Todd Rose
Populace
Boston, MA USA
"Who you are really does matter. Have the courage to say, ‘I’m going to make the choices in my life that reflect that."
Career Roadmap
Todd's work combines: Science, Education, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When deciding the path you want to pursue, avoid thinking about which choice could give you the most success. I've realized that that is the wrong way to weigh your opportunities. Instead, think about which opportunities could lead to the most fulfillment in terms of your passions and motivators. You need to know yourself and what fits for you as an individual rather than what will look successful from the outside.
Here's the path I took:
GED
Bachelor's Degree
Psychology, General
Weber State University
Graduate Degree
Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard University
Doctorate
Developmental Science
Harvard University
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Growing up, school was not a great experience for me—I left high school during my senior year because my GPA was too low to graduate.
2.
My girlfriend found out she was pregnant shortly after, so I needed to find a job, which was not ideal without a high school diploma.
3.
After a few years of bouncing through many different jobs and struggling financially, I decided to get my GED and go to college in hopes of providing a better life for my family.
4.
I actually did really well in college and was encouraged by my professors to go to graduate school.
5.
I earned my master’s and doctorate from Harvard and became a professor at the university—I also eventually became the director of the Mind, Brain, and Education Program that I had graduated from.
6.
In addition to teaching at Harvard, I co-founded a think tank called Populace in order to go deeper with my research on the science of individuality and socialize our findings.
7.
I also wrote a book, “Dark Horse,” which analyzes the pursuit of success through fulfillment and passion rather than through the standard cookie-cutter systems.
8.
I’m currently transitioning out of my position at Harvard to focus more on my work with Populace.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
School isn't a good fit for you. You won't be successful this way.
How I responded:
I struggled through school while growing up. I then struggled find success without a high school diploma. When I finally went back to school, I actually started doing really well because I had taken the time to learn about myself, my learning style, and my motivators. Figuring out what motivates me and what is fulfilling to me was pivotal. The standard cookie cutter path doesn't lead to success for everyone. Thinking about fulfillment from my own individual perspective was the difference-maker.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
School was a struggle for me. I dropped out of high school because my GPA was too low to graduate. Years later, I earned my GED and went to college, where I actually did very well. Learning about myself and my learning style was critical for success.
Without a high school diploma, I struggled to find a good job. I worked many odd jobs and had to go on welfare to provide for my family. After struggling for a few years, I decided to get my GED and go to college in hopes of providing a better life.