Mastering Engineering Leadership

Angelique Adams
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Are you an engineer looking to go beyond your technical expertise to become an impactful leader? Join Dr. Angelique Adams each week as she features engineers in leadership roles. They discuss their career journeys, dissect real-life leadership challenges they've tackled, and share actionable advice on how to achieve success as a leader with an engineering background. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or a seasoned engineer looking to grow, join us. Mastering Engineering Leadership—your journey to becoming an exceptional engineer leader starts here.

  1. MEL #060 | From Crime Lab Intern to Operations Leader through Purpose-Driven Problem Solving with Dr. Mandy Youker

    HACE 2 DÍAS

    MEL #060 | From Crime Lab Intern to Operations Leader through Purpose-Driven Problem Solving with Dr. Mandy Youker

    In this episode, I speak with Dr. Mandy Youker, Operations Officer for the Advanced Energy Technologies Directorate at Argonne National Lab. Mandy shares how her interest in chemistry began in high school and deepened through hands-on experiences like working in a crime lab. She discovered early on that she loved solving problems, especially when she could see the real-world impact of her work. Her career evolved through a PhD, national lab research, and eventually into leadership roles where she could combine technical expertise with broader organizational impact. In our leadership segment, Mandy describes how small leadership actions can create meaningful change, using an example of introducing an improv-style icebreaker in a strategy meeting. Despite mixed feedback, she moved forward because she had seen the benefits before. The result was a more open, collaborative environment where people engaged more fully and built stronger connections. Mandy’s advice for aspiring STEM leaders? Recognize  that technical skills will open doors, but essential skills like communication, trust-building, and teamwork are what sustain and grow a leadership career. She highlights the importance of making people feel valued and appreciated through small but intentional actions. Ultimately, leadership is about creating an environment where people feel heard, supported, and motivated to contribute. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast

    29 min
  2. MEL #059 | From Student Researcher to National Nonprofit Founder through Taking Initiative and Turning Relationships into Impact with Paul Faronbi

    23 MAR

    MEL #059 | From Student Researcher to National Nonprofit Founder through Taking Initiative and Turning Relationships into Impact with Paul Faronbi

    In this episode, I speak with Paul Faronbi, Regional Senior R&D Process Engineer at Mars and founder of IncrediPaul, whose mission is to empower young professionals in STEM to become the most incredible versions of themselves. Paul started out determined to become a doctor because he wanted to help people. Along the way, a conversation with his father and exposure to research shifted his path toward chemical engineering. Through research, internships, and industry experiences, he discovered a passion for consumer products and R&D work that connects engineering to real-world impact. In our leadership segment,  Paul shared how he founded and scaled NALA STEM during a time of uncertainty in 2020. When the pandemic disrupted plans, he stepped into leadership by pivoting to virtual engagement and building a national network from existing relationships. This required initiative, adaptability, and leveraging long-term connections. Paul’s advice for aspiring engineering leaders? He emphasized that leadership requires intentional development. He encouraged engineers to actively seek growth through podcasts, books, mentorship, and real-world practice. His core message is simple: if you want to be a leader, you must consistently act like one. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast.

    34 min
  3. MEL #058 | From Electrical Engineering Student to Mission Director Through Be Fierce Leadership Under Pressure with Erin Gulden

    6 MAR

    MEL #058 | From Electrical Engineering Student to Mission Director Through Be Fierce Leadership Under Pressure with Erin Gulden

    In this episode, I speak with Erin Gulden, a senior executive leader, engineer, and mentor with experience guiding complex, high-impact programs in the national security and space domains. Erin started out thinking she would become an architect, but an early bridge design project helped her realize she was wired for function over aesthetics. She switched from civil to electrical engineering, kept her Air Force ROTC scholarship, and stepped into a career where five years of service turned into twenty-five. Over time, she moved from technical work to major satellite programs, policy, and budgeting at the Pentagon, and eventually leadership roles during the stand-up of the Space Force, then shifted her focus to mentoring and developing the next generation. In our leadership segment, Erin describes leading a high-stakes national defense space program where the technical problem was real, but the bigger challenge was trust, honesty, and team behavior under pressure. She chose an authentic leadership approach instead of the aggressive style she was advised to use, and introduced a simple rallying motto: Be Fierce. The turning point was not just solving engineering risks, it was creating psychological safety so teams could surface issues early, ask questions without fear, and collaborate across organizations. Erin’s advice to aspiring engineering leaders is based on three pillars.  One: build a strong foundation that can carry the load of change. Two: be fierce by choosing courage over comfort, and three: learn something new every day through deliberate reflection and support from coaches, mentors, and champions. She also offers a practical reminder she used in senior roles: WAIT, which stands for “Why am I talking?” Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast

    51 min
  4. MEL #057 | From Corporate Research to Energy Innovation Leadership Through Earning Trust with Dr. John Farrell

    25 FEB

    MEL #057 | From Corporate Research to Energy Innovation Leadership Through Earning Trust with Dr. John Farrell

    In this episode, I speak with Dr. John Farrell, Associate Laboratory Director for the National Laboratory of the Rockies Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences Directorate. John’s path into chemistry was anything but linear. A high school friend and an inspiring freshman professor opened his eyes to science, eventually leading him to earn a PhD in physical chemistry. After 15 years in corporate R&D at ExxonMobil, he transitioned to national lab leadership, where he now oversees hundreds of researchers across diverse energy technologies. In our leadership segment, John talks about one of his first major leadership roles, which involved building a brand-new research group from scratch. He had to earn the trust of senior scientists who did not automatically respect his formal authority. Through humility, delegation, hiring strategically, and learning to communicate through story, he developed both the culture and credibility needed to move the work forward. John’s advice for aspiring engineering leaders?  Seek mentors, pursue feedback intentionally, and guard your time fiercely. Leadership is fundamentally about people, not just technical excellence. Start with core leadership tools, practice them daily, and grow your skills steadily over time. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast

    21 min
  5. MEL #056 | From Curious Student to Global Engineering Leader through a Relentless Focus on Adding Value with François Payen

    15 FEB

    MEL #056 | From Curious Student to Global Engineering Leader through a Relentless Focus on Adding Value with François Payen

    In this episode, I speak with François Payen, Supply Aftermarket Leader for Master Data Management at Trane Technologies. François discovered engineering early, encouraged by a father who pushed him ahead in math and science. He chose chemical engineering for both passion and opportunity, then launched his career at Alcoa before moving across industries from metals to aerospace to lithium and now data leadership. Along the way, he kept building skills, earning certifications, completing executive education, and stepping into bigger leadership roles focused on adding value to the business. In our leadership segment,  François recounts how he faced a defining moment when a massive fire broke out at his lithium manufacturing site. With millions of dollars per day at stake, he had to stay calm, assemble cross-functional teams, and rely on trusted relationships to stabilize the situation. Through composure, collaboration, and decisive action, he helped guide the recovery and rebuild operations in phases. François’s advice to aspiring engineering leaders? Think beyond technical work and focus on solving other people’s problems. He believes leadership is about helping others succeed, giving credit generously, and continuously learning. Most importantly, he reminds us that delivering results while caring for people is what ultimately defines strong leadership. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast

    34 min
  6. MEL #055 | From Academic Research to Business Impact through Hands On Leadership with Dr. Rahul Maharsia

    3 FEB

    MEL #055 | From Academic Research to Business Impact through Hands On Leadership with Dr. Rahul Maharsia

    In this episode, I speak with Doctor Rahul Maharsia, Senior Vice President of R&D and Engineering at Insulation Technology Group. Rahul did not grow up knowing he wanted to be an engineer and spent years searching for direction. His parents recognized his natural problem-solving ability before he did and encouraged him toward engineering, which ultimately gave him clarity, purpose, and momentum. After starting in mechanical engineering in India, he came to the US, pivoted through industrial engineering, and completed a PhD focused on materials and composites. In our leadership segment, Rahul shares how his leadership growth accelerated when he began stepping into problems without waiting for a title or formal authority. One defining moment came when he was asked to tackle a critical manufacturing issue threatening the survival of a business. By moving to the plant floor, building trust with operators, and leading through action, he helped transform yields, stabilize the company, and earn an executive role.  Rahul encourages engineers to stop waiting for permission and actively seek opportunities to solve meaningful problems. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and pivoting as the world of engineering changes rapidly. Above all, he stresses that purpose, effort, and peace of mind matter more than titles or linear career paths. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast

    27 min
  7. MEL #054 | From Perfectionist Engineer to Global Startup President through Cultural Flexibility and Discomfort as a Teacher with Darshan Deshmukh

    26 ENE

    MEL #054 | From Perfectionist Engineer to Global Startup President through Cultural Flexibility and Discomfort as a Teacher with Darshan Deshmukh

    In this episode, I speak with Darshan Deshmukh, president at ProcureAbility, a Jabil company, delivering an industry-leading suite of procurement and supply chain services to global organizations. Darshan grew up in India with strong influences in engineering and math, which naturally drew him toward a technical career. He studied mechanical engineering, worked briefly in software, and then realized he was more interested in how business systems fit together than in writing code. That insight led him to a master’s in supply chain at Penn State and into manufacturing and planning roles at IBM where he moved from technical roles into leadership and took on global assignments across multiple regions. He later transitioned into startups where he helped build and scale organizations and eventually stepped into executive leadership roles following acquisitions. In our leadership segment, Darshan talks about a defining challenge that came during his first startup experience. The company was growing quickly, but depended heavily on one major customer who announced plans to shift most of the work to a larger provider within a year. That decision put significant pressure on revenue, morale, and leadership credibility. Rather than sugarcoating the situation, Darshan chose to be open and transparent with the team. The experience tested his resilience and reinforced the value of trust during prolonged uncertainty. Darshan’s advice for aspiring engineering leaders? Stop waiting for perfect certainty before stepping into leadership roles. Many of the most important career decisions involve risk, discomfort, and acting without all the answers. He also encourages engineers to apply their analytical thinking to people, teams, and organizations, not just to technical problems, and to avoid common identity traps, such as believing you are not a seller or not the leadership type. His core message is to take smart risks, trust your instincts, and let discomfort be a signal for growth