Mastering Engineering Leadership

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Whitney Gaskins. The Associate Dean of Professional Development and Community Impact at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Whitney grew up in rural Ohio, influenced by her parents—teachers of art and physics—who nurtured both her creativity and analytical thinking. Initially aiming for medicine, a shop class and a Time magazine article introduced her to biomedical engineering, which she pursued through a bachelor's, master's in quantitative analysis, and a PhD. Along the way, her curiosity led her to study stress in engineering students and eventually launch a career in academia.

In our leadership segment, Whitney discusses how she led the creation of two departments from the ground up at the University of Cincinnati, including one focused on engineering education and another on professional development and community impact. She shared how visionary leadership, paired with clear communication and strategic stakeholder engagement, enabled her to transform abstract ideas into thriving programs.

Whitney encourages engineers to pursue leadership not just for career growth but to become more impactful problem-solvers. She advises aspiring leaders to become deeply self-aware, get to know others' preferences, listen before speaking, and embrace the discomfort of new beginnings as part of the growth journey.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Robert Wagner, the associate laboratory director for the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this role, he leads more than 550 researchers and operations staff focused on developing advanced technology solutions in manufacturing, buildings, transportation, and electrical grid infrastructure.

Robert’s path into engineering was shaped by a love for math and physics and inspired by his older brothers who also studied engineering, . After a transformative internship at Oak Ridge National Lab, he pursued graduate school and eventually rose from postdoc to Associate Lab Director, guided by strong mentorship and a commitment to technical excellence.

In our leadership segment, Robert shares how he embraced leadership roles, despite being introverted, after encouragement from mentors. A key challenge was navigating stakeholder alignment across a nine-lab, $125M+ national consortium, which he solved through collaborative planning, transparency, and trust-building.

In our advice segment, Robert emphasizes not rushing into leadership, encouraging engineers to first build a solid technical foundation. He advocates for servant leadership, visible engagement, and understanding that leadership is about influence—not just managing people.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Danielle Castley,  founder of Becq, a radiation shielding and materials engineering company, and the president of Container Technologies Industries, a steel fabricator specializing in radioactive waste containers. 

Danielle’s path to engineering was influenced by a love for puzzles and math and strong encouragement from her parents. After completing her bachelor's and master’s at Drexel University—where she gained industry experience through co-ops in defense and robotics—she shifted into nuclear engineering. Unfulfilled by defense work, she pursued her passion for clean energy, eventually landing at Holtec International before returning to school for a PhD focused on radiation shielding.

Danielle’s leadership challenge centered on managing “brilliant jerks”—high-performing but difficult team members. She shared her journey of learning to balance patience and accountability, highlighting strategies like one-on-one meetings to gain buy-in and using process improvements to reveal true performance gaps. Ultimately, she emphasized the importance of aligning technical excellence with team values and culture.

Her advice to aspiring engineering leaders: Cultivate discipline and systems in your 20s, read extensively, and build self-awareness through prayer, reflection, and thoughtful decision-making. She encourages leaders to develop a clear vision, make smart decisions quickly, and empower teams through effective communication and servant leadership.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Sarah Jordan, co-founder and CEO of Skuld, a company focused on the new additive manufacturing evaporative casting and other manufacturing innovations.  

Sarah’s path into engineering was inspired by her father, an engineer, which led her to pursue ceramics engineering before switching to metallurgy. Her career spans industrial manufacturing, quality systems, and entrepreneurship, with continuing education including an MBA and a return to her PhD program while running her startup, Skuld.

In our leadership segment, Sarah shared her experience of introducing a new technology to a well-established industry. She emphasized the importance of persistence, adjusting messaging to align with customer priorities, and building industry trust through repeated engagements at trade shows and on LinkedIn.

Sarah’s advice to engineers pursuing leadership stressed the importance of communication. She recommended Toastmasters, improv, and theater as tools for building verbal confidence and emphasized that strong writing—particularly for grants and proposals—is just as critical.

Her core message: communicate clearly, focus on your audience, and don’t let fear of rejection hold you back.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with J.R. Simmons, a flight director and civilian with the United States Air Force. 

J.R.’s path to engineering was unconventional—starting as a janitor before pursuing computer science based on his father’s research. He bounced between roles in private defense contracting and eventually moved into a stable government position, where he advanced from hands-on computer science roles into leadership, discovering a love for working with people along the way.

