Hi, I’m Alexandra Dolea, a freelance archaeologist, professional mentor, and entrepreneur based in
Vienna, originally from Romania.
I spent nearly 20 years in academia, none of them with a permanent position.
My journey began in post-communist Eastern Europe, shaped by both hope and hardship. I never
dreamed of becoming an archaeologist; it just happened during a practice excavation that changed
everything. Discovering something buried for hundreds or thousands of years, with my own hands,
gave me a kind of satisfaction I hadn’t found anywhere else. That was the moment I knew: this is
what I want to do.
Archaeology gave me a voice when I had none. It gave me space to exist as I was, something I didn’t
even realise I needed.
But academia… well, it took more than it gave. Constant precarity. Underpayment. Overqualification.
Invisible labour. In 2021, after years of international projects, I found myself unemployed and sick. It
took numerous years and a burnout to finally be diagnosed with an autoimmune illness: a physical
manifestation of years of stress, silence, and suppression.
When I applied for non-academic jobs, I was told to delete my PhD and cut my CV to one page. It
crushed me. So I broke myself apart, piece by piece, and started over.
Today, I mentor professionals in transition. I’m also co-founding a platform to offer archaeologists
what is long due: a supportive community. I speak openly about what we don’t talk about enough:
burnout, abuse of power, ghosting, impostor syndrome, identity loss, and grief.
Leaving was painful. But staying would have cost me everything.
If this resonates, don’t hesitate to reach out.
I spent years uncovering ancient lives.
The most important discovery was myself.
ABOUT ME
Professional mentor, freelance archaeologist, and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of international academic and cultural heritage experience. I specialise in career development, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, guiding professionals through career transitions, skill transfer, confidence building, burnout prevention, and cross-cultural challenges. My approach is structured yet adaptable, creating a safe and empowering space where mentees can explore new perspectives and grow.
My path
Education
BA, MA, and PhD in ancient history & archaeology
Mentoring Foundation: EMCC Global Quality Award for Coach/Mentor Training
Mentoring Program at the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Mentoring experience
PWN Vienna – Mentoring Program
Mentor & Mentee Coordinator | 2024–Present
EMCC Romania – MOZAIC Reciprocal Mentoring Program
Mentor & Coordination Member | 2024–Present
European Association of Archaeologists (EAA)
Mentor, Early Career Archaeologists Program | 2023–Present
Professional Mentoring Practice (Freelance)
Career transitions & skill transfer specialist | 2022–Present
Digging deeper: archaeology and (self-)discovery
Alexandra Dolea is an archaeologist and professional mentor. After two decades in academia and fieldwork, she transitioned from the trenches of archaeological digs to support professionals facing career crossroads. Her most important discovery? Herself.
Is the career you’ve dedicated your life to no longer working for you?
Now is the time to make your most important discovery: yourself.
Testimonials
“Alexandra´s mentoring program helped me in achieving a better work-life balance as well as decreasing stress I experienced when I was facing major challenges. Her approach and insight helped me through difficult times when I was neglecting myself for the sake of my scientific career to the level that I developed serious health issues. I strongly believe, that her caring and professional support prevented me from experiencing a major burn-out and even contributed to increase my state of health by presenting me with possibilities to refocus my energies and realign my priorities.”
— D.S., Archaeologist & Project Manager
“Working with Alexandra as my mentor was a thoroughly rewarding experience. She is knowledgeable, empathetic, compassionate, and, above all, transparent. She has a fantastic sense of humor too. Thanks to her skillful mentoring, attentive listening and honest questioning, I learned so much about myself, my professional aspirations and my career trajectory so far. She has helped me become more self-aware and more confident in what I have to offer professionally, and I wouldn't have grown so much this past year without her support. I highly recommend her as a mentor.”
— E. D., Career Educator
“I particularly appreciated Alexandra’s approach towards me, which was always non-judgmental, collaborative, and reassuring. Her ability to create a supportive environment made me feel valued in our discussions. Her feedback has always been insightful and constructive, helping me refine my research direction and acknowledge the value of my own work and efforts (which is not always easy to do). Moreover, throughout our meetings, even as we worked on goal setting, I didn’t experience the usual anxiety I feel with such tasks because Alexandra consistently approached them with positivity, trust, and encouragement.”
— F. P., Archaeologist
QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.
HAVE QUESTIONS? BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH ME.