S6E21 Ron Higgs | Systems Thinking, People Skills, & Executive Leadership

Being an Engineer · 23 May 2025 · 50m · Episode 21

What this episode covers

Ron Higgs, principal of Wolf Management Solutions and former Naval Flight Officer, discusses his journey from aspiring astronaut to executive coach for engineers. He emphasizes that technical proficiency is insufficient for leadership, highlighting the need for empathy, systems thinking, and the ability to simplify complex ideas for non-technical stakeholders. Higgs shares specific anecdotes about tripling a startup's valuation by identifying a new value proposition and resolving team conflicts through genuine curiosity and relationship-building.

Mentioned

Companies
Wolf Management Solutions, Commercial Laser Corporation, Simutech Group
Tools
ANSYS
Also
PDX

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