8 Essential Skills That Can Make You the CEO of a Company

By [Your Name], Leadership Strategist & Business Growth Consultant

Every professional dreams of reaching the pinnacle of their career, and for many, that dream is becoming the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a company. But here’s the truth — CEOs aren’t just born. They’re made. What separates those who rise to this elite role isn’t just hard work or luck — it’s a deliberate mastery of specific, high-impact skills.

Drawing from years of leadership coaching, executive mentoring, and corporate boardroom experience, I’ve identified eight essential skills that consistently appear in successful CEOs — whether they lead global giants or innovative startups.

1. Strategic Thinking: The CEO’s Mental Compass

CEOs aren’t in the business of managing day-to-day tasks. Their job is to steer the entire organization toward long-term success. Strategic thinking is the ability to see beyond the immediate, anticipate market shifts, and align the company's capabilities with emerging opportunities.

Think of it as playing chess while others are playing checkers. It’s not about the next move — it’s about the next ten moves.

How to develop it:

• Read industry trend reports regularly (McKinsey, HBR, etc.).
• Practice scenario planning: “If X happens, how will our business respond?”
• Join strategic planning discussions, even if you’re not leading them yet.

2. Decisive Leadership Under Pressure

Whether it’s navigating a financial downturn or responding to a PR crisis, a CEO must remain calm, calculated, and firm. What differentiates a leader here is not just speed, but clarity and accountability.

How to develop it:

• Reflect on past decisions and your process — what worked, what didn’t?
• Embrace frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix or OODA Loop.
• Build mental resilience through mindfulness or coaching.

3. Financial Literacy: The Language of Business

No CEO can afford to be financially illiterate. Understanding and interpreting financial statements, assessing risk, and speaking the language of value creation is crucial.

How to develop it:

• Learn to read balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow reports.
• Take finance courses (Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning).
• Engage with your finance team — ask thoughtful questions.

4. Mastery of Communication: Inspire, Align, Influence

A CEO’s words carry enormous weight. Great CEOs are great storytellers — they inspire belief, provide clarity, and build trust.

How to develop it:

• Join public speaking groups like Toastmasters.
• Write often — clarity in writing sharpens clarity in thought.
• Learn to communicate across levels: boardrooms, teams, and media.

5. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

CEOs with high EQ build stronger cultures, reduce conflict, and retain top talent. They listen deeply, stay self-aware, and lead with empathy.

How to develop it:

• Request 360° feedback and reflect honestly.
• Journal reactions to stressful situations to build awareness.
• Practice empathy daily — pause and listen before reacting.

6. Visionary Thinking: Painting the Future

Visionary leaders articulate a compelling future that energizes teams and differentiates the brand. It’s more than goals — it’s about purpose and direction.

How to develop it:

• Ask: “What will this industry look like in 10 years?”
• Study leaders like Satya Nadella, Elon Musk, or Indra Nooyi.
• Practice translating ideas into inspiring mission statements.

7. Talent Development & Delegation

The best CEOs are talent multipliers. They build high-performing teams, delegate effectively, and celebrate others' success as their own.

How to develop it:

• Mentor team members to lead projects independently.
• Delegate with trust and empower decisions.
• Hire smarter people — and let them shine.

8. Adaptability and Lifelong Learning

In today’s fast-changing business world, adaptability is the real superpower. Great CEOs learn continuously, unlearn quickly, and stay curious.

How to develop it:

• Read diverse content daily — industry, psychology, innovation.
• Attend workshops, leadership retreats, and executive programs.
• Accept feedback as fuel for evolution, not criticism.

Final Reflections

Being a CEO isn’t just about power or prestige — it’s about creating impact, leading with purpose, and building something greater than yourself. These 8 skills aren’t just for executives — they’re for anyone who wants to lead meaningfully in any space.

“Leadership is not a position or a title. It is action and example.” – Cory Booker

What’s Next?

• Reflect on which of these 8 skills you already possess.
• Pick 1–2 to focus on for the next 90 days.
• Start small. Build consistently. Grow intentionally.

