Mastering Engineering Leadership

In this episode, I speak with Paulo Novaes, Chief Technology Officer at Aperam. Paulo grew up around engineering through his father, loved math and lab work, and ultimately chose metallurgy and materials engineering. He faced rejections to elite academies, persisted, and launched a career in specialty steel, moving from shop-floor engineer to multi-site leader. In our leadership segment, Paulo dis...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Terry Alger, Vice President for Applied Research and Development at UL Solutions. Terry discovered mechanical engineering at West Point, found his passion in combustion and engines during graduate work at the University of Texas, and built a career spanning hands-on lab work, automotive research, and organizational leadership. Terry views leadership as a force mul...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Gary Null, Assistant Department Head for Undergraduate Affairs in the Industrial Systems and Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee. Gary’s 30-year career spanned three “dreams”: serving as a Navy officer and later Army civilian manager, working for his dream company, General Motors, and ultimately becoming a professor at the University of Tennessee...

Hi everyone, Angelique here. Today I'm taking a break from new production to celebrate Labor Day. As a replay, I'm bringing back episode two with Joy Harris. We talked about a challenging leadership situation where she had to rely on emotional self-awareness and self-regulation to maintain a strong relationship with an important stakeholder. These topics are on my mind because I just cover...

In this episode I speak with Paul Young. Mayor of The City of Memphis, Tennessee. Mayor Young was inspired to pursue engineering after watching A Different World, a late-1980s/early-1990s television sitcom set at the fictional Hillman College that explored college life, social issues, and Black culture, and became especially influential for inspiring young viewers to pursue higher education and pr...

In this episode, I speak with Chris Roberts , a fractional Chief Digital Officer and Founder of Intevate Labs , where he helps companies translate strategy into working systems using AI-enabled automation, commerce, and data platforms.  Chris discovered his engineering aptitude early, receiving encouragement from teachers for his math and science skills. After earning a mechanical engineering degr...

In this episode, I speak with Eduardo Arreaga, Chief Financial Officer at Neurovitals Inc., which delivers personalized AI-driven mental health care by combining metabolic science, neuroscience, and real-time lab insights.  Eduardo was inspired to pursue mechanical engineering by his father's 30-year career at John Deere and the manufacturing-rich environment of Monterrey, Mexico. After starti...

In this episode, I speak with Randy Gibson, senior advisor to the executive team of Gresham Smith, a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and design firm that delivers strategic people-focused solutions across the healthcare, aviation, transportation, water resources, and corporate markets. Randy began his career with a passion for buildings, originally considering architecture before pivo...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Dennis Burianek, Director of Business Transformation at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Dennis grew up in Seattle, fascinated by planes, spacecraft, and his older brother’s career in aerospace engineering. That early interest led him to study at MIT, where he earned his BS, MS, and PhD in aerospace engineering before joining MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he has spent his...

In this episode, I speak with Phil Byerly, a former supply chain executive turned business consultant. Phil stumbled into engineering thanks to a late suggestion from his mother and his strength in math and hands-on work. He ultimately chose industrial engineering, drawn by its blend of people, systems, and business. After graduation, rather than taking a flashier aerospace job option, he chose a...

In this episode, I speak with Chris Ritter, Technical Manager for Century Aluminum's Mt. Holly Smelter. Chris's early fascination with how things work, along with a strong interest in math and science during high school, sparked his decision to pursue chemical engineering. His engineering path began with a co-op experience while at Clemson University, leading to a long-standing career at M...

In this episode, I speak with Eric Higgs, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. Eric began his career in engineering thanks to a high school band teacher who nominated him for a youth employment program. That opportunity paired him with a city engineer, igniting his interest in the field. After studying chemical engineering, he joined Procter &amp...

In this episode, I speak with Ben Roehrs, an integrated circuit design engineer for the Molecular Imaging division of Siemens Healthineers. Ben was inspired to pursue electrical engineering by his uncle, an engineer at Boeing. His academic path included co-op experience at BMW, a self-initiated international internship in Germany, and a master’s degree that led to a technical role at Siemens Molec...

In this episode, I speak with Bob Colwick an electrical engineer with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Bob's fascination with puzzles and unseen forces led him to study electrical engineering. Inspired by a mentor during undergrad, he added an MBA to his technical toolkit, enabling him to lead effectively across utility operations, first in power distribution, and now in generation at TVA. Bob...

In this episode, I speak with Mike Stone, a retired chemical engineer whose career responsibilities progressed from production engineer to vice president with many stops along the way. Mike began his engineering path inspired by older cousins working in chemical engineering and driven by a desire to escape farm work. He earned his engineering degree from UT and built a diverse career spanning mult...

In this episode, I speak with Jeff Bohanan, founder and president of Protomet, a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in precision metal components and systems for the marine industry and other demanding markets. Jeff's fascination with science began with childhood magic shows, which fostered both his technical curiosity and public speaking skills. He studie...

In this episode, I speak with Giacomo Mascillaro, Vice President at Konversant, a technology-based Professional Services Firm, where he advises organizations on leveraging AI to modernize operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and fuel business growth. Giacomo's path started with a mechanical engineering degree but evolved into IT consulting, cloud strategy, and cybersecurity leadership. He bui...

In this episode, I speak with Sharon Goh, Senior Director, Supply Chain Execution at Spinnaker SCA, a consultancy that builds agile supply chains to meet the demands of a complex, ever-changing world. Sharon's path to engineering was guided by curiosity and serendipity—from wanting to be a journalist to choosing mechanical engineering to avoid programming. She built a successful career in supp...

In this episode, I speak with Dan Miller, Director for Innovation Crossroads, a US Department of Energy Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dan grew up in a family of engineers and followed in his parents' footsteps, attending Kettering University. After starting his career in mechanical design, he pivoted into tech transfer through a dual MS MBA prog...

In this episode, I speak with Anthony Andrews, senior manager at CMTS, a professional services firm specializing in project, program, and construction management. Anthony Andrews began his path to engineering thanks to high school counselors who saw his math and science aptitude. He chose industrial engineering for its creative focus on systems and processes, and attended the University of Tenness...

In this episode, I speak with Kris Meyer, Assistant Branch Manager at Barnhart Crane and Rigging, focusing on market development for Nuclear Small Modular Reactors. Kris’s passion for how things work began in childhood—from sandbox tunnels to rebuilding cars. After earning a civil engineering degree from the University of Tennessee, he began his career at a small firm where he developed a broad sk...

In this episode, I speak with Neil Thompson, founder of Teach the Geek, online public speaking resources, geared towards those in the technical fields. Neil Thompson entered engineering because his father told him to pursue it, not out of personal passion. After earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering and briefly starting a Ph. D., he pivoted into medical device development and eve...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Whitney Gaskins. The Associate Dean of Professional Development and Community Impact at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science. Whitney grew up in rural Ohio, influenced by her parents—teachers of art and physics—who nurtured both her creativity and analytical thinking. Initially aiming for medicine, a shop class and a Time magazin...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Robert Wagner, the associate laboratory director for the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this role, he leads more than 550 researchers and operations staff focused on developing advanced technology solutions in manufacturing, buildings, transportation, and electrical grid infrastructure. Robert’s path into engineering...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Danielle Castley,  founder of Becq, a radiation shielding and materials engineering company, and the president of Container Technologies Industries, a steel fabricator specializing in radioactive waste containers.  Danielle’s path to engineering was influenced by a love for puzzles and math and strong encouragement from her parents. After completing her bachelor&#...