In this episode of Womanufacturing, we sit down with John Webster, an old colleague, former intern, and now seasoned startup engineer, to talk about what it really means to grow up in a startup world.

John shares his journey from graduating during COVID, moving countries for an internship, and being thrown into high-pressure manufacturing environments where learning happened fast, documentation was optional, and teamwork was everything. Together, we talk candidly about internships that actually teach you something, sink-or-swim startup culture, mentorship done right (and wrong), and how asking the right questions can change the trajectory of your career.

We also dig into:

• Why internships are one of the most underrated career tools

• The realities of working at startups vs large companies

• How culture shifts as organizations scale

• What it’s like to go from mentee to mentor

• Staying mission-driven in clean tech and manufacturing

• And why “figuring it out together” matters more than having all the answers

This conversation is honest, funny, and deeply relatable for anyone early in their career, mentoring young engineers, or navigating the chaos of fast-growing companies.

If you’ve ever learned the hard way, grown through pressure, or bonded over keeping equipment alive, this one’s for you.