Engineering Management Institute

Leadership/Management

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

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past projectsIn 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:

past projects

past projects

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:                                        

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

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Professional Development

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:

Professional Development

Professional Development

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:

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

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strong company cultureIn 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:

strong company culture


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

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

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Cybersecurity for Engineering FirmsIn 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:

Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms

Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms

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: 

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

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career tipsIn 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:

career tips

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:

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

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City EngineerIn 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:

City Engineer

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:

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TCEP 216: The Biggest Challenges Facing the Construction Industry Today

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Biggest ChallengesIn 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:

Biggest Challenges

Biggest Challenges

Biggest Challenges

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:

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

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Future of WorkIn 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:

Future of Work

Future of Work

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:

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

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Women in EngineeringIn 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:

Women in Engineering

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?

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

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TCEP 197: The Latest Surveying Trends That Civil Engineers Should Be Aware Of

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surveyingIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Joey C Wilson II, PE, RLS, President and CEO at Wilson & Associates about the relationship between civil engineering and surveying and discuss some of the latest surveying trends out there, like enhanced drones, LIDAR, and Visual Design Construction (VDC).

Engineering Quotes:

surveying

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Joey:

  1. How did you get involved in the company, and ended up where you are today?
  2. What is the relationship between civil engineering and surveying?
  3. Why is surveying so incredibly important when it comes to the inspection of high-risk areas?
  4. How has the drone industry helped civil engineers to complete their work more accurately?
  5. How important are good ground control points?
  6. What is VDC (visual design and construction)?
  7. What is LIDAR in construction?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About The Latest Surveying Trends:

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