In this episode of NeuroConversant Leadership, Jeremy Doran speaks with Suraj Ethirajan, founder of GroUNow, about the challenges engineers face in becoming effective leaders. They discuss the importance of psychological safety, the need for emotional intelligence, and the balance between individualism and community in leadership. Suraj shares personal stories of resilience and emphasizes the significance of problem definition and collaboration in achieving success. The conversation concludes with practical communication tips for leaders.

Learn more about Suraj at https://www.linkedin.com/in/surajethirajan/

or at www.GroUNow.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership in STEM

01:15 Overcoming Barriers to Leadership

05:36 The Importance of Collaboration

10:05 Understanding Emotions in Leadership

11:28 Individualism vs. Community

13:56 Accountability and Assertiveness

19:13 Resilience Through Adversity

25:23 Defining Boundaries for Success

26:28 The difference between a Superhero and a Supervillain

27:37 Final Thoughts and Communication Tips

31:55 Outro 3-20-24.mp4

Takeaways

Engineers often focus too much on technology and not enough on human connection.

Building trust is essential for effective communication in leadership.

Defining the problem is crucial before rushing to solutions.

Collaboration is key; going far requires working with others.

Understanding emotions can enhance leadership effectiveness.

Individual growth is important, but so is contributing to the community.

Accountability in leadership means recognizing one's role in outcomes.

Assertiveness involves balancing respect for oneself and others.

Resilience is built through overcoming adversity and self-reflection.

Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining healthy relationships in leadership.