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

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-03-26
- Length: 52m
- Episode: 15
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/breaking-problems-down/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=0) Introduction: Kehinde (I.T.) Majolagbe and WL Gore
- [2:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=120) Growing up in Nigeria: Problem-solving through scarcity and rigorous education
- [12:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=757) Breaking down problems: The fuse example and process qualification
- [21:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=1280) Technology Pull vs. Push: Lean Startup and Stanford Biodesign
- [26:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=1604) Behavioral Economics: The Thinking Self vs. Behaving Self
- [34:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=2071) The Ping Pong Program: Building credibility and fostering 'aha' moments
- [40:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k#t=2452) Engineering Team Effectiveness: Communication, Trust, and Lattice Organization

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- WL Gore (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Stanford Biodesign (other)
- Lean Startup (other)
- The Power of Habit (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#009 - Unleashing Creativity Through User-Driven Storytelling - Sam Feller - Human-Centered Engineering, Team Management, Tracking Deliverables, Tactics for Problem Solving](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/designing-in-the-wild/2022-02-21-009-unleashing-creativity-through-user-driven-storytelling-sam-feller-human-cent) (Designing in the Wild)
- [387: Put it in Your Own Way](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-02-10-387-put-it-in-your-own-way) (Making It)
- [How Soft Skills Drive High-Impact Engineering Teams w/ Aaron Moncur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [113: I Wasn’t Expecting Therapy Today](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2024-06-27-113-i-wasnt-expecting-therapy-today) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [189: The Power of Your Team in Building Hardware Innovations](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-08-18-189-the-power-of-your-team-in-building-hardware-innovations) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-26-s2e15-breaking-problems-down-into-actionable-pieces-how-to-develop-good-habits-k. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.