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

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-05-23
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 21
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=0) Introduction: Ron Higgs and Wolf Management Solutions
- [2:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=127) From Naval Flight Officer to Executive Coach
- [15:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=903) Developing People Skills and Empathy
- [25:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=1513) Simplifying Complex Ideas for Stakeholders
- [28:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=1680) Tripling Valuation at Commercial Laser Corporation
- [31:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=1905) Systems Thinking and Mission Alignment
- [36:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=2199) Assessing Executive Team Alignment and Culture
- [39:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=2381) Leadership Challenges: Empathy and Process Fixes
- [44:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership#t=2649) Advice for Engineers Transitioning to Leadership

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Wolf Management Solutions (company)
- Commercial Laser Corporation (company)
- PDX (other)
- Simutech Group (company)
- ANSYS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [21: The Tent Is Flat and Everyone Is Wet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet) (Embedded.fm)
- [Moonshot Engineering Projects: Getting Innovative Initiatives Off the Ground](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-05-25-moonshot-engineering-projects-getting-innovative-initiatives-off-the-ground) (Over the Air)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL Season #1 Episode #4 with Audrey McGuckin, Leadership Guru](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2020-09-02-ems-c-level-season-1-episode-4-with-audrey-mcguckin-leadership-guru) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [180 - MIT Leadership Expert Reveals Management Secrets for Scientists!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-03-19-180-mit-leadership-expert-reveals-management-secrets-for-scientists) (Let's Combinate)
- [Let the Experts Be the Experts: Leading Without Every Answer w/ Amy Mercante](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-10-13-let-the-experts-be-the-experts-leading-without-every-answer-w-amy-mercante) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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