Leadership/Management

TCEP 232: People Skills for Engineering Leaders: Balancing Work and Career Growth

March 15, 2023 By EMI

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As we celebrate Women’s History Month, this episode features an inspiring conversation with Raine Gardner, P.E., Team Leader at MSA Professional Services. The theme for this year’s Women’s History Month is “Women who tell stories,” and Raine shares her own story, along with invaluable insights and experiences on the significance of people skills in engineering leadership, maintaining work-life balance, career pathing, and fostering professional growth. Additionally, she offers excellent tips and strategies for cultivating a growth mindset and enhancing leadership skills.

***You can view the video version of this episode here.***

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Raine:

Could you share your experience managing a team of multidisciplinary professionals? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
In your opinion, how do people skills play a crucial role in engineering leadership? Can you give some examples from your personal experience?
As a Board Member of your firm, how has your role evolved? How has your experience as a Board Member impacted your leadership skills?
Balancing work and personal responsibilities can be challenging, especially in leadership roles. Can you talk about how you achieve work-life balance, and what that looks like for you?
How do you delegate work and coach your team for success?
Can you discuss the considerations of career pathing in technical versus leadership roles? How did you navigate this transition, and what advice would you give to someone in a similar position?
What has supported your leadership growth, and how have these experiences impacted your leadership abilities?
How do you maintain a growth mindset and continue to improve your leadership skills? Can you share any specific strategies or practices that have been particularly beneficial to you?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About People Skills for Engineering Leaders:

TCEP 228: Your Knowledge of Past Projects Can Be Your Biggest Driver of Project Success

January 18, 2023 By EMI

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In this episode, I talk to Matt Kastberg, who is the Regional Division Manager of Community Building for the Puget Sound Offices of Parametrix Inc., about how engineering managers can use their knowledge of past projects to inspire their team.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Matt:

What is the people side of project management and what are some of the things you have learned about managing people while managing projects?
How do you deal with adversity, for example, when someone decides to leave your firm?
How would you say one can develop consistency in the workplace, especially when it comes to project management?
In addition to managing people, you also had more than 10 projects that you were managing this year. With so much going on, how do you decide what to work on each day?
What are some of the things you do to help motivate the people you manage, to ensure they also achieve success in their careers?
Can you share one project management lesson you have learned that you try to implement on the projects you work on?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How Your Knowledge of Past Projects Can Be Your Biggest Driver of Project Success:

TCEP 225: The Benefits of Professional Development for Civil Engineering Firms

December 7, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, I talk to BJ Kraemer, the President and CEO of MCFA, and host of the podcast Inspiring People & Places Podcast, about how he leverages his leadership abilities of the veteran community to enhance project delivery, build successful project teams, and implement professional development at his firm.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask BJ:

Why do you think it is important to train employees and to ensure they are satisfied in their jobs?
What leadership lessons have you learned in building a company (delegating, elevating, and empowering team members)?
How do you believe core values drive culture and “ideal” hires and clients?
Why would you say veterans would be a good fit for the engineering and construction industry?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Benefits of Professional Development for Civil Engineering Firms:

TCEP 222: Five Steps for Building a Strong Company Culture in Your Civil Engineering Firm

October 26, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I discuss five points you can use to build a strong company culture in your civil engineering firm.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Building a Strong Company Culture in Your Civil Engineering Firm:

TCEP 219: Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms: This Is Why You Need It

September 14, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, I talk to Michael Castro, C.DIR., ASC, MBA, the Founder and CEO of RiskAware (Cybersecurity) Inc., about the importance of cybersecurity for engineering firms and how engineers can introduce cybersecurity into their business.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

How can engineers introduce cybersecurity into their business?
How is cybersecurity affecting the engineering community specifically?
How often should businesses be reviewing their cybersecurity measures?
What are your cybersecurity metrics and how do you address/achieve them?
What are the top three simple and cost-effective things people can do right now to protect their business’ cybersecurity?
Do you have any advice for engineering managers who would like to implement cybersecurity at their firms?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms:

TCEP 218: Top 10 Career Tips from Leading Civil Engineering CEOs

August 31, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, I provide you with the top 10 takeaways and career tips from our first 10 episodes on The Civil Engineering CEO show. It is a video show that features CEOs from leading civil engineering firms, and because they shared such insightful information, we thought it would be great to recap some of those key pieces of advice and share them with you here.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are the Top 10 Career Tips from Leading Civil Engineering CEOs:

1. Always Be Thinking About How You Can Increase Your Value to Your Company

In episode number 1, I talked to Kevin L. Haney, P.E., the President and Chief Executive Officer for Colliers Engineering & Design (formerly Maser Consulting). Kevin recommended that all civil engineers should always be thinking about how they can increase their value to their company — your value is essentially all you have in your career. How valuable are you?

