In this episode Vincent Morello, a structural engineer from HDR, shares insights on how his early passion for architecture led him to civil engineering and in particular, structural engineering. He explains how he delayed obtaining a master's degree until he had gained real world-experience in industry. Vince reflects on a challenging situation where he made a significant error in a design, teaching him the value of double-checking work and honest communication. He closes the episode with advice for new graduates in the field and encourages them to remain open to evolving career paths and to seek work-life balance.

In this episode Matt Blasa, founder and ML engineer consultant at Aspire Analytics, shares his journey into the data field and discusses the exciting changes happening within it. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity, exploration, and asking the right questions to adapt to the complexity of the data engineering field. Matt highlights the shift from pure analytics to predictive approaches enabled by machine learning models, which offer new opportunities for data professionals to provide valuable insights and drive strategic decision-making. He shares a challenging professional situation related to delivering a data product and underscores the significance of understanding the business problem at hand. Matt emphasizes the value of soft skills, such as interviewing and curiosity, in order to uncover business needs.

In this episode James Bates, the CEO of AdviNOW Medical, shares his personal journey from his early ambitions as an electrical engineer with a dream of inventing to his current role leading a healthcare-focused startup in Scottsdale, Arizona. James candidly reflects on the challenges he faced and the value of diving into unknown territories. He emphasizes the importance of fundamental knowledge and problem-solving skills acquired through his electrical engineering background, which allowed him to adapt to different professional settings and challenges. He recounts a particularly challenging period of establishing a new business entity in Japan which demanded an intense work schedule and multifaceted thinking. Throughout the conversation, James repeatedly underscores the importance of understanding fundamentals, whether in engineering, business, or AI. This understanding, he insists, equips one to be successful in any role or situation.

In this episode Ben Safavinia, a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Arizona, shares his unique journey, beginning with his time at university and leading up to his current senior consultant position at an environmental consulting firm. He discusses the importance of effective communication in engineering, his decision to leave his PhD program at LSU for a career path more aligned with his interests, and the various challenges and opportunities that led him to where he is now. Ben emphasizes the importance of exploration and adaptability in one's career and reflects on his early professional challenges, specifically relating to communication. He also shares some valuable advice on making decisions about graduate school, the significance of a mentor, and the importance of expanding your network and seeking advice from experienced individuals. Resources mentioned in this episode: Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton , Sheila Heen

In this episode, Ken Hickman of Blue River Technology, shares his career in agricultural technology. Ken discusses his background growing up in an agricultural family, his educational journey in biosystems engineering with a focus on water resources, and how a capstone project led him to work at Blue River Technology. He discuss the importance of lifelong learning in engineering careers and Ken's aspirations for further education and certifications. Ken also reflects on his challenging professional experiences, including the need for standardization and organization in engineering projects. Finally, Ken offersadvice to individuals starting their careers, emphasizing the value of asking questions and continuous learning.

In this episode Josh Dickerson, stormwater engineer and advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering, shares his career journey and important lessons he's learned. Josh discusses a challenging professional experience that taught him the value of grace and a growth mindset. Josh emphasizes the significance of effective communication in engineering and offers advice to those starting their careers. In flipping the script, the episode ends with Josh asking Matt about what is the biggest challenge he's seen in his engineering communication course. Matt shares his experience with engineers' discomfort with public speaking and the importance of strong introductions and conclusions in presentations.

In this podcast episode, Brad Baldis, a supervisor at Tucson Electric Power, shares his career journey and insights into technical leadership in the energy industry. He discusses the challenges of leading a team of engineers and the importance of understanding both technical implementations and business needs. Brad reflects on the value of diverse experiences and advises early-career professionals to maintain an observation mode and journal their learnings. He also shares a challenging project experience and how his team overcame obstacles through prioritization and Agile methodologies.

In this episode, Vincent Ng shares his career experience as a senior quality assurance engineer in the tech industry. He is passionate about being an advocate for increasing the representation of women in technology. Vincent shares his journey and his role as a mentor, specifically helping women from non-traditional backgrounds transition into tech roles. He highlights the fulfillment he finds in being a quality assurance engineer, where he acts as a detective, uncovering bugs and ensuring the highest product quality. He also shares a challenging professional situation he faced while working on a startup project and the lessons he learned from it. Vincent emphasizes the significance of seeking out mentors within one's community and joining employee resource groups to gain diverse perspectives and expand networks.

In this episode Amanda Borens shares her non-linear career journey from studying wildlife biology to electronic health records development to data science as a chief data officer. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, persistence, and hands-on experience. Amanda discusses the need for critical thinking in data science and offers advice for aspiring professionals. She encourages listeners to embrace continuous learning, appreciate the contributions of others, and recognize that graduation is just the beginning of their careers.

In this episode Mike Olson shares his journey into civil engineering, starting with his initial interest in aerospace engineering. He discusses the importance of talking to professionals in the field, doing research, and shadowing in order to make informed decisions about one's career. Mike also shares valuable advice on maintaining work-life balance, seeking happiness, and understanding that interactions with colleagues and clients are not personal. Finally, he encourages listeners to consider internships and explore engineering as a fulfilling career option.