’s what actually matters.
I moved countries for academia. I learned new systems the hard way. I sat in rooms where I didn’t know the rules and didn't have anyone to ask. I built a career across borders, and I started The Global Academic Studio because I don’t want you to navigate that alone.
My partner Stefan and I live in London. When I’m not coaching, you’ll find me building LEGO sets, attempting indoor climbing, crocheting, or baking elaborate desserts that don’t always turn out as planned.
What clients and colleagues say about
working with me
"His impact was genuinely transformative"
"Robby has a rare ability to quickly understand where you are in your development and meet you there, while still stretching your thinking in all the right ways. His coaching helped me shift from instinctively stepping in with answers to adopting a more reflective, coaching-led leadership style. That change wasn't just theoretical. It directly influenced how I supported my team and encouraged them to take ownership of their thinking. The clarity and mindset I developed through our coaching sessions continue to influence how I lead today. I'd highly recommend Robby to anyone looking for thoughtful, impactful academic or leadership coaching."
Dean Greenwood
HR Systems and Analytics Manager, Luxion
(Makers Academy Leadership Program)"Supportive, grounded, and brings out the best in you"
"Working with Robby has honestly been a real pleasure. His coaching style made it easy for me to be open, reflect properly, and get real value from every session. He creates space, listens, and brings the right level of challenge and support without ever making things feel forced. I've taken a lot from our time working together, both personally and professionally. I'd happily recommend Robby to anyone looking for a coach who is supportive, grounded, and brings out the best in you."
Danielle Duke, MCICM
Head of Credit Management, Utility Energy
(Makers Academy Leadership Program)"Robby consistently instilled confidence in me and challenged me in exactly the right way"
"Robby was my tutor and mentor throughout my Level 7 Leadership apprenticeship, and his support made a profound difference to my journey. Returning to academic study after many years while balancing the demands of my role and home life felt daunting, but Robby consistently instilled confidence in me and challenged me in exactly the right way through our tutorials and feedback on my submissions. Robby went above and beyond to help me catch up on modules and assessments I missed during paternity leave, enabling me to continue without needing a learning break, something I'm genuinely and deeply grateful for. His demeanour, approach, and professionalism resonated with me, and his guidance has had a lasting impact on both my development and my confidence as a leader."
Darryl Patience
Group Manager Portfolio Management, Procode Technology
(Makers Academy Leadership Program)
“He locates students’ strengths and guides them toward their goals”
“Robby taught innovative courses that allowed students to truly learn even the most rigorous material. Students who had struggled earlier found that under his tutelage, they could master research methods and advanced statistics. He took the time to see his students individually and guide them toward their own academic and personal goals.”
Dr. Catherine Marrone
Advanced Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology
Stony Brook University
“Creates spaces where others can grow, reflect, and work through challenges”
“Across all of his experiences, Robby has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to create spaces where others can grow, reflect, and work through challenges. He offers support while fostering both personal and professional development, particularly through his ability to ask clarifying questions that help others see their own path forward.”
Dr. Heidi E. Rademacher
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
SUNY Brockport
Services
Navigate the rules nobody writes down
One-to-one coaching for international graduate students and early career academics who are navigating unfamiliar academic systems, cultural expectations, and institutional power dynamics. We focus on clarity, confidence, and strategic direction through complexity.
GLOBAL ACADEMIC COACHING
Build a consistent writing practice
Coaching for multilingual scholars who struggle with confidence, consistency, or momentum in their academic writing. This isn’t developmental editing. It’s strategic support to help you write more regularly, clearly, and confidently in your non-native language.
What we work on:
Overcoming writing paralysis and perfectionism
Creating sustainable writing routines
Building confidence in your academic voice
Managing feedback and revision cycles
Finishing what you start
WRITING COACHING
Self-paced learning for academic transitions
Structured courses on topics like evaluating your career path, making the decision to stay or leave academia, and preparing for careers beyond academia. Designed for advanced graduate students and early career academics who want clarity on what comes next.
ONLINE COURSES (Coming Soon)
Contact Me
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