# S2E32 An Engineer Who Sold His Engineering Podcast | Filip Valica

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-07-23
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 32
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/engineering-podcast-filip-valica/

## Summary

Filip Valica, a Product Line Manager at Forum Subsea and former co-host of The Product Startup podcast, discusses his transition from engineering to management and the sale of his podcast to Kevin from Mega Design. He shares insights on validating product ideas by asking 'why' to uncover root customer needs, warning against building solutions for non-existent problems. Valica also advises engineers on career growth, explaining how becoming an indispensable 'fixer' can create a ceiling for those seeking management roles, and emphasizes the importance of broad, cross-functional knowledge over deep specialization for generalists.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=0) Introduction and Podcast Sale
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=414) The Role of Product Line Manager
- [10:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=617) Generalist vs. Specialist Career Paths
- [16:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=970) Avoiding Derailment in Product Development
- [24:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=1444) Trends from The Product Startup Podcast
- [28:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=1695) Hiring for Attitude and Openness
- [36:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-23-s2e32-an-engineer-who-sold-his-engineering-podcast-filip-valica#t=2202) The 'Fixer' Trap and Career Ceiling

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- The Product Startup podcast (other)
- Mega Design (company)
- Forum Subsea (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Shark Tank (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Pilot: Unveiling the Blueprint of "The Builder Circle"](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-13-the-pilot-unveiling-the-blueprint-of-the-builder-circle) (The Builder Circle)
- [How to Start a Successful Industrial Podcast with EECO's Chris Grainger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-02-02-how-to-start-a-successful-industrial-podcast-with-eecos-chris-grainger) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [What it Means to be a Product Manager in IoT | Daniel Elizalde, IoT Product Consultant | #AskIoT E004](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-02-11-what-it-means-to-be-a-product-manager-in-iot-daniel-elizalde-iot-product-consult) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Ep. 8 - Ryan from V1 Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-11-09-ep-8-ryan-from-v1-engineering) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [#001 - Introduction to the podcast, with your host, Balint Horvath, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2016-12-08-001-introduction-to-the-podcast-with-your-host-balint-horvath-switzerland) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## Citing this page

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