We are joined this week by Ed Summers (and his seeing-eye dog, Loki) for his perspective on accessibility in tech. Ed progressively lost his sense of sight as an undergraduate computer science student, but he didn't let functional blindness diminish the vision he had for his future. Previously a software development manager and accessibility director at SAS, and now the Head of Accessibility at GitHub, Ed shares the impact of continual growth in accessibility from a tech-based perspective, both as a developer and as a user. He explains why, for organizations like GitHub, accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and is no longer optional. As a consumer, Ed speaks on inclusively-designed technology features that can and do provide benefit to folks of ALL abilities, but more fundamentally allow those with specific disabilities to engage in their passions without any barriers.

Check out Ed (and Loki) on Instagram and TikTok!

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Get ready for NC State's upcoming Fall Engineering Career Fair with your coach, Todd Hay. Todd is a seasoned professional engineer with over 30 years in the game, and in this episode, you will find his playbook to success in an engineering career. A resource for all aspiring AND early-career engineers, Todd offers his senior leadership perspective on what really matters, what can help you stand out and get ahead, and why first impressions still matter in the current workforce.

Find more information about the upcoming Engineering Career Fair HERE

Check out Wolfpack Styled Professional Clothing Closet

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Angela Martin is back again, this time to share more about the ideas presented in her book, Building Your Creative Foundation (This is Not a Dream: From Daydream to Day Job) https://a.co/d/0b4Pgs6A.

Angela explains how developing your career in a fulfilling way is a personal balancing act of passion, talent, impact, and compensation. She also discusses why "do what you love" may not always be the best job-seeking advice, but it might help you supplement when your day job doesn't cover all the bases. Tune-in to learn the powerful impact of strategies like "W.O.O.P.", mental contrasting, and "if-then" thinking!

*Editor's Note: A slight microphone quality issue has been identified in this episode and has been resolved for future episodes.

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Tap into your creative mind as Angela Martin takes us to the frontier of diversely accessible technology. A relatively new field with a wide open door of opportunity, User Experience (UX) Design stands as a unique career blending creativity, tech, and human-centered impact. Angela's impressive credentials (author, UX Designer at Lenovo, and more) qualify her to enlighten us on the many ways accessibility and inclusion continue to inform some of our favorite tech features. Join us this week and next for a two-part discussion of how a creative, fulfilling career may be more attainable than you thought.

Check back here for future hiring updates on the LUXE Internship Program: https://jobs.lenovo.com/en_US/careers

Link to WebAim.org–Explore Resources for Web Accessibility

https://webaim.org/resources/

*Editor's Note: A slight microphone quality issue has been identified in this episode and has been resolved for future episodes

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We hear you, Wolfpack...the current job market for new grads is not for the faint of heart. This week, Sara Concini (of NCSU ECE Graduate and Career Services & Corporate Relations) sits down to talk about the hidden tool not many job seekers consider–Empathy. This episode offers a multi-perspective insight into the job search, highlighting empathy as the applicant's main tool for maintaining both professionalism and personal well-being. Stick around to the end for two key actions you could do this week to help you through this difficult market.

Links:

NCSU Career Development Center

The Graduate School–Career Readiness

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Jenny Hofler, a talent acquisition leader with more than a decade of recruiting experience, shares what really separates successful candidates from the rest. From building a strong LinkedIn profile and networking with purpose to acing interviews and overcoming imposter syndrome, Jenny offers practical advice for students preparing to launch their careers. She also discusses resume mistakes, workplace etiquette, and why curiosity, preparation, and authenticity can open doors long after graduation.

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Olivia Holbrook, an NC State environmental engineering alum and graduate student in Ocean and Resource Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, shares her unconventional path from graduation to graduate school. She reflects on taking time to discover what truly interested her, working in the service industry, overcoming imposter syndrome, and building confidence by trusting her instincts. Olivia also discusses her research designing low-cost ocean instruments that make scientific research more accessible while encouraging students to embrace uncertainty and recognize that growth rarely follows a straight line.

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dan Black, Global Talent Strategy Leader at EY, shares why the best careers aren't built by following a perfect plan. They're built through curiosity, adaptability, and staying true to your values. Drawing on more than 30 years at EY, Dan discusses career agility, communication, emotional intelligence, and why finding the right cultural fit matters more than chasing the perfect job.

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Industrial-organizational psychologist Dr. Wanda Pemberton joins Engineering Pack Pod to share practical strategies for building confidence, increasing visibility, and navigating change in the workplace. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in STEM environments, she discusses how to recognize and use your strengths, seek meaningful feedback, communicate with intention, and determine whether you are being celebrated or merely tolerated at work. Dr. Pemberton also explores burnout, the importance of rest, career transitions, and why growth is a process—and you are already enough.

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abraham Michel shares how leaving home, starting a Ph.D., and navigating the unknown left him feeling overwhelmed and isolated. By reaching out to advisors, connecting with peers, and treating graduate school like a marathon instead of a sprint, he discovered that asking for support is one of the most powerful steps toward building confidence.

Credits:

"Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/