If you found this post useful, share it with your network and subscribe for more insights on leadership, growth, and personal excellence.

🌟 Start becoming the kind of CEO the world needs — whether you hold the title or not.

Happy Learning! 💡

Thank you for reading. 👀

Professor (Dr.) P. M. Malek 

malekparveenbanu786@gmail.com

"⚡ Quick Start Guide: Setting Up Magic School AI Effortlessly" Magic school series Blog-2

 

⚡ Quick Start Guide: Setting Up Magic School AI Effortlessly

Get Up and Running in Minutes — No Tech Stress Required

Getting started with a new teaching platform can feel overwhelming, but not with Magic School AI. Designed for educators, not tech experts, it’s fast, simple, and teacher friendly.

In this quick start guide, I’ll Walk you through the first steps—from creating your account to assigning your first interactive lesson.

Let’s dive in!

📝 Step 1: Sign Up and Create Your Teacher Profile

Start by visiting the Magic School AI website or downloading the app, then click on “Sign Up.”

To personalize your experience:

• Use your professional email to register

• Fill in basic info: name, school, grade level

• Set your preferences (subjects you teach, student age group)

🔐 Tip: Choose a strong password and store your login securely.

🖥️ Step 2: Explore the Teacher Dashboard

After logging in, you’ll land on your Teacher Dashboard—your central hub for everything:

• Browse lesson templates and AI tools

• Manage your classes and student rosters

• View assignments, submissions, and progress insights

🧭 Take a few minutes to click around. The clean, intuitive interface is designed to minimize clicks and maximize productivity.

👩‍🏫 Step 3: Set Up Your Class Roster

Click on “Add Class”, give it a name (e.g., “7th Grade English”), then:

• Add students manually

• Or import a list via CSV (ideal for larger classes)

• Create student groups for differentiated instruction

💡 Pro Tip: Keep your roster updated for accurate tracking and feedback.

🧰 Step 4: Create Your First Lesson

Navigate to the “Lessons” tab and click “Create New Lesson.” You’ll see two options:

• Choose from hundreds of ready-made templates

• Start from scratch if you prefer a custom approach

Let’s say you’re starting a persuasive writing unit:

• Select a relevant template

• Add or edit videos, questions, and writing prompts

• Use drag-and-drop tools to customize layout and content

🔍 Preview your lesson as a student to ensure it looks just right.

📤 Step 5: Assign the Lesson to Your Class

Once your lesson is ready to go, hit “Assign” and:

• Select the class (or student group)

• Set due dates and instructions

• Decide whether to allow revisions or timed completion

🎯 Students receive instant notifications and can begin immediately.

📊 Step 6: Monitor Progress and Offer Support

Now comes the magic of Magic School AI’s smart tracking features:

• See which students have started, submitted, or struggled

• View AI-generated feedback on writing and assignments

• Intervene early with personalized support or enrichment tasks

🧠 You stay informed—without drowning in grading or paperwork.

🔄 Bonus Tips for a Smooth Start

✅ Start Small: Assign one interactive lesson to test the waters

✅ Explore Gradually: Try features like automated grading and progress dashboards over time

✅ Use Built-In Help: Access the tutorials, FAQs, and live chat support

✅ Include Students: Introduce the platform with a demo lesson to build curiosity and comfort

🚀 Why This Setup Works

Magic School AI’s setup process is designed to be fast, intuitive, and teacher-first. In just a few clicks, you’ll have a personalized digital classroom environment where students are more engaged—and you're more empowered.

With your first class and lesson live, you’re ready to teach smarter, not harder.

✅ Ready to Transform Your Teaching?

Try these steps today and watch your classroom become more interactive, personalized, and efficient. You’ll be amazed at how much more time you have to focus on what you love: teaching.

🔜 Next Up in the Series:

“Top Features of Magic School AI Every Teacher Should Know”
Stay tuned for a deep dive into the tools that can take your instruction to the next level.

