Ask Me Anything - 60 Minutes

Spyros Mastorakis

with Spyros Mastorakis

Have a question or challenge that does not quite fit into a structured session? This flexible, open-format consultation is designed for in-depth discussions, whether it is about career decisions, research … Read more

1 hour Book a time instantly 5.0 10 reviews
Spyros Mastorakis

Spyros Mastorakis

Principal Researcher at Microsoft

$249 one session
5.0 10 reviews 🇺🇸
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About this session

Have a question or challenge that does not quite fit into a structured session? This flexible, open-format consultation is designed for in-depth discussions, whether it is about career decisions, research insights, technical guidance, or anything else within my expertise. If you are looking for a one-time deep dive into a specific topic, this session is for you!

What Can We Cover?

🔹 Career transitions, promotions, or job market strategies
🔹 Navigating academia vs. industry (or moving between them)
🔹 Technical insights on AI, systems, networks, security/privacy, or infrastructure.
🔹 Engineering and research guidance—technical problem-solving, system design, industry best practices, or transitioning into industry research and engineering roles
🔹 General mentorship on overcoming challenges in industry or academia.

Why Me?

As a Ph.D., former faculty member, and current researcher/engineer in big tech, I have successfully navigated complex career transitions, technical challenges, and industry shifts. I have mentored engineers, researchers, students, and professionals at various career stages, providing practical, actionable advice tailored to their needs.

What to Expect

🔹 A full 60-minute deep-dive discussion on your topic of choice.
🔹 Actionable insights and recommendations to help you move forward.
🔹 Strategic guidance based on your unique situation.
🔹 If your challenge requires ongoing support, I am also available for long-term mentorship.

Your mentor

I am a Principal Researcher at Microsoft, working on AI systems. With 12+ years of experience in both industry and academia, I have successfully navigated career transitions, built strong networks, and thrived in both corporate and academic environments.

I have mentored several dozens of researchers, engineers, and professionals at different career stages—helping them break into big tech, transition between academia and industry (and vice versa), refine their technical focus, and develop long-term career strategies. Many of my mentees have secured roles at top tech companies, advanced in their careers, or successfully pivoted to new opportunities.

Throughout my career, I have defied expectations and broken barriers. Whether it was earning a Ph.D., securing a faculty position, transitioning into big tech, or advancing within it, I encountered skepticism from others. But instead of accepting limitations, I made it happen through strategic planning, resilience, and continuous learning. Now, I want to help others do the same!

If your goal is to break into big tech, transition between academia and industry, or advance in your career, I offer strategic guidance, actionable advice, and mentorship tailored to your goals. Let’s connect and build a roadmap to success!

🌐 Learn more about me: https://sites.google.com/site/spyridonmastorakis
💼 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spyridon-mastorakis-56438190/
👥 See a list of my current and past mentees: https://sites.google.com/site/spyridonmastorakis/current-and-past-mentees

What mentees say

5.0 (10 reviews)
“Dr. Spyros's approach and guidance helped me optimize my efforts towards my goals by : a) assessing my profile transparently, highlighting the achievable against the "stretched" targets; b) identifying the critical pat…” “Dr. Spyros's approach and guidance helped me optimize my efforts towards my goals by : a) assessing my profile transparently, highlighting the achievable against the "stretched" targets; b) identifying the critical path gaps; c) pruning my irrelevant or less impactful ideas to focus on the ones that align with my achievable targets; and d) giving me more context about the academic landscape. He has been very responsive to my inquiries, flexible about the session topics depending on our chats, and he always takes the time to consider and incorporate my preferences into the action plan.”
Hafez

Hafez

Standard Plan · 1 month

“Spyros is a thoughtful and bold engineer who, despite having mastered the fundamentals of computing, keeps exploring new ideas and ways to execute. He's a great mentor: hands-on, willing to listen, quick to adapt to the…” “Spyros is a thoughtful and bold engineer who, despite having mastered the fundamentals of computing, keeps exploring new ideas and ways to execute. He's a great mentor: hands-on, willing to listen, quick to adapt to the mentee, and ready to help with any goal, theoretical or practical. Though I've worked with Spyros for only a month, I can already point to clear improvements in my career. I'm very happy with the experience.”
Ansar

Ansar

Standard Plan · 1 month

“Spyros has been an exceptional career mentor. He provided thoughtful, practical guidance that helped me navigate important career decisions with confidence. He is generous with his time, genuinely invested in helping ot…” “Spyros has been an exceptional career mentor. He provided thoughtful, practical guidance that helped me navigate important career decisions with confidence. He is generous with his time, genuinely invested in helping others succeed, and always offers honest, actionable advice. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for an experienced and supportive mentor.”
Manuela

Manuela

Standard Plan · 1 month

“I still remember the day I sent a message to Dr. Spyros asking for his mentorship on how to do research the right way. He listened carefully to my situation and put together a solid plan to help me reach my goals. He ha…” “I still remember the day I sent a message to Dr. Spyros asking for his mentorship on how to do research the right way. He listened carefully to my situation and put together a solid plan to help me reach my goals. He has a way of breaking down big problems into smaller, manageable parts, and he gives you the space to tackle them on your own. In the end, he's really helping you build the skills you need to handle things yourself. He kept me focused and stopped me from getting sidetracked by other stuff. To me, he's not just a great teacher and mentor, but also like a friend who guides you through the real issues you're dealing with.”
Muhammad Adeel

Muhammad Adeel

Standard Plan · 4 months

“Spyros is a great , intelligence, thoughtful leader and mentor. He helped me come up with brilliant ideas for projects and gave me insights on how to make my projects and portfolio better. On top of that, this mentorshi…” “Spyros is a great , intelligence, thoughtful leader and mentor. He helped me come up with brilliant ideas for projects and gave me insights on how to make my projects and portfolio better. On top of that, this mentorship gave me new skills to learn how to navigate and stand out in a very competitive field. ”
Brianna

Brianna

Standard Plan · 1 month

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a session?

A session is a focused one-on-one call with your mentor. Use it to get feedback, work through a specific problem, review your work, or get unstuck. You reserve up to 1 hour of their time.

How do I pick a time?

After checkout you pick a slot from Spyros's live availability, and it's confirmed on the spot.

How does the session take place?

Sessions happen over video call. Your mentor shares the meeting link ahead of time, so all you need is a quiet spot and a stable connection.

Can I reschedule?

Yes, up to 24 hours before the session. Message your mentor and find a new time that works for both of you.

What if my mentor doesn't show up?

You're protected. If a mentor is a no-show, it takes one click to cancel and get your money back, no questions asked.

How do refunds work?

You pay securely by card at checkout. If the session can't go ahead, you can cancel and get your money back instantly from your dashboard.

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