Engineering Management Institute

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Mastering Career Balance: A Blueprint for Engineers

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This is a guest blog by Gina Covarrubias

Career BalanceAn unbalanced engineering career can materialize in several ways, and none of us are immune. Whether we experience too much overwhelm or not enough motivation, here are a few ways we can preserve more career balance.

Adjust Your Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivations

We have many motivations for working, which is a great thing! On a high level, we can categorize these motivations as extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic motivations are driven by things outside of yourself. For example, most of us are motivated to work for money and benefits. Sometimes we’re motivated by new titles or additional respect. These are examples of behaviors fueled by external paybacks or rewards.

It’s a wonderful system; we love getting paid to perform meaningful work that serves the world.

However, there is a danger of implementing too many extrinsic motivations. They can only carry a career so far because emphasis on external paybacks and rewards dismisses its complement—internal paybacks and rewards. How do we generate internal paybacks and rewards? By creating intrinsic motivations.

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Planning and Execution: One Isn’t Enough

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Planning and ExecutionThrough my work at the Engineering Management Institute, I have worked with many engineering companies with a focus on helping them grow their business. One of the biggest pitfalls that I have observed among these companies is the failure to be able to plan AND execute. Most companies can do one of these really well, but they typically fall short with the other complementary action.

For example, they might have a sound recruiting strategy that includes visits to top colleges where they would speak in front of the engineering students, but they don’t employ anyone who can execute on that task effectively. Planning, but poor execution.

I’ve helped engineers who are looking for employment. They prepare a list of 10 companies that they would like to work for. However, rather than preparing 10 different customized resumes (one for each company), they send out a generic resume to all ten. Planning, but poor execution.

On the flip side, think about a sports team that has the most skilled players on the field. They are faster and stronger than their opponent, but their coaching staff fails to put together a game plan that ensures their talent is used effectively across the team and game. Execution, but poor planning.

I’ve talked to leaders in at least five engineering companies this year who told me their firm went through an elaborate strategic planning process, but they are too busy to implement their plan. Planning, but poor (or no) execution.

I’d like to offer some actions you can take to try to ensure your company is able to both plan and execute effectively.

1: When Planning, Consider Execution

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Getting Involved in the Community: How Mentorship Shapes Future Industry Leaders

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This is a guest post by Craig E. Bryson, PLA

InvolvedHow can we get involved in influencing communities and help grow the next generation of STEM professionals?

Exposure significantly affects many students’ future education and career goals. Initiatives such as mentorship programs, internships, and collaborative educational projects invest in students’ growth and cultivate a pipeline of diverse, skilled individuals poised to make meaningful contributions to the workforce and Pennoni.

Active participation in local events, career fairs, and workshops like ACE exposes us to various perspectives and experiences. It helps staff expand how we think and approach challenges, and allows students to work and learn more about their interests and future goals and how to achieve them.

Pennoni has participated in the Greater Philadelphia ACE Mentor Program for years. In addition to our staff-run project group, Pennoni staff holds two seats on the ACE board and volunteers as student mentors throughout the year.

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Engineer Your Impact: Strategies for Community Engagement and Outreach

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This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

Community engagement

“Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” ~ Shirley Chisholm

Engineering is a field that thrives on innovation, problem-solving, and making the world a better place through technology. While engineers are known for their technical prowess, their skills and expertise can extend beyond their professional work and into their local communities. Community engagement as an engineer not only benefits the people and organizations in your area but also provides you with an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and inspire the next generation of engineers.

In this blog, I will explore three key points on how engineers can make a meaningful impact in their communities: leveraging their technical skills for the greater good, networking and collaborating with others, and inspiring and mentoring future generations of engineers. Let’s delve into these points to discover how engineers can contribute to the well-being of both their community and their professional growth.

Community engagement

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Applications of Drones in AEC

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This is a guest blog by Nick Heim, P.E.

drones in AECAs engineering professionals, we continually seek innovative ways to improve our industry, enhance efficiency, and ensure the safety of the public.

In recent years, the utilization of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) has emerged as a very useful technology with significant implications in AEC.

Today, I would like to summarize some of our top episodes from the AECTECH podcast, all of which relate to the use of drones in AEC.

drones in AEC

If you find these summaries interesting, check out the full-length episodes!

AECTECH 016: Unlocking the Power of Drones for AEC Data Collection

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Want to Add Richness to Your Career and Your Life? Get a Mentor

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This is a guest blog post by Pamela A. Scott

Add Richness to Your CareerI always enjoy writing for EMI because they challenge me to think, explore, and grow. This week’s topic on mentoring certainly does that. Where does one start on “mentoring”?