Happy Learning! 💡

Thank you for reading. 👀

Professor (Dr.) P. M. Malek 

malekparveenbanu786@gmail.com

“How Magic School AI is Revolutionizing Classrooms: Step-by-Step Breakdown” Magic school series Blog-1

 

🚀 How Magic School AI Is Revolutionizing Classrooms: Step-by-Step Breakdown

Empowering Teachers, Engaging Students, and Saving Time with AI

Teaching today is more demanding than ever. From planning effective lessons to assessing student progress and keeping learners engaged, educators wear many hats. But what if one tool could make all of that easier—and smarter?
Magic School AI is doing just that. It’s not just an AI tool—it’s a teaching partner designed to make classrooms more efficient, personalized, and impactful.
Here’s a point-by-point breakdown of how Magic School AI is transforming education.

🧠 Step 1: Create Lessons Faster with Customizable Templates

Gone are the days of starting every lesson from scratch. Magic School AI offers a comprehensive library of lesson templates, built by experts and aligned with real classroom needs.

Let’s say you're teaching persuasive writing—you can instantly access a ready-made template that includes:

• Clear objectives: e.g., “Students will be able to write a thesis statement.”

• Engaging content: Explanations of persuasive techniques with relevant examples

• Activities: Quizzes, writing prompts, and peer review tasks

And the best part? You can personalize everything—add videos, swap out texts, or tweak instructions based on your students’ interests or reading levels.

💡 Why it matters: Teachers spend hours on lesson planning. Magic School AI lets you build dynamic lessons in minutes, freeing up time for what really matters—your students.

💬 Step 2: Boost Engagement Through Interactive Practice

Magic School AI ensures that learning isn’t passive. Once your lesson goes live, students get involved through:

• Live quizzes and polls for real-time understanding

• Short writing tasks with built-in AI feedback

• Peer review activities to promote discussion and reflection

The AI offers immediate, personalized feedback. For example, if a student writes:

“School uniforms are good,”

It might prompt:

“Try making your thesis more specific. For example, do uniforms improve focus or reduce bullying?”

This kind of support helps students revise and learn in the moment, not days later.

🎯 Why it matters: Instant, actionable feedback builds confidence, deepens understanding, and helps students grow faster.

📝 Step 3: Grade Smarter with Automated Feedback

Grading essays, projects, and written responses can eat up evenings and weekends. Magic School AI lightens the load by:

• Evaluating structure (intro, body, conclusion)

• Checking argument clarity and use of evidence

• Spotting grammar, style, and spelling errors

Then it delivers clear, constructive feedback, like:

“Your introduction is clear, but your second paragraph needs more support to back up your claim.”

It’s fast, consistent, and fair—every student receives meaningful insights, and teachers can spend time where it’s needed most.

⏱️ Why it matters: Grading is one of the most time-consuming parts of teaching. AI feedback helps you do it better—and faster.

📊 Step 4: Use Data to Track and Support Student Growth

Magic School AI collects insights from each lesson, activity, and assessment—building a full picture of class and individual progress. On the teacher dashboard, you’ll find:

• Which students have mastered key skills

• Who needs support, and in what specific areas

• Class trends over time, highlighting growth and gaps

If you notice several students struggling with thesis development, you can easily adjust your next lesson or assign targeted practice.

📈 Why it matters: Smart data gives you a roadmap for personalized teaching. It turns guesswork into strategy.

👩‍🏫 Real Impact: What Teachers Are Saying

Teachers using Magic School AI are seeing real change. Take Ms. Garcia, a middle school English teacher:

“I used to spend my weekends grading and planning. Now, with Magic School AI, I have more time for actual teaching and connecting with my students. It’s a game-changer.”

Her students are more confident, her instruction is more focused, and her time is better spent.

🔁 Putting It All Together

Magic School AI is not about replacing teachers—it’s about empowering them.

With this tool, you can:

• Plan smarter, not harder

• Engage students with real-time interaction

• Provide fast, personalized feedback

• Use meaningful data to inform instruction

It’s the kind of tech that respects your time, amplifies your strengths, and supports every learner in your classroom.

