# S5E47 Ryian Williams | Finding Purpose as an Engineer, & How to Improve Faster

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2024-11-22
- Length: 55m
- Episode: 47
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster

## Summary

Ryian Williams, a Senior Engineer in Technology Transfer at Alcon, discusses his journey from Trinidad and Tobago to becoming a mechanical engineer, emphasizing that relentless persistence and hard work outweigh innate brilliance. He shares strategies for accelerating engineering progress, such as using rapid prototyping to validate concepts before committing to expensive manufacturing, and finding one's professional niche through rotational programs and informational interviews. Williams also highlights the importance of daily habits, including reading industry newsletters and personal development books like 'Crucial Conversations' and 'Failing Forward', to maintain continuous learning and combat imposter syndrome.

## Chapters

- [0:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=31) Introduction: Ryian Williams and His Background
- [2:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=176) Inspiration and Educational Journey
- [14:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=871) Persistence and Overcoming Academic Challenges
- [21:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=1267) Career Advancement Through Relentless Effort
- [31:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=1868) Daily Habits for Professional Growth
- [34:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=2053) Recommended Books for Engineers
- [40:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=2403) Complex Projects and Building Confidence
- [45:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-11-22-s5e47-ryian-williams-finding-purpose-as-an-engineer-how-to-improve-faster#t=2700) Finding Your Niche and Accelerating Engineering

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Alcon (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Creo (tool)
- Think and Grow Rich (other)
- Crucial Conversations (other)
- Failing Forward (other)
- The Culture Code (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [001 - “Learning Never Exhausts the Mind” with Rick Doe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-10-06-001-learning-never-exhausts-the-mind-with-rick-doe) (Let's Combinate)
- [374: Tiny Forks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-10-21-374-tiny-forks) (Making It)
- [Episode 290: What’s important is that you made something.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-01-08-episode-290-whats-important-is-that-you-made-something) (Making It)
- [452: I Wish I’d Thought of That](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-08-23-452-i-wish-id-thought-of-that) (Making It)
- [Episode 274: Fold time back on itself](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-08-28-episode-274-fold-time-back-on-itself) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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