Engineering Management Institute

UPCOMING WEBINAR

Why Engineers Make Great CEOs

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Why Engineers Make Great CEOs is a guest blog by Thomas Anderson, P.E.

CEOsEngineering is the most common undergraduate degree of the Fortune 500 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). It has been for some time. Approximately one third of CEOs majored in engineering and only 11% graduated from business school. The Harvard Business Review has a list of the 100 best-performing CEOs on the planet.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos topped the list. Bezos earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science and electrical engineering from Princeton University. Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella is an engineer. General Motors’ Mary Barra as well. Carlos Ghosn of Nissan and Dennis Muilenburg of Boeing also have engineering backgrounds. Ursula Burns, the CEO and chairman of Xerox Corporation started her career as an engineering intern. In fact, 24 of the top 100 CEO’s have a Bachelors or Master’s degree in engineering.

Engineers are a little bit different. Sometimes introverted and always good at the math, they build and fix things; complex things. They have a unique ways of looking at the world. The qualities below make engineers exceptionally good at leading companies.

CEOs

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TECC 181: One Engineer’s Plan for Recovering from Burnout

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BurnoutIn this episode, I provide coaching and guidance to an engineer who is totally burnt out in his career.  By the end of this episode, he is inspired and has a plan to change his career for the better. He then also adds a twist to this episode and starts asking me some career-related questions on the decisions I made in my career.

Engineering Quotes:

Burnout

burnout

Here are the key points discussed on recovering from burnout:

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TCEP 090: LGBTQ Inclusion in Engineering…When We Embrace Diversity, We All Win

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Embrace Diversity

In episode 90 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Joseph Barker, PE, PTOE, a licensed Professional Engineer and Traffic Operations Engineer from Stantec. We discuss the topic of diversity and why firms should embrace diversity for engineers which provides inspiration and typically leads to them being happier and more productive in their careers.

Here are some of the questions I asked Joseph Barker, PE, PTOE:

  • What was it like entering the Civil Engineering workforce as a gay man?
  • How did hiding your being gay affect your daily mindset?
  • Would you say that this experience you went through, hiding who you really are, made you stronger today?
  • Tell us about the move you made to Stantec, and how that impacted your mindset and career overall?
  • Have you ever thought of relocating to a geographical location that is more accepting of gay people?

Engineering Quotes:

Embrace Diversity

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

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TCEP 089: Why Civil Engineering CEOs Need to Focus on People with Nick DeNichilo

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In episode 89 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Nicholas (Nick) DeNichilo P.E., President and CEO of Mott MacDonald North America. Our conversation focused mostly on why civil engineering CEOs need to focus on people and the effect that doing so can have on you in your career and life.

Here are some of the questions I ask Nick about his journey and his work as CEO:

  • How did you decide that you wanted to go into engineering?
  • What are some of the things that civil engineers can do in preparation to become a CEO of a civil engineering firm?
  • How big is the Mott Macdonald “family”?
  • What is the hardest part of being a CEO?
  • How do you decide what work you should focus on each day?
  • As a CEO of a company, how do you maintain a work-life balance?

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineering CEOs

Civil Engineering CEOs

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

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What Engineers Should Look for When Choosing Career Mentors

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This is a guest post by Carol Evenson
Career Mentors

If you are one of almost 2 million engineers in the United States looking for a mentor, then you have made a smart career decision. Studies show receiving mentoring from the right career mentor can make a measurable difference. So, what should you look for in career mentors? Here’s some suggestions.

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TECC 178: Becoming a Key Person of Influence as an Engineering Professional

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InfluenceIn this episode, I talk with Daniel Priestley, co-founder of Dent and author of the book “Key Person of Influence. Daniel provides us with a 5-step formula that you can use to become a key person of influence in your industry.

Engineering Quotes:

Influence

Here are 5 ways that you can become a key person of influence:

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TECC 176: How to Evaluate Which Professional Certificates Can Boost Your Career

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Professional Certificates
In this episode, I talk with Andrew Hoover of UW Continuum College about how to evaluate which professional certificates can boost your career. Andrew has a lot of experience in education, especially learning and gives some very insightful advice which can help you identify the credentials that can boost your engineering career.

Engineering Quotes:

Professional Certificates

Professional Certificates

Here are some of the key points discussed in this episode in regard to professional certificates:

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TECC 171: How to Improve Communication Skills and Deal with Being Labeled as Overqualified

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Communication

In this episode, I answer some questions from our listeners and subscribers about building communication skills, improving public speaking, and strategies for overcoming being overqualified for a position you want.

Engineering Quotes:

Communication

Communication

Here is the summary of the questions and answers discussed on how to improve communication skills and deal with being labeled as overqualified:

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How Learning Can Help Engineers to Eliminate Insecurities

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How Learning Can Help Engineers to Eliminate Insecurities
is a guest post by Tiffany Rowe

Eliminate Insecurities

The prototypical engineer is analytical, logical, accurate, communicative, creative, and, most importantly, confident. However, that’s not to say that a person must be confident to become an engineer. In fact, many of the traits seemingly intrinsic in engineering students are actually acquired during the course of their educations – confidence included. Several studies have found that education is imperative for bolstering self-esteem and to eliminate insecurities.

Here are a few ways education has been shown to eliminate insecurities and build confidence in students – especially engineering students:

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Don’t Ignore Opportunities to Celebrate Engineering

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Don’t Ignore Opportunities to Celebrate Engineering is a guest post by
Shoots Veis, P.E.

Ignore OpportunitiesIt was Engineers Week and I attended a nice banquet to celebrate.  The evening commenced with drinks and socializing among local engineers and their guests, followed by a decent dinner.  The program began mid-meal, with the emcees telling jokes and getting the proceedings underway.  First up, scholarships were given to local high school seniors intending to study engineering.  The outreach events from the past year were then highlighted and a new batch of Professional Engineers were given plaques after reciting the Engineers’ Creed.  A heartfelt moment was shared when a new member of the Engineering Hall of Fame was introduced and reflected on his career.

The evening went along fruitfully until the Project of the Year awards.  All the goodwill and energy in the room built up over the evening was quickly drained from the room with back-to-back dreadful speeches by engineers receiving Project of the Year awards.  It was like an iron curtain dropped to halt all of the evening’s enjoyment.  The first engineer/speaker received the small project award. He was unprepared to speak about the project, rambled off subject, and could not make himself heard. It was dreadful.

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