📌 Final Thoughts: Teaching, Transformed

In a world where educators face increasing demands, Magic School AI brings balance. It supports you behind the scenes so you can do what you do best—inspire, guide, and teach.

🎯 Ready to see how AI can support your teaching journey?

Explore Magic School AI and take your classroom to the next level.

🔜 Next Up in the Series:

Quick Start Guide: Setting Up Magic School AI Effortlessly
Ready to try Magic School AI for yourself? In our next blog, we’ll walk you through how to create your teacher profile, build your first lesson, and assign it to students—all in minutes!

Happy Learning! 💡

Thank you for reading. 👀

Professor (Dr.) P. M. Malek 

malekparveenbanu786@gmail.com

"PRISMA in Action: How to Conduct Systematic Reviews the Right Way"

Making Systematic Reviews Less Scary and More Practical – Especially for Education Researchers

🔍 What is PRISMA and Why Should You Care?

If you're a student, researcher, or educator diving into systematic reviews, you’ve probably heard the term PRISMA tossed around. But what is it, really?

PRISMA stands for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. It’s a checklist and flow diagram used to improve how researchers report their systematic reviews. In simple terms, PRISMA helps ensure your research is transparent, complete, and trustworthy.

Imagine you’re baking a cake using a recipe. PRISMA is like a standard recipe format — so that anyone following your steps knows exactly what ingredients you used, how long you baked it, and what to expect.

🧠 Why Education Researchers (and Others) Should Use PRISMA

In education, where interventions, teaching methods, or learning outcomes are studied in different ways across the world, systematic reviews help summarize what works best — or doesn’t.

Using PRISMA helps:

• Ensure clarity and transparency in your review.

• Make your work replicable.

• Improve trust in your conclusions.

• Increase the chance of publication in top-tier journals.

📋 The 4 Essential Steps of PRISMA (Simplified)

Let’s break it down in a more human and less technical way:

1. Identification

You begin by searching for studies in databases (like ERIC, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, SpringerLink, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, PubMed). You note the number of total records you find.

🟢 Example: You search for studies on “online learning during COVID-19” and find 1,200 articles.

2. Screening

You remove duplicates and skim through titles/abstracts to remove irrelevant studies.

🟢 Example: Out of 1,200, you realize 500 were duplicates. You screen the rest and exclude another 400 that are not focused on school-level education.

3. Eligibility

Now you read the full texts of the remaining studies to check if they meet your review’s inclusion criteria.

🟢 Example: From 300 full-texts, only 80 focus specifically on high school online learning effectiveness.

4. Included

These are the final studies you analyze for your review. You record how many and explain why others were excluded.

🟢 Final Result: 30 studies are included in your systematic review.

✅ And all these steps are recorded in a PRISMA flow diagram.

📊 Visual Aid: PRISMA Flow Diagram (Example)

Here’s a simple flowchart structure you’ll follow:

Identification

↓

Screening

↓

Eligibility

↓

Included

you can use free tools like PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator or draw it using Notion, Canva, or even Word SmartArt.

🛠️ Templates & Tools to Make PRISMA Easier

Templates to use:

• PRISMA 2020 Checklist (official):  PRISMA 2020 Checklist

• Excel template for data extraction (simple columns: Author, Year, Sample, Findings)

• PRISMA Word template (search on ResearchGate or Google Drive shared docs)

Tools to help:

Tool	Purpose
Zotero / Mendeley	Reference management
Rayyan	AI-assisted screening
Excel / Google Sheets	Data extraction
Canva / Word	Creating flow diagrams

📚 Sample from the Education Field

Topic: Impact of digital storytelling on students’ writing skills.

• Databases Searched: ERIC, Scopus, Google Scholar

• Inclusion Criteria: Peer-reviewed, English, published 2013–2023, school-level education

• Total Found: 620

• After PRISMA Filtering: 18 relevant studies analyzed

Using PRISMA helped this reviewer clearly communicate how they narrowed down their sources and built trust in their findings.

• 💡 Final Tips for Beginners

  • Always define your inclusion and exclusion criteria early.