Here is something he said that stood out to me:

TCEP 217: What It Means to Be a City Engineer and a Public Servant

August 17, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, I talk to Kara M. Boyles, Ph.D., P.E., a registered professional engineer who became the City of South Bend’s first female city engineer in January 2017, about what it means to be a city engineer.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Kara:

Tell us about your career journey and how it has led to you becoming the first woman to serve as City Engineer for South Bend?
What are your current roles and responsibilities as the City Engineer for South Bend?
Why is this job important to you and what made you stay on the public side?
What do you find fulfilling about being the City Engineer, and about being a public servant?
Can you give us an example of what robust and well-planned infrastructure means?
What is South Bend’s desire to be “smart” and what does it mean?
What key leadership principles and core values help guide you as a leader?
Which course do you teach at ND and how does it relate to what you do as City Engineer?
How can getting an MBA help engineers in their career?
What research have you been doing around women’s career commitment?
How do you avoid burnout and keep a balance in your life?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About What It Means to Be a City Engineer:

TCEP 216: The Biggest Challenges Facing the Construction Industry Today

August 3, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, I talk with Aaron Witt and Dan Briscoe about some of the biggest challenges and mistakes construction business owners make and how you can avoid making those same mistakes.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Aaron and Dan:

Why the mission “Make the Dirt World a Better Place”? How does having a mission help your business?
How do you work together to lead the company? What about the board and the leadership team?
What are some of the biggest challenges you have experienced in the construction industry and what would you say are the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today?
What’s the biggest mistake you see small and large construction business owners making, and do you have any tips you can give the listeners for avoiding these mistakes?
What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made and lessons learned in the past four years as a startup?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Biggest Challenges Facing the Construction Industry Today:

TCEP 214: The Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2022

July 13, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, I talk to Peter Atherton, P.E., about an in-depth study we did together about the state of the industry and talent market — and how companies can compete in a fast-changing world. We also highlight some of the key findings that are in the Future of Work in Engineering and Architecture 2022 report.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions We Answer:

Why do you say that the great resignation isn’t over yet?
Why do professionals leave their employers?
What is the driver behind the stress in our organizations and why should company owners be cognizant of the shape of our firms?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed About the Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2022:

TCEP 213: Women in Engineering: One Woman’s Journey to Engineering Success

June 23, 2022 By EMI

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In this episode, and in honor of National Women in Engineering Day, I talk to Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., F. ASCE, Regional Director of Lochmueller Group, who was recently elected as the ASCE President Elect for 2023. Marsia is also the author of a book called “Cross, Yield or Burn – Navigating the Bridges of Life,” and in this episode, Marsia shares an inspiring story about her career journey leading up to her role as ASCE President and also talks about how we can promote diversity and gender equality for women in engineering.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Marsia:

How did your elevator accident change your perspective in life as well as your journey into ASCE leadership?
Did you have to develop new habits after your accident?
What is your vision and goal as leader of ASCE?
Why did you decide to write your book, “Cross, Yield or Burn – Navigating the Bridges of Life”?
What do you hope people will take away from your story and where can listeners find your book?
What can be done to promote diversity and gender equality for women in engineering?

Leadership/Management

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Raine:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About People Skills for Engineering Leaders:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Matt:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How Your Knowledge of Past Projects Can Be Your Biggest Driver of Project Success:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask BJ:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Benefits of Professional Development for Civil Engineering Firms:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Building a Strong Company Culture in Your Civil Engineering Firm:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are the Top 10 Career Tips from Leading Civil Engineering CEOs:

1. Always Be Thinking About How You Can Increase Your Value to Your Company

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Kara:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About What It Means to Be a City Engineer:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Aaron and Dan:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Biggest Challenges Facing the Construction Industry Today:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions We Answer:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed About the Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2022:

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Marsia:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Women in Engineering:

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