The Art of Engineering

In this episode, Denise McIntosh talks with Maryam Shahrokni Cragg, M.A.Sc. P.Eng., Lead Mechanical Engineer at Fluor Corporation. They discuss how Maryam’s family immigrated from Iran to Canada, and her love of engineering from a young age. We also learn how she was able to apply her love of learning and unwavering drive to achieve many degrees, including one in biomechanical engineering. Maryam shares her love for her home country and her infectious optimism for the future.

Recorded live at the ISPE Midwest Chapter’s Women in Pharma Leadership Workshop, Denise McIntosh is joined by Camille Fittell, Global Process Engineer at Zoetis, Richalle Ritts, Director of Engineering Midwest at IPS, Shannon Goodson, Validation Engineering Manager at MilliporeSigma, and Krishna Bell, Regional Sales Manager at L.B. Bohle USA. They discuss the moments that defined their career, finding mentors and sponsors that helped them grow, and how to maintain boundaries and a comfortable work/life balance.

In this special episode, we remember the life of Wally Funk, who passed away July 8th, 2026, at 87.

When she was 21, Mary Wallace "Wally" Funk, was selected to be one of 13 women to train for space flight in 1959. By this time, she had been an experienced pilot for over 5 years. Wally’s love of aeronautics led her to a life-long career in flight training, giving thousands of young pilots their first taste of flight. She worked for the  FAA and was the first woman to be a lead investigator at the NTSB. Her dream of space flight finally came true in 2021 when she accompanied Jeff Bezos on the first human flight of . In this wide-ranging interview, Denise talks with Wally about her fascinating life inspiring young women to follow their dreams.

Jules Brinn, segment manager for high purity OEM sales at American Air Filter, traces an unlikely path from sports medicine student at East Carolina University to a 20-year career in air filtration. Jules and Denise talk about navigating complex Department of Energy and pharmaceutical manufacturing projects, and what it's like to be the only woman on her outside sales team. She also reflects on the broader opportunity in manufacturing including the range of roles, the pay, and the message she'd send to young people still figuring out their path: slow down, keep exploring, and enjoy your time.

In this episode Denise McIntosh talks with Katie Hubbard, a rubber chemist and compounder at American Phoenix in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We learn how her high-school chemistry class put her on an exciting path and how she discovered a manufacturing company right in her hometown. You’ll discover how two American companies are discovering opportunities hidden within the confusion over tariffs, and how Katie’s team at American Phoenix has grown from making rubber for tires to now working on soles for shoes and conveyor belts for mining.

Denise Mcintosh speaks with Andrea Sousa, Commercial Director at the PIAB Group, about growing up as the middle child, always being ready to change when life throws a curve ball, coming up in a male-dominated field, and how AI is transforming her role and company. 

In this episode, Denise McIntosh speaks with Kirsta Scranton, Senior Construction Project Manager at the University of Iowa, about her three-decade career in construction and the path that led her into engineering. Kirsta reflects on her career journey from the West Coast to Iowa, the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and her role as both mentee and mentor to women entering the field. 

Lauren Parker, senior project designer at Stantec Consulting joins Denise McIntosh to discuss her love of engineering, how she found her way to her position, how being the only woman in some of her classes informed her professional life, and how she keeps it all balanced.

Christa Myers is a Senior Fellow in Aseptic and Sterile Products at CRB Group, and visits with Denise to talk about how having broad experiences helped her hone into her specialty. She speaks about the importance of mentorship, accepting feedback, and approaching life with humility.

Cristina Mendonça is the Engineering Manager at Tekna in Ontario, Canada, and in this episode she tells Denise about her vast life experiences that brought her to where she is today. Including learning four languages, moving to Canada to take on a new challenge, and even being a seamstress for Cirque du Soleil. Learn who her influences have been and how she has risen to her current position in this fascinating episode of The Art of Engineering.