Inside Out Engineering Podcast

Inside Out Engineering
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  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Inside Out Engineering is where technical minds meet human stories. Each episode features engineers using their degrees in unexpected ways, leading with curiosity, courage, and heart. We explore how emotional intelligence turns great engineers into better humans and even better leaders.

Episodes

  1. 2 MAR

    From Code to C-Suite: Resilience, Real Leadership, and Accelerating Women’s Rise with Lori Lalonde

    What does it really take to lead with authenticity in high-stakes corporate environments?In this episode of the Inside Out Engineering Podcast, Nikki Maginn sits down with Lori Lalonde — CEO and Founder of Her Executive Ascent — for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and the realities women face as they rise through complex organizations.Lori’s journey is anything but linear. From an early pivot out of university to becoming a software developer, to leading large-scale digital transformation across Microsoft’s partner ecosystem and Manulife, Lori built a nearly 30-year career in tech before stepping away from corporate life to create the leadership program she wished existed earlier in her journey.Together, Nikki and Lori explore the human side of leadership — the stories behind the titles, the setbacks that shape resilience, and the emotional intelligence required to lead people, not just projects.This conversation goes beyond theory. It’s real, reflective, and at times spicy — covering everything from career pivots and motherhood to therapy, identity, workplace culture, and the invisible labor many women carry in leadership roles.You’ll hear insights on:• Finding clarity and purpose after unexpected life changes• Building resilience through therapy, self-awareness, and community• The hidden “caretaker” expectations placed on women in leadership• Why tactical leadership training often disappears as you move up• How emotional intelligence rebuilds trust in modern workplaces• The tension between corporate systems and human-centered leadership• Designing leadership development that is practical, strategic, and accessibleLori also shares the vision behind Her Executive Ascent — a program built by women, for women, focused on giving senior leaders the strategic and financial skills they need to lead with confidence and authenticity.At its core, this episode is a reminder that leadership is never just about outcomes. It’s about people, connection, and the courage to lead in alignment with your values.Connect with Lori Lalonde:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorilalonde/🔗 Her Executive Ascent: https://www.herexecutiveascent.com/en-ca/homeConnect with Nikki / Inside Out Engineering:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-maginn/🔗 Learn more about Inside Out Engineering: www.insideoutengineering.comIf this conversation resonated with you, share it with a leader, colleague, or friend who’s navigating their own leadership journey.And if you’re an engineer, technical professional, or people leader who believes leadership starts from the inside out — you’re in the right place.

    1h 31m

  2. 16 FEB

    Embracing Failure & The Power of Asking for Help with Blake Sanchez

    In our conversation, Blake Sanchez shares his journey as an engineer, discussing the importance of education , the value of learning through experience, and the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership. We talk about the importance of clear communication, the role of failure in growth, and the importance of creating a safe environment for team members to thrive. The discussion also touches on the various roles within engineering and the necessity of understanding different perspectives in a collaborative work environment.Chapters00:00 Engineering Origins: A Journey Begins02:04 The Transition from Engineer to Leader04:23 Learning Through Failure: The Value of Experience06:46 Creating a Safe Environment for Growth09:33 The Importance of Trust in Leadership12:02 Maintaining Calm in High-Stress Situations14:31 The Art of Communication in Leadership16:57 Understanding Outcomes: The Impact of Decisions19:36 Leading with Influence: The Role of Self-Awareness28:38 Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership30:30 Clarifying Roles in Engineering33:35 Navigating Career Expectations33:59 Understanding Different Engineering Roles37:26 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence41:06 Learning from Failure and Growth

    48 min

  3. 1 FEB

    Engineering, Operations, & Emotional Intelligence with Heather Critz

    In this kickoff episode of Inside Out Engineering, Nikki sits down with longtime friend and industrial systems engineer Heather Critz to explore how growing up in rural Alabama shaped Heather’s path into tech consulting and operational excellence. We unpack how emotional intelligence shows up in places we often overlook, why systems engineering is more human than most people think, and how process, communication, and self-awareness intersect in the workplace. It’s a conversation about roots, reinvention, and the hidden EQ behind every “logical” decision engineers make.In this episode we cover: - Heather’s journey from rural Alabama to a decade in tech consulting - Industrial and systems engineering through the lens of people and process - How EQ quietly drives operations, efficiency, and influence - The misconceptions about what “counts” as engineering - The role upbringing and environment play in how we problem-solve - Learning to adapt communication styles without losing authenticity - How emotional intelligence builds stronger cross-functional teams - Why “soft skills” are actually high-leverage engineering skills - The growing need for human-centered technical leadership - Using process thinking to navigate complexity, conflict, and change Who this episode is for: Aspiring engineers, early-career professionals, technical leaders, operations-minded problem-solvers, and anyone curious how emotional intelligence fuels high-performance teams. Mentions / Themes:- Emotional intelligence in technical fields - Systems thinking - Process excellence - Communication in engineering culture

    1h 4m
  • 3 Episodes

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Inside Out Engineering is where technical minds meet human stories. Each episode features engineers using their degrees in unexpected ways, leading with curiosity, courage, and heart. We explore how emotional intelligence turns great engineers into better humans and even better leaders.

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