In our leadership segment, J.R. discusses how, as a newly appointed flight director over a struggling team, he initially took on too much himself, driven by a strong desire to fix problems. Over time, he realized the need to step back, empower his project directors, and listen more strategically—both to his team and the customer— to ensure success.

J.R. offers a wide range of advice to aspiring leaders: start planning for leadership early, pursue additional education, learn human-centered design, and develop soft skills like giving feedback and managing conflict. He also emphasizes the importance of delegation, strategic thinking, time management, and always remembering that employees are people, not just resources.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Shuchi, “SK” Khurana, CEO and President of Addiguru,  which focuses on real-time monitoring solutions for additive manufacturing.

SK’s journey into engineering was inspired by his father, an engineer, and his passion for math and physics. Growing up in India, he pursued material science at a top engineering school before moving to the U.S. for graduate studies at Ohio State University. After gaining industry experience in research and product management, SK transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding multiple startups, including his current venture, Adiguru.

In our leadership segment, SK shared insights into managing underperforming team members through two case studies. In both instances, he emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes of performance issues, providing structure and support, and investing time in mentorship. His approach led to significant improvements in productivity, demonstrating the value of patience and personalized guidance in leadership.

SK advises engineers aiming for leadership roles to carefully consider the responsibilities and challenges of management. He highlighted the importance of mentorship—both giving and receiving—and recommended taking time to develop leadership skills rather than rushing into managerial positions. His parting advice was to maintain honesty and authenticity, build relationships, and continuously seek learning opportunities.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Philip Stucky,  CEO of FC Renew, which is focused on research, development, and commercialization of extended-life hydrogen fuel cells and recovery of precious metals and critical materials for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers.

Philip shares his journey from a curious student to a leader in hydrogen fuel cell innovation. His passion for renewable energy was sparked during a study abroad trip to Iceland, leading him to pursue advanced degrees and a role at the U.S. Patent Office, where he honed his analytical skills.

In the leadership segment, Philip discusses the challenges of transitioning from researcher to CEO, emphasizing the importance of decision-making amid uncertainty and the need to balance technical and business aspects. 

He credits mentorship as a pivotal influence on his growth and advises aspiring leaders to seek out mentors, embrace continuous learning, and make informed decisions quickly to drive progress.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

Be honest: When you see a staff meeting on your calendar, do you get excited, or do you brace yourself for another round of mind-numbing status updates?

Don't worry, I already know the answer.

Too many staff meetings feel like time drains instead of leadership tools. But what if your meetings actually inspired your team, sharpened decision-making, and even helped develop future leaders?

That's where the 5D method comes in, a simple but powerful way to turn your staff meetings into conversations that people actually want to be a part of.

In today's edition of the Mastering Engineering Leadership Tools and Tips series, I'm going to break down the five key presentations that will make your staff meetings more strategic, engaging, and worth every minute.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Alan Grissom, Civil Divison Leader at Cannon & Cannon.

Alan shares his journey into engineering, discussing howhe chose civil engineering for its people-oriented nature. Alan reflects on his career growth, the importance of education, and the skills necessary for effective communication and leadership in engineering.

In our leadership segment, Alan highlights his experience leading large projects and how they differ from smaller ones. He emphasizes teamwork and project management. He also discusses how even though he enjoyed the pressure of working on such a high-profile project, not everyone on the team does and how, as a leader, he needs to learn and accommodate the workstyles of the team to ensure that everyone thrives.

Alan concluded with his advice on essential leadership skills for engineers, including emotional intelligence and focusing on your strengths.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/

In this episode, I speak with Amy Kurr, a PhD candidate in Energy Science Engineering at the University of Tennessee, co-founder of CWRU Lift, a community for competitive weight lifters at Case Western Reserve University, and founder of Grad Society of Women Engineers at the University of Tennessee.

Amy discusses her engineering journey and how, through initiative and persistence, she has been able to create her dream graduate experience.

In the leadership segment, Amy talks about how an unexpected medical issue inspired her to create a weightlifting community to help her get back into a sport she loves. Through dedication and delegation, she was able to help the program get off the ground, even though she transferred soon after its launch.

Finally, Amy shares her advice on how small, consistent actions can result in achieving big goals.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/