Engineering Pack Pod

Abraham Michel shares how leaving home, starting a Ph. D., and navigating the unknown left him feeling overwhelmed and isolated. By reaching out to advisors, connecting with peers, and treating graduate school like a marathon instead of a sprint, he discovered that asking for support is one of the most powerful steps toward building confidence.

Engineering Pack Pod is proud to share this special conversation featuring Marcy Bullock as a guest on Success Reimagined with Dr. Amna Shabbir . In this episode, Marcy discusses the importance of resilience, student success, leadership, and supporting others through life's challenges. Through authentic stories and practical insights, this conversation explores how growth often comes from embr...

Dr. Randolph Brooks is the former assistant director of outreach, NC State Counseling Center. This episode was recorded while he was still employed with NC State. Dr. Brooks shares practical strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and the pressures of student life. From breathing techniques and grounding exercises to building routines and focusing on what you can control, this conversation remind...

Leila Bonakdar reflects on her transition from industry back to graduate school, sharing the challenges of changing identities, overcoming self-doubt, and learning to embrace uncertainty. Through Smooth Sailing and the support of a growing community, she discovered that asking questions and not having all the answers is an important part of the Ph. D. journey.

Robin Batsuli reflects on his transition from NC State to the tech industry, sharing how communication, curiosity, and customer-focused thinking have shaped his success. From navigating career changes to balancing growth and wellbeing, Robin explains why technical skills alone aren't enough, you must also learn to connect with people.

Kevin Noriega shares how he navigated the pressure of proving himself in graduate school, overcame self-doubt, and discovered that confidence is built through small, meaningful wins. From leaning on peers to celebrating progress, Kevin reminds us that success comes one step at a time.

Craig Prince reflects on his journey from engineering to community-building, navigating burnout, identity shifts, and the pressure to do it all. Through those challenges, he learned one of his most important lessons: to slow down, let go, and be at ease with where he is.

José Urbina shares his journey of adjusting to a new country, a new marriage, and a demanding PhD. What began as a clear plan quickly became overwhelming, but through support, resilience, and persistence, he learned to adapt and grow in ways he never expected.

In this episode of  Engineering Pack Pod , executive advisor and author  David Bates  shares what leadership really feels like behind the scenes; the pressure, loneliness, burnout, and responsibility that come with leading people and organizations. Drawing from over 30 years of executive experience, David explores curiosity, trust, perfectionism, and the importance of building leadership that last...

In this episode of  Tiny Wins , Anna Bona shares her journey through the challenges of PhD life, including burnout, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed by research. What started as a simple decision to attend a gym class became a turning point,  helping her break out of constant stress, improve her mental health, and become more productive. Anna reminds us that sometimes the smallest step can create...

In this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, Dr. Will Kirschenman breaks down artificial intelligence in a practical and accessible way. From chatbots like ChatGPT to the emerging world of agentic AI, he explains how these tools are transforming research, productivity, and decision-making. He also shares insights on ethical use, building trust with AI systems, and why curiosity is essential in navigat...

Catch us this week for another episode of Tiny Wins, discussing real grad school challenges that sometimes appear invisible from the outside. We are joined by current first-year PhD student, Allison File, as she shares her Win of adapting quickly to the changes of starting a new program on a new campus. Allison joined a well-established research group in Mechanical Engineering here at NC State, an...

On this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, Marcy is joined by long-time friend and colleague–Dr Maria Reyes–to discuss living life true to your values. Once a postdoctoral scientific researcher and currently a stay-at-home mom, Maria shares her dedication to creating an identity apart from science, yet authentic to her truest desires. Holding a PhD in Biochemistry from NC State, Maria is steadfast o...

In this episode of Tiny Wins, first year Electrical Engineering PhD student (and current Smooth Sailing participant) Lisa Sebastian is on the mic! Lisa shares all the juicy details about the reality of a first-semester grad student, including navigating the transition from a smaller undergrad program to the hustle and bustle of NC State. Lisa's story and tips highlight the importance of establ...

In this episode, Maria Crockett shares how building authentic relationships can shape your career path and open doors to new opportunities. From transitioning out of higher education to leading early career talent at SAS, Maria highlights the importance of using your strengths, leveraging campus resources, and gaining real-world experience. She also breaks down how students can stand out, build co...

In this Tiny Wins episode, Farsia Chowdhury shares her journey from Bangladesh to NC State and the challenges of adjusting to life as an international PhD student. From navigating independence for the first time to overcoming homesickness, Farsia reflects on how small wins—like building community through Smooth Sailing and completing her first journal paper—helped her regain confidence and momentu...

This week, Dr Jackie Olich offers insights on how engineers and scientists can translate technical brilliance into real-world impact through self-awareness, storytelling, and purpose. Jackie is multitalented and shares unique perspectives from the intersection of being an entrepreneur, author, speaker, educator, and administrator.

In this Tiny Wins episode, Olivier Retourne shares how overcoming self-doubt and taking the leap to apply for a PhD changed his path. He reflects on imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the importance of reaching out for support. His message is simple: sometimes the biggest step forward is getting out of your own way.

This episode of the  BME Grad Podcast  features  Marcy Bullock , Director of Professional Development at NC State’s College of Engineering and host of the  Engineering Pack Pod . We dive deep into  career development, self‑awareness, navigating transitions, imposter feelings, and generational dynamics in the workplace .

Hey Wolfpack! We are quickly approaching that point in the semester where work can easily start to feel out of control...this week, we were lucky enough to sit down with Kirstie Queener, a Biomedical Engineering PhD candidate and fellow member of the Pack. In under 20 minutes, Kirstie highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between ambition and self-care. Tune in for firsthand t...

Welcome to our new segment Tiny Wins where we celebrate the small steps that don’t make a résumé, but absolutely move your life forward. Biweekly we will focus on progress over perfection, because confidence isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build through action. In our first Tiny Win episode, Julian Cohen shares how focusing on your strengths and celebrating small progress can build...

This week, Marcy sits down with NC State's own Dr. Kanton Reynolds for a discussion about personal experiences along one's journey! With anecdotes from an industry career at General Motors/IBM/Lenovo, traveling abroad, and current ISE faculty position, Dr. Reynolds highlights specific ways he makes the most of his experiences and allows his past to inform the present. As you are growing al...

SAS leader Brooke Huckabee is back to discuss how values show up when things get hard. Brooke shares practical leadership lessons on managing what’s in your control, using the power of the pause, and navigating the “messy middle” that comes with setbacks, transitions, and growth. Through personal stories—from career pivots to injuries—she explains why pulling back can sometimes be exactly what’s n...

In this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, host Marcy Bullock welcomes NC State alumna Brooke Huckabee for an energizing conversation on leadership, personal brand, and what it really takes to build credibility early in your career. As Head of Global Revenue Enablement at SAS, Brooke shares how her weekly Friday emails to her team evolved into a powerful leadership framework: the Seven C’s of person...

This week on Engineering Pack Pod, host Marcy Bullock talks with NC State alumna Sydney Russell about confidence, curiosity, and why “networking” doesn’t have to feel so intimidating. Sydney reflects on her journey from college advising and graduate school to working in higher education technology, sharing how navigating uncertainty and not always knowing what she wanted to be “when she grew up”,...