"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without the work" - Emil Zola

I am back with Krista Kemper, an engineer who is challenging the misconception that creativity and technical disciplines like math and engineering are mutually exclusive. Krista shares her unique perspective on how art, design, and engineering intersect, and why the skills developed in creative pursuits are invaluable assets in STEM fields.

"There's beauty in engineering. And when this finally clicked, I was looking at...the Mona Lisa, and I started seeing lines and angles and the geometry and the math inside the Mona Lisa."

Krista Kemper is a professional engineer with a diverse background. She currently works as the Lead Mechanical Engineer at a prominent engineering firm, where she applies her technical expertise and creative problem-solving abilities to design innovative solutions. Krista's passion for blending creativity and analytics is evident in both her work and personal life, from the intricate nail art she sports at industry conferences to the finite element analysis she's conducted on acrylics.

"I love that when I don't have anything else going on, doing my nails is my creative outlet. I've got 10 little canvases."

Throughout our conversation, Krista and I explore the misconceptions around math and engineering, debunking the notion that these disciplines are purely analytical and devoid of creativity. We discuss how skills like problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and pattern recognition developed through creative hobbies can be directly applied to technical fields. Krista also shares her strategy for identifying and hiring engineers who possess a diverse skillset, highlighting the value she places on candidates with creative interests and pursuits.

"When we're interviewing engineers, when we're hiring people, if I've got two resumes that are equally qualified, the thing that'll be the deciding factor will be if they have a creative pursuit, if they're into something else."

I believe this episode is perfect for anyone who has been told that they have to choose between the "creative" and "analytical" sides of their personality. Krista's insights will inspire listeners to embrace the beautiful overlap between art and science, and to recognize the power of combining technical expertise with creative expression.

Whether you're an artist, an engineer, or simply someone seeking to cultivate a multifaceted approach to problem-solving, this conversation will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the transformative potential of blending left-brain and right-brain thinking.

To learn more about Krista Kemper, visit her website at https://kempereng.com/. Thanks again, and I love that you are here to listen to Good Life Stories.

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