Radek ShwickPartnerships Director of Research.com Published On: Thursday, July 10, 2025 Views 1597

Research.com is a data-driven platform dedicated to education and academia, offering comprehensive rankings of universities, academic programs, researchers, journals, and conferences. Additionally, it provides expert-curated guides on degree programs (both online and traditional), college majors, career planning, scholarships, and college affordability.

I’m Radek Shwick, Partnership Director at Research.com. I’ve spent over a decade in education-focused sales and business development, and I’m passionate about helping institutions and organizations find data-driven solutions to support their academic and strategic goals. At Research.com, I work closely with partners to connect them with insights that drive growth, visibility and informed decision-making in higher education.

At Research.com, we were inspired by a clear need for transparency and accessibility in academic data. Many students, researchers, and institutions struggle to find reliable, easy-to-understand information to guide their career decisions. We built this platform to bridge that gap, making quality rankings, research insights, and educational resources available to everyone in a clear, data-driven manner.

One of the most challenging parts of our journey was ensuring the accuracy and credibility of our data at a scale. Building trust with users, especially in the academic space, meant developing rigorous methodologies and constantly refining our system. It took time, collaboration, and continuous learning, but it is what helped set Research.com apart.

From my perspective as the Partnerships Director, one of the biggest mindset challenges was shifting from traditional sales approaches to a more consultative, data-driven model. We overcame this by deeply understanding our users’ needs and focusing on long-term value over quick wins. Staying mission-focused and surrounding ourselves with a passionate, and agile team made all the difference.

For me, the three key qualities of success are resilience, curiosity, and integrity. Resilience helps you push through setbacks, curiosity drives continuous learning and growth, and integrity builds trust, both within your team and with your clients.

My life mantra is: “Stay curious, stay consistent.” Curiosity keeps me learning and evolving, while consistency turns small efforts into lasting results. It’s a mindset that’s helped me grow both personally and professionally.

I use Asana for task and project management, Slack for quick team communication, and Gmail for daily correspondence and coordination. These tools keep our workflow organized, efficient, and connected. I’d highly recommend them to any team looking to streamline collaboration.

One habit that boosts my productivity is starting each day with a clear, prioritized to-do list. It helps me focus on what truly matters, stay on track, and avoid distractions, especially when things get busy.

One habit I’m working on is checking emails too frequently throughout the day. It breaks my focus and slows down deep work, so I’m learning to set specific times to manage my inbox more efficiently.

Over the next three years, my goal is to expand Research.com’s global reach, build stronger partnerships with academic institutions, and continue refining our services based on user needs. I aim to grow as a leader, mentor upcoming talent, and contribute to making education more data-informed and accessible worldwide.

If I had the chance to start my career again, I would first focus on building relationships and learning from mentors. While skills are important, I’ve learned that strong connections and guidance can accelerate growth and open up valuable opportunities sooner.

My top three getaway destinations are Lake Bled in Slovenia, for its postcard-perfect scenery; the Amalfi Coast in Italy, with its breathtaking coastline and vibrant culture; and Hallstatt in Austria, a peaceful lakeside village that feels like a fairytale come to life.

One quote that inspires me the most is: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that count,” by Winston Churchill. It reminds me to stay grounded, keep learning, and keep moving forward no matter the outcome.