Hardware Podcasts

S2E15 Breaking Problems Down Into Actionable Pieces, & How to Develop Good Habits | Kehinde (I.T.) Majolagbe

Being an Engineer · 26 Mar 2021 · 52m · Episode 15

What this episode covers

Kehinde (I.T.) Majolagbe, a New Business Development professional at WL Gore, discusses his methodical approach to problem-solving, rooted in his upbringing in Nigeria and his Chemical and Bio Molecular Engineering degree. He explains how breaking complex challenges, such as polymer processing or system integration, into smaller, actionable components enables effective design and validation. Majolagbe also shares insights from behavioral economics, detailing how habits are formed through cues, routines, and rewards, and how he leveraged a ping pong table to build team credibility and foster 'aha' moments at Gore. Finally, he outlines strategies for improving engineering team effectiveness, emphasizing communication, trust, and the importance of managing cognitive load to prevent burnout.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
WL Gore, Pipeline Design & Engineering
Also
Stanford Biodesign, Lean Startup, The Power of Habit

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Designing in the Wild · 1h 01m

    #009 - Unleashing Creativity Through User-Driven Storytelling - Sam Feller - Human-Centered Engineering, Team Management, Tracking Deliverables, Tactics for Problem Solving

    Sam Feller, a product manager at Tulip Interfaces and former program manager at Amazon, discusses his transition from mechanical engineering to systems management. He explains how shifting teams from technical task lists to user-driven storytelling and deliverable-based tracking simplifies complex engineering problems, such as runtime conflicts, into simpler user interface solutions. Feller also details his approach to managing large hardware teams by focusing on binary deliverables rather than percentage completion, and shares his background with early hardware ventures like Awkward Engineer and solar kiosks.

    Leadership, teams & cultureIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 05m

    387: Put it in Your Own Way

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's complex 3D-printed video game prop, Clagett's house radiator installation, and Picciuto's AI-generated Valentine's Day gift design. The hosts then pivot to a recurring theme of 'lessons we don't learn,' identifying personal habits like failing to put tools away, underestimating project timelines, and losing track of small items like SD cards. They brainstorm specific, physical interventions to break these habits, such as using color-coded card holders, mounting chargers to desks, and placing whiteboards in high-visibility areas. The episode highlights the friction between creative flow and necessary organizational systems in a maker's workshop.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive

    How Soft Skills Drive High-Impact Engineering Teams w/ Aaron Moncur

    Aaron Moncur, founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering, discusses how soft skills like communication and psychological safety drive high-performing engineering teams. He shares specific management strategies, such as 'managing by invitation' and removing bureaucratic barriers to accelerate engineering speed, including the strategic use of 3D printing. Moncur also highlights the evolving landscape of engineering education, promoting his platform The Wave and the PDX expo as alternatives to traditional degree requirements.

    Careers & educationLeadership, teams & culture
    6 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 50m

    113: I Wasn’t Expecting Therapy Today

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the production challenges of the Keen safety razor, specifically the assembly of tiny M1.4 screws and the surprising color preference data where orange leads black. They also reveal they have hired Jacob, a junior designer/engineer, to help scale operations, leading to a deep discussion on the psychological dynamics of receiving feedback, the importance of separating personal identity from design work, and the distinction between design as service versus art.

    Scaling productionIndustrial & consumer product design
    7 chapters

  • Product Startup · 18m

    189: The Power of Your Team in Building Hardware Innovations

    Paul McEnroe, the creator of the UPC barcode standard while at IBM, discusses the critical importance of team composition and communication in building hardware innovations. He explains how he assembled a diverse group of senior experts to develop the barcode system, emphasizing the need for complementary technical skills and a shared goal. McEnroe highlights specific leadership strategies, such as using debate skills to simplify complex technical concepts for executives and actively soliciting input from quieter team members to ensure all insights are captured.

    Leadership, teams & cultureStarting a product company
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.