> Lots of people study compilers and even do theses and dissertations on the topic, and absolutely can't find work doing that.

What's your point? Maybe those people aren't as good as her at turning their academic knowledge into real-world skills. Clearly the main reason she ever got hired anywhere was because she passed the interviews, which should tell you that she knows her stuff. Being charming and having contacts only gets you so far; nobody will hire you to work on compilers just because you smile and drop names.