  • Be honest and transparent about why you removed certain studies.

  • Don’t skip the PRISMA diagram — journals often require it.

  • If you’re unsure, collaborate with a librarian or mentor to help with the search strategy.

  
  ✨ Conclusion: PRISMA = Research That Speaks Clearly

  Whether you’re in education, psychology, health, or even business — PRISMA isn’t just for “experts.” It’s a research friend that guides you toward clarity and credibility. By following its steps, you’ll not only impress reviewers but genuinely improve the quality of your research.

How I Organize Qualitative Data in Notion (Includes My Codebook + Theme Tracker Template 🎁)

How I Organize Qualitative Research in Notion (with Free Codebook & Theme Tracker)

📝 Meta Description:

Tired of managing sticky notes, transcripts, and highlighters? See how I use Notion to organize the chaos of qualitative research—plus a free template you can try.

🚪 Welcome to the Organized Chaos of Qualitative Research

 

How to Conduct a Literature Review in Notion (Step-by-Step Guide + Free Template)

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✨ Introduction

A literature review is a critical part of any academic writing process. It allows researchers to evaluate what has already been studied, identify gaps in the field, and build a strong foundation for their research question. However, managing dozens (or even hundreds) of sources can be overwhelming.

That's where Notion comes in. With flexible databases and customizable templates, Notion can transform your literature review from a chaotic pile of PDFs into an organized, searchable system.

In this post, I’ll explain how I conduct my literature reviews using Notion and share a free template you can duplicate and start using immediately.

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🔍 Step-by-Step Guide to Using Notion for Literature Reviews

✏️ Step 1: Set Up Your Literature Review Tracker

Start by duplicating the free Literature Review Tracker template (link below). The table includes:

Column	Description
✅ Reviewed	A checkbox to track what you've read
📘 Title	Title of the article or book
✍️ Author(s)	Author(s) of the source
📅 Year	Year of publication
🎯 Key Argument	Main argument in 1–2 lines
🧠 Insight Summary	Your full notes or summary
🏷️ Theme	Choose from Theory, Method, Gap, Findings
📌 Citation	Ready-to-use citation (APA, MLA, Harvard)

📚 Step 2: Add and Tag Your Sources

Whenever you find a new source:

• Add it to the table

• Fill in the year, author, and key argument

• Choose a theme from the dropdown (or create your own)

• Paste your formatted citation

Use filters or sorts to easily group your sources by theme or publication year.

📈 Step 3: Analyze Your Notes

Over time, patterns will emerge:

• Are most sources focused on theory?

• Is there a clear gap in methodology?

Use these insights to craft your literature review section logically.

📆 Step 4: Link to Your Research Dashboard

If you’re already using the Research Paper Dashboard (from my previous post), you can embed your Literature Tracker directly into your project page.

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📅 FREE Notion Template

Click here to duplicate the Literature Review Tracker into your workspace:

Literature Review Tracker

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✨ Bonus Tips:

• Use the "Review" checkbox to mark completed readings.

• Add comments or color tags for priority sources.

• Export your table into a .csv or PDF for offline backup.

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📖 Conclusion

Notion helps transform the messy, time-consuming task of literature reviewing into a streamlined, enjoyable process. With just one free template, you can keep everything organized, searchable, and easy to reference when writing your final paper.

Let me know in the comments: What other academic tools would you like me to create in Notion?

🔥 How I Use Templates to Speed Up My Research Writing in Notion🔥

The simple system that keeps me focused, organized, and productive — even on tight deadlines.

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🎯 Why Templates Matter for Student Research

Let’s face it — research writing can get messy fast. Between reading dozens of sources, trying to keep your thesis on track, and organizing all those scattered notes, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck.

That was me during my second semester. I had ideas but no system. I kept jumping between Google Docs, PDF downloads, notebooks, and sticky notes. The result? Wasted time, duplicated effort, and stress.

Then I discovered Notion, and everything changed.

Notion didn’t just give me a place to write. It gave me a system — a customizable workspace where I could build my own templates for managing every part of the research process.

