Engineering Pack Pod

José Urbina shares his journey of adjusting to a new country, a new marriage, and a demanding PhD. What began as a clear plan quickly became overwhelming, but through support, resilience, and persistence, he learned to adapt and grow in ways he never expected.

Credits:

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

In this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, executive advisor and author David Bates shares what leadership really feels like behind the scenes; the pressure, loneliness, burnout, and responsibility that come with leading people and organizations. Drawing from over 30 years of executive experience, David explores curiosity, trust, perfectionism, and the importance of building leadership that lasts without losing yourself in the process. 

Credits:

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

In this episode of Tiny Wins, Anna Bona shares her journey through the challenges of PhD life, including burnout, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed by research. What started as a simple decision to attend a gym class became a turning point,  helping her break out of constant stress, improve her mental health, and become more productive. Anna reminds us that sometimes the smallest step can create the biggest shift.

Credits:

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

In this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, Dr. Will Kirschenman breaks down artificial intelligence in a practical and accessible way. From chatbots like ChatGPT to the emerging world of agentic AI, he explains how these tools are transforming research, productivity, and decision-making.

He also shares insights on ethical use, building trust with AI systems, and why curiosity is essential in navigating this rapidly evolving space.

Credits:

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

Catch us this week for another episode of Tiny Wins, discussing real grad school challenges that sometimes appear invisible from the outside. We are joined by current first-year PhD student, Allison File, as she shares her Win of adapting quickly to the changes of starting a new program on a new campus. Allison joined a well-established research group in Mechanical Engineering here at NC State, and attributes her seamless transition to a few "simple" tricks: asking for help, acting intentionally, and valuing progress over perfection! She also discusses how a community of other first-year students helped to normalize feelings of "imposter phenomenon."

Credits:

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

On this episode of Engineering Pack Pod, Marcy is joined by long-time friend and colleague–Dr Maria Reyes–to discuss living life true to your values. Once a postdoctoral scientific researcher and currently a stay-at-home mom, Maria shares her dedication to creating an identity apart from science, yet authentic to her truest desires.

Holding a PhD in Biochemistry from NC State, Maria is steadfast on her journey of courage, brilliance, and humanitarian impact. She shares both the difficulty and the importance of being honest with yourself, acknowledging when your priorities have shifted, and preparing to face the outside noise. Listen up & learn what it takes to sign your own permission slip for a drastic change of course.

In this episode of Tiny Wins, first year Electrical Engineering PhD student (and current Smooth Sailing participant) Lisa Sebastian is on the mic! Lisa shares all the juicy details about the reality of a first-semester grad student, including navigating the transition from a smaller undergrad program to the hustle and bustle of NC State. Lisa's story and tips highlight the importance of establishing a routine, building new connections, and overcoming perfectionism as the first steps to a win in your new environment!

In this episode, Maria Crockett shares how building authentic relationships can shape your career path and open doors to new opportunities.

From transitioning out of higher education to leading early career talent at SAS, Maria highlights the importance of using your strengths, leveraging campus resources, and gaining real-world experience. She also breaks down how students can stand out, build confidence, and navigate the human side of their academic journey.

--Links--

• Kelly Rownd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cCYsuWKdR8

• Accelerate to Industry (A2I): https://grad.ncsu.edu/professional-development/careers-outside-of-academia/a2i/

• Clifton Strengths for NCSU Students: https://newstudents.dasa.ncsu.edu/common-experience/

• Career Development Center: https://careers.dasa.ncsu.edu/
  

In this Tiny Wins episode, Farsia Chowdhury shares her journey from Bangladesh to NC State and the challenges of adjusting to life as an international PhD student.

From navigating independence for the first time to overcoming homesickness, Farsia reflects on how small wins—like building community through Smooth Sailing and completing her first journal paper—helped her regain confidence and momentum.

Her story is a powerful reminder that growth often comes through discomfort, and sometimes the biggest win is realizing you are stronger than you thought.

This week, Dr Jackie Olich offers insights on how engineers and scientists can translate technical brilliance into real-world impact through self-awareness, storytelling, and purpose. Jackie is multitalented and shares unique perspectives from the intersection of being an entrepreneur, author, speaker, educator, and administrator.