Hardware Podcasts

21: The Tent Is Flat and Everyone Is Wet

Embedded.fm · 2 Oct 2013 · 43m

What this episode covers

Rob Mitchell, recently transitioned from systems engineering to management at Lightro, discusses his unconventional career path from technician to manager at companies like LeapFrog, Palm, and Validus. He details the challenges of writing performance reviews for senior engineers and the difficulty of shifting from peer to boss, particularly with former colleagues like Phil King. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of product management, hard deadlines in consumer hardware, and leveraging professional networks over formal degrees for career advancement.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Lightro, LeapFrog, Palm, Validus, Shotspotter, HP

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 39m

    How Being Strategic During A Career Transition Can Yield The Best Opportunities

    Aaron Moncur, owner of Pipeline Design & Engineering, joins host John Spear to discuss his transition from employee to entrepreneur after being laid off in 2009. Moncur explains how he narrowed his firm's focus to custom test fixtures and automated equipment for medical device companies, citing a client's improvement in Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) first-pass success rates from 50% to nearly 100% as a key value proposition. The conversation covers the psychological aspects of career changes, the importance of mentorship through organizations like Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), and the technical challenges of delivering complex engineering projects on tight schedules.

    Careers & educationDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    5 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 50m

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

    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.

    Careers & educationLeadership, teams & culture
    9 chapters

  • Let's Combinate · 1h 29m

    001 - “Learning Never Exhausts the Mind” with Rick Doe

    Rick Doe, a biomedical engineer with a career spanning large medical device companies, discusses his journey from poverty to leading roles in manufacturing and operations. He details his strategy for career development, emphasizing the use of rotational programs to gain perspective and the importance of aligning personal growth with professional choices. Doe shares advice on navigating corporate structures, managing passion ebbs and flows, and the critical role of mentorship in building a successful engineering career.

    Careers & educationLeadership, teams & culture
    13 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 48m

    S2E31 How to Lead Engineers & Engineering Managers – Chris McKenzie

    Chris McKenzie, a mechanical engineer with a career in medical devices including roles at Richard Allen Medical and Eli Lilly, discusses leading engineering teams and managing product development. He contrasts early automotive manufacturing with modern medical device rigor, highlighting the transition from 2D drawings to 3D modeling using Pro/ENGINEER and SolidWorks. McKenzie emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, PMP-structured project management, and mentoring engineers through questions like 'What do you think?' to foster engagement and solve complex electromechanical challenges.

    Careers & educationLeadership, teams & culture
    9 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 49m

    S5E49 John Rogers & Sean Maciag | A Career Worth Engineering – From Graduation to Professional

    John Rogers and Sean Maciag, authors of 'A Career Worth Engineering,' discuss the transition from student to professional engineer, emphasizing the importance of quantifying resume achievements and understanding business profitability. They address the gap between academic theory and practical manufacturing constraints, advising graduates to gain hands-on experience through student design teams and to manage imposter syndrome by distinguishing between lack of effort and lack of confidence. The guests share strategies for career acceleration, such as becoming a 'low-risk option' for employers through reliability and continuous learning, while navigating career plateaus and potential discipline changes.

    Careers & educationHiring & workforce
    9 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Embedded.fm. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.