One of the hallmarks of a great leader is the ability to draw people together in the name of something greater than themselves. They establish bold missions for their teams and paint a vivid picture of what a better future could look like if they were to succeed.
For Vivian Shen, CEO and co-founder of Juni Learning, that mission is to provide kids with world-class computer science, math and english eduction no matter where they live. That mission has carried Juni to incredible heights in the past few years, leading to remarkable growth and substantial investments from well-known investors.
In today's episode, Vivian and I discuss the importance of mission in leading a team, why she decided to move on from her "dream job" at McKinsey, how she's successfully building a remote technical team, and what the future holds for Juni.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode27
Download our free guide to leadership for engineers - Engineering Leadership 101: Practical Insights for Becoming an Engineering Leader at Any Stage
Many of us think of our lives in as though they move between discrete phases. First we get educated, then we work, then we enjoy life in retirement. My guest in today's show turns that notion on its head by combining work, education, and a zest for life all at the same time.
Dr. Lucas Marino is a principal life cycle engineer for the COLUMBIA submarine program, engineering manager, educator, small business owner, and family man. In today's episode, we discuss the importance of learning and teaching for practicing engineers, pursuing passions, and keeping it all in balance.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode26
Download our free guide to leadership for engineers - Engineering Leadership 101: Practical Insights for Becoming an Engineering Leader at Any Stage
We have all heard that necessity is the mother of invention. If there's any good that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that it has forced many of us to re-evaluate our lives, take stock of where things stand, and ask some tough questions: Are we living the lives we should be? Are we prioritizing what we value most? If this world we live in really is this fragile, are we taking the opportunity we have to make a difference? It's forced the reinvention of ourselves.
For my guest today, it wasn't a pandemic that drove a reawakening, but the sudden end of his marriage that forced a major reset in his life. Michael Tranmer is a professional engineer, author, and TedX speaker who has chronicled his journey from rock bottom to true happiness in his book Satori Ananda: Awaken to Happiness. We discuss his story, self-discovery, and how to drive change in your own life.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode25
Download our free guide to leadership for engineers - Engineering Leadership 101: Practical Insights for Becoming an Engineering Leader at Any Stage
We all go to school expecting to learn the skills we need to succeed in the real world. As engineers, we probably felt confident that would end our degrees equipped with everything we needed to build strong careers and climb the ranks. Armed with knowledge of AutoCAD and second-order differential equations, there would be nothing we couldn't handle.
For anyone who's been in the workforce for any length of time knows, however, is just how far that is from the truth. That's why author, engineer, CTO and veteran MIT instructor Mark Herschberg wrote The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success that No One Taught You. After teaching in MIT's Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program for nearly 20 years, combined with senior leadership experience in startups and fortune 500s, Mark learned exactly what skills engineers needed to thrive and how to teach them.
In today's episode, I interview Mark to learn more about:
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode24
Download our free guide to leadership for engineers - Engineering Leadership 101: Practical Insights for Becoming an Engineering Leader at Any Stage
In today's episode, I speak with Andrew Hinkelman, leadership coach and former CTO of Parametric, a fintech startup recently acquired by Morgan Stanley, about leadership and management in the technical world, and how to set yourself up for success as a leader in tech.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode23
In today's episode, I interview Dr. Katrina Burrus about the challenges technical experts face when moving in to management, the importance of cultural fit, and the kinds of skills you need to succeed as a manager.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode22
In this week’s episode, I interview Josh Mathias, the Managing Director at the Hythe Group, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm from the UK on leadership, management, and his ascent from the shop floor to the corner office.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode21
In this week’s episode, I share five things that nobody tells you when you transition into engineering management. It's a summary of the biggest lessons learned in my own career, and how to put them to work for you.
See the full show notes at https://www.engineeringandleadership.com/episode20