# S2E50 Soft Skills, Stinky Feet, and Being An Ambivert | Dave Smith

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-11-26
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 50
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/dave-smith-soft-skills/

## Summary

Dave Smith, VP of Engineering at eVisit and co-host of the Soft Skills Engineering podcast, discusses the critical importance of non-technical skills for software engineers. He shares his journey from a reluctant student to a director-level engineer at companies like Amazon and Walmart, and explains how he and co-host Jamison Dance started their podcast to address the 'soft skills' gap in the industry. Smith emphasizes that effective communication, handling feedback, and understanding personality types like introversion are essential for career growth and leadership.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=0) Introduction and Dave Smith's Background
- [4:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=284) Career Path and Coding Boot Camps
- [14:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=845) Origin of the Soft Skills Engineering Podcast
- [16:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=1005) Defining Soft Skills and Common Questions
- [22:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=1362) The Importance of Soft Skills for Engineers
- [28:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=1736) Handling Feedback and Improving Soft Skills
- [33:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith#t=2029) Advice for Introverts and Ambiverts

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Soft Skills Engineering Podcast (product)
- eVisit (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Lockheed Martin (company)
- JavaScript Jabber (product)
- TI-82 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [188: Twitter Is a Cocktail Party](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-23-188-twitter-is-a-cocktail-party) (Embedded.fm)
- [300: Introverts Disperse!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-08-22-300-introverts-disperse) (Embedded.fm)
- [AI Discourse with Steve Klabnik](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-06-05-ai-discourse-with-steve-klabnik) (Oxide and Friends)
- [300! 6 years later, Adam and Ted record together from Ted's studio in NJ](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-01-01-300-6-years-later-adam-and-ted-record-together-from-teds-studio-in-nj) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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