I am in the process of conducting longitudinal research which examines how Ph.D. students in business disciplines begin (and continue) to develop a professional identity as a future scholar through the relationships they develop both within and outside of the academic community. These relationships are likely to serve as a source of support (both positive and negative) and provide insight into the expectations associated with life in the academy. I argue that the more a student is able to identify with “life as a scholar”, he/she is more likely to persist through the doctoral experience. For future research, I am interested in determining which relationships are most influential for junior faculty on the tenure track - in other words, which relationships help junior faculty thrive while pursuing tenure.