Amazon has more than 30,000 titles on “mentor.” There’s lots of stuff out there. Before you get lost in that information, check out these two pieces by EMI authors. They offer great information and ideas about finding and working with Mentors.

Mentorship in Engineering: How to Find and Cultivate a Transformational Relationship by Jeff Perry talks about finding a mentor, making the ask, building and nurturing the relationship, and taking action. Jeff’s article is full of ideas and includes a freebie with 48 questions about mentoring.

How Mentorship Guides the Path to Engineering Success by Tiffani Teachey leans on her mentoring experience. She offers: “We’ll uncover the keys to forging connections that inspire growth and innovation in the field of engineering.”

Mentors Who Made a Difference for Me

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Networking Tips for the Apprehensive Engineer

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This is a guest blog by Gina Covarrubias

networkingNetworking can serve as a powerful tool to expand your professional portfolio. Some engineers would rather do anything but. However, networking doesn’t have to be so scary or burdensome!

Do You Avoid Large-Scale Networking?

I confess. As an introvert who feels overstimulated in large crowds, I dread the “typical” networking scenario of making small chit-chat with strangers. It can feel so awkward and overbearing. Maybe this sounds familiar to you, or maybe you’re perfectly content with large-scale networking. Either way, I have great news — networking occurs in multiple forms and modes that can fit your personality!

Networking doesn’t have to be about making small talk with groups of strangers. Nor is it about approaching intimidating people who carry an intense presence.

Sometimes engineers and other professionals avoid networking because:

  • It is too time-consuming
  • They don’t know what to say or feel out of place
  • They don’t realize the long-term benefits
  • They’re afraid of what others will think
  • They don’t know what networking looks like other than awkward attempts to connect with strangers

Networking spans way beyond forced conversations in a giant room of people. You’ve probably been networking in some fashion, and you don’t even know it!

Tips for Easy Networking

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Mentorship in Engineering: How to Find and Cultivate a Transformational Relationship

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This is a guest post by Jeff Perry, MBA

Mentorship

Image of Drazen Zigic on Freepik

“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living — if you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” ~ Denzel Washington

Mentors are crucial to success in life and careers. A mentorship can change the game, accelerate your progress, help you unlock insights you wouldn’t otherwise know, and connect you with people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.

Other benefits of mentorship include:

  • Providing accountability
  • Building strong, lasting relationships
  • Removing roadblocks
  • Helping you choose the right path and understanding how to take that path

In other words, a mentor can help you go faster and further than is possible alone!

This article will focus on the HOW — to find a mentor, start a mentoring relationship, and build it into something transformational.

Finding a Mentor

“Your mentors in life are important, choose them wisely” ~ Bill Walsh

Before you start asking people to be your mentor, it’s critical to understand what you are even looking for!

Here are qualities of great mentors you should be looking for:

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How Mentorship Guides the Path to Engineering Success

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This is a guest post by Tiffani Teachey

engineering success
Image by pch.vector on Freepik

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

In the dynamic world of engineering, mentorship is the compass that guides emerging and seasoned professionals alike toward engineering success. As we embark on this exploration of mentorship’s transformative role, we’ll unveil the essential steps to identify potential mentors, set clear career objectives, and cultivate meaningful relationships that can elevate your engineering journey. Much like myself as a senior mechanical engineer, author, and STEM advocate who has harnessed the power of mentorship to shape my own remarkable career, we’ll uncover the keys to forging connections that inspire growth and innovation in the field of engineering. So, let’s embark on this enlightening journey and discover how mentorship can propel engineers toward new horizons of achievement. Here are three key steps for mentorship for engineers:

Identify Potential Mentors:

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Applications of Technology to Enhance Public Safety

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This is a guest blog by Nick Heim, P.E.

public safetyAs engineering professionals, we have a responsibility to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

Part of this duty entails inspection and maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Some jurisdictions require inspection and maintenance at periodic intervals to ensure that the public is kept safe while in and around these assets.

For example, New York City Local Laws 11 (Façade Inspection) and 126 (Parking Garage Inspection) specify time frames over which assets must be inspected and repairs implemented.

Today, I would like to summarize some of our top episodes from the AECTECH podcast, all of which relate to the use of technology to maintain existing assets and infrastructure.

If you find these brief summaries interesting, check out the full-length episodes!

1. AECT 009: Using AI and Digital Twins for Industry Asset Management

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Ali Khaloo, Ph.D., the CEO and co-founder of Aren, about what digital twins are and how you can bring digital twins and artificial intelligence to infrastructure asset management.

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Using AI and Digital Twins for Industry Asset Management:

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