After spending time in academia and exploring the unknown, the industry often seems too limited scientifically to those finishing a PhD. We will explore the bridge between the industry and academia to understand how basic scientific findings take shape into products and strategies. We will also follow the career paths of researchers who are in academia or outside of it, professionals that made their choice, followed it through and come to us to tell all about it. Academia or not? And if not, what else? That is a tough nut to crack. Call us the nutcrackers.