Finally work at the pace of your ambition (without sacrificing your sanity)
Stop avoiding your research. Join ambitious PhD students who are making consistent progress without burning out.
Does this sound familiar?
You have clear research goals and genuine ambition to make an impact. But despite your drive, you keep finding yourself:
- Stuck on problems that should be solvable, then avoiding your work entirely
- Frustrated that your daily progress doesn't match your big vision
- Watching other PhD students move faster while you're spinning your wheels
The problem isn't your ambition or intelligence. You need a systematic approach to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Imagine working at the pace of your ambition - making consistent progress on research that matters, breaking through roadblocks quickly, and finally seeing your big vision become reality.
Introducing the Research Masterminds Success Academy
The only membership designed specifically for ambitious PhD students who refuse to stay stuck. Get the systematic approach, expert guidance, and peer support you need to:
- Break through research roadblocks that have been stopping you
- Accelerate your progress with proven frameworks and templates
- Work at the pace of your ambition without burning out
- Transform your big research vision into daily momentum
How can the Research Masterminds Success Academy help you achieve your goals?
Get Unstuck & Gain Momentum
Share your goals, stay accountable, and celebrate every win. Because ambition without daily progress stays… just ambition.
Sharpen your Academic Tools
Live workshops, templates, and short courses to give you an unfair academic advantage - delivered with clarity and structure.
Balance Progress with Peace
Develop efficient research habits that free up time - not just for productivity, but for living your life creatively too.
Join in time for our next Live Workshop
Our next Live Workshop, “A 'Life Domains Design' approach to work-life balance”, is happening on 20 August 2025. Sign up now and you’ll have a seat reserved - plus instant access to all past recordings so you can catch up immediately.
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Do one thing today that your future self will thank you for...
Join the Research Masterminds Success Academy
Pay Monthly
$29
Recurring monthly payment
Flexible and commitment-free while finding your feet
Pay Annually
$290
Recurring yearly payment
Save $58 - get 14 months of access for the price of 12
Meet your guide: Professor Benita Olivier
I'm Benita Olivier, a professor passionate about academia, research and life. I have completed two master's degrees and a PhD and have supervised more than 37 postgraduate students to completion. I supervise between 10 and 20 master's and doctoral research projects at any given time, and being part of postgraduate students' research, career, and life journeys are close to my heart. I'm firmly embedded in the academic context, through my roles as Professor of Rehabilitation at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, and the Director of the Wits Cricket Research Hub for Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. My experience as a postgraduate student, supervisor of postgraduate students, postgraduate coordinator and academic inspires me to share my expertise and experience with others and pay forward what I learned from many mentors over the years. The Research Masterminds Success Academy is the perfect platform for me to do just that!
You can read more about my research here.
Stay happy and change the world as you wander through it!
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What will you get from the membership?
You will get everything you need to stay motivated, successfully complete your research project and develop your academic abilities.
Live Workshops
Join the monthly, interactive sessions with Professor Benita Olivier, an experienced academic mentor, to get your questions answered and stay on track toward success.
Content Casket
Dive into a treasure trove of over 14 templates, 15 short courses, 30 live workshop recordings, and 30 Creators’ Haven sessions with fresh content added every month.
Success Community
Connect with a private forum of like-minded PhD students. Share ideas, seek advice, and find encouragement in a safe, supportive environment.
Creators' Haven
Quarterly virtual writing retreats to focus, create, and make breakthroughs with peers, all while maintaining your work-life balance.
Academic Resources
Access 130+ curated links to essential tools and materials that simplify your research journey.
Bonus Benefits
Boost your efficiency with member-only discounts on top platforms like Paperpal, ProWritingAid, Quillbot, Consensus, and many more.
Here’s how other ambitious postgraduate researchers went from stuck to thriving
Every month, we tackle what's actually blocking you
- Getting unstuck & making progress: Overcoming blocks, thesis writing, research project management
- Academic skills that matter: Scientific writing, publishing, grant applications
- Staying sane & ambitious: Work-life balance, supervisor relationships, time management & productivity
- Plus member-requested topics based on your real challenges
And... then there's the Bonus Benefits!
