In 2023, I walked away from a project that could have easily padded my bank account by ₹1 lakh.
It’s not because the stakeholders were difficult, or the work was too demanding. It’s because the opportunity simply no longer aligned with what I stand for as an educator and researcher: academic integrity, intellectual ownership, and professional authorship.
The Tempting Offer and the Catch
A well-known Professor from a ‘Reputed’ Indian institute approached me, excited to leverage my skills to write a high-impact case study for Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP). They dangled an incredible carrot — full access to a company’s internal strategy docs, data, and interviews with its top brass.
“You wouldn’t get this access if it wasn’t through us,” they said.
There was just one problem: I couldn’t claim my work. My name wouldn’t appear anywhere on the published case. The faculty from the institute would take full credit, simply because I didn’t belong to a “branded” university.
Why Authorship Matters in Academia
At first, I considered compromising. Writing a Harvard-style case is a coveted experience, and I pictured the skills, knowledge, and network I could gain. But the deeper I dug, the less I could justify giving up my intellectual rights. Case writing, especially for publication, means months of rigorous research and narrative craft. Without my name attached, it would feel like selling my soul or at least my principles for a line on someone else’s CV.
Authorship is not vanity. In academia, your name signals the thought, the rigor, and the integrity behind the work. It’s how we build trust, legacy, and impact.
Choosing Professional Integrity Over a Paycheck
So, I said No.
Instead, I spent months building my own personal website (divyathakur.me).
Every article, resource, and case study published there carries my signature.
My thoughts, my research, my voice.
I may have lost that one cheque, but I gained something more permanent: proof that I value my intellectual property and integrity above all else.
Key Takeaways for Educators and Researchers
• Never undervalue your intellectual contribution. Insist on proper authorship.