With just a few clicks, I could:

• Track my readings and summaries

• Organize literature reviews clearly

• Plan my writing step-by-step

• Never lose a quote or key idea again

And today, I want to share those templates with you.

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📝 My Top 3 Notion Templates (That I Actually Use Every Week)

These are the exact templates I use to write academic papers, thesis chapters, and even blog articles like this one.

You don’t need to be a Notion expert to use them — just click, duplicate, and go.

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1. 📑 Research Paper Organizer

Think of this as your research HQ — a single page that holds everything related to a specific research project.

What’s inside:

• A place to define your topic and research question

• Sections for breaking down each chapter (Intro, Lit Review, Methodology, etc.)

• A mini writing calendar to help you set deadlines

• A progress tracker (because checking boxes feels amazing)

How I use it:

I open this every Monday morning to check where I’m at. It helps me stay focused and avoid the “what should I work on today?” spiral.

Pro tip: Add a “Quick Thoughts” section where you can brain-dump spontaneous ideas before they vanish.

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2. 📚 Literature Review Tracker

If you’ve ever lost track of where you read a quote (or worse — used the same article twice), this template is for you.

What it includes:

• Author, title, journal, year

• Summary of the article in your own words

• Key quotes and page numbers

• Tags like “Supports Hypothesis” or “Contradicts Theory”

• A rating system (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) so you know how useful each source is

How I use it:

Whenever I finish reading an article, I take 5–10 minutes to fill this out. Later, when I’m writing the literature review, I can easily search for keywords or authors and find the best quotes to use.

Pro tip: If you use a reference manager like Zotero or Mendeley, link to the full PDF in the template.

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3. 📝 Reading Summary Card

This one’s perfect for when you need to read fast but still retain the important stuff.

What it covers:

• What’s the main idea?

• What method did they use (if it’s a study)?

• What did I agree or disagree with?

• Any connections to my current research?

How I use it:

I use this card during weekly readings — especially when I’m not ready to do a full literature review entry. It's like a journal for quick reflections, and it keeps my thinking active.

Pro tip: Use it during class or group discussions to spark talking points and ideas.

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💡 How I Use These Templates Each Week (Real Example)

Let me give you a peek into a typical research week:

• Monday: I check my Research Paper Organizer to see what section I’m in and set goals like “finish 2 pages of literature review.”

• Tuesday to Thursday: I read 1–2 new sources daily, filling out my Literature Review Tracker or Summary Cards depending on the depth.

• Friday: I sit down to write. Instead of starting from scratch, I just pull from my summaries and organize them into paragraphs.

No stress. No mess. Just progress.

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🔗 Free Template Links (Click and Use)

I’ve made all three of my template's public, and they’re totally free. Just click the links below and hit “Duplicate” in the top right to add them to your own Notion workspace.

• Research Project Dashboard
  
• Literature Review Tracker
• Reading Summary Card Template

Whether you’re a bachelor’s student, a master’s researcher, or deep into a Ph.D., these templates are flexible enough to adapt to your subject.

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🚀 Bonus Tips: How to Customize Templates for YOUR Research

Every field is different. Here's how you can make these templates your own:

• Linguistics student? Add a field for “Examples of metaphor or discourse strategy.”

• Science major? Add columns for hypothesis, experiment method, results, and limitations.

• Social sciences? Track theoretical frameworks or authors you reference often.

Notion is flexible. Don’t be afraid to tweak layouts, add new databases, or connect templates using backlinks.

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💌 Want the Full Research Template Pack?

I’m working on a full Notion Research Toolkit, including:

• A thesis planner

• Data collection tracker

• Study schedule board

• Citation checklist

• Academic writing prompts

If that sounds helpful, let me know in the comments or send me a message. I’ll be happy to share the full pack as soon as it’s ready — and maybe even offer a short video walkthrough!

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P.S. You don’t need to be a “Notion pro” to get started. These templates are beginner-friendly and easy to customize. Once you try them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed research without them.

Happy writing! ✍️💡

Thank you for reading. 👀

Professor (Dr.) P. M. Malek