Discounted AI & Productivity Tools for members
- Research smarter, not harder -
We’ve partnered with some of the best academic and productivity tools in the world - so you can spend less time struggling with tech and more time making breakthroughs in your research.
5 000 free credits with a paid plan
Find papers, extract data, and compare results quickly - no manual trawling needed.
50% off Pro and Plus plans
Transform text into beautiful presentations, documents, or websites in minutes.
20% off Standard License
Organise your notes, drafts, and ideas into a seamless, distraction-free writing workspace.
100% off Premium plan for 12 months
Instantly find and understand relevant research studies using AI-powered search.
10% off Premium plan
Spot grammar issues, improve clarity, and refine your writing so your ideas shine.
30% off Premium Annual plan
Paraphrase, summarise, and translate effortlessly to speed up your writing process.
30% off Personal Pro plan
Capture, annotate, and share research snippets so your literature review stays organised.
50% off Personal plan
Receive AI-powered coaching to sharpen your thinking and decision-making skills.
50% off all Head Space courses
Build focus, reduce stress, and maintain balance through guided mindfulness practices.
Free for LMIC and 50% off for researchers from HIC
Streamline the process of organising and screening studies for systematic reviews.
30% off on Paperpal's Prime plan
Make your academic writing clear, polished, and publication-ready with powerful AI checks.
These bonuses aren’t just nice-to-haves - they’re here to remove the roadblocks, save you hours, and give you the unfair advantage every motivated researcher deserves.
Trusted by ambitious PhD students at leading universities worldwide such as...
You want to move - we help you actually move!
Pricing options
Life changes? So can your membership - Simple, stress-free exit: Cancel within a few mouse clicks
Pay Monthly
$29
Recurring monthly payment
Stay flexible while building momentum
Pay Annually
$290
Recurring yearly payment
Save $58 - get 14 months of access for the price of 12
Frequently Asked Questions
"Is the Research Masterminds Success Academy right for me?"
The Research Masterminds Success Academy is specifically designed for PhD students who:
- Are committed to completing their master's or doctoral research on time
- Want to develop advanced academic skills while maintaining a work-life balance
- Are willing to invest effort into overcoming challenges (with our support)
If that is you, we are excited to have you join the team!
"Who should NOT join the Research Masterminds Success Academy?"
This is not for you if:
- You're looking for shortcuts or someone to write your research for you
- You don't value ethical academic practices
- You prefer to struggle through your research journey alone
"I'm international/in a different time zone - will I miss out?"
All Live Workshops are being recorded, and our community includes PhDs from many countries. The Success Community is open 24 hours, so your 'night owl' or 'early bird' tendencies are being catered for.
"Will this stop me from crying in the library at 3 AM?"
Our PhDs report a 93% reduction in 3 AM meltdowns (okay, we made that number up - but the support is real!). On a serious note, sometimes, all we need is some support in the form of (loads of) credible resources (templates, courses, live workshops) and a community (and, of course, discounts on helpful AI tools are always useful).
"Can I expense this through my university or funder?"
If you have funding that pays for professional development, this membership certainly fits that category, and you can easily justify its benefits. Let us know if you need anything from us by emailing info@researchmasterminds.com.
"What if I need to pause my membership due to fieldwork/illness?"
You can cancel anytime (no lock-in contracts). When you return, all past resources will still be available. We know life happens, and we accommodate for that.
"I'm not tech-savvy. Is the platform easy to use?"
The membership site is super intuitive and easy to navigate. We also provide a Getting Started page that will take you through the steps to make the most of the membership.
More questions?
Send them to me by emailing info@researchmasterminds.com - happy to help!
Just imagine: Three months from now, you’re no longer staring at a blank page or avoiding your desk. You’ve ticked off major milestones, your literature review is organised, and you’re walking into supervisor meetings feeling confident instead of anxious. You’ve got a clear plan for what’s next - and the tools, strategies, and support to follow through.
That’s not wishful thinking. That’s exactly what’s possible when you have structure, accountability, and the right resources - all in one place.
Ready to transform your PhD journey?
Click below to get started now and take that crucial step your future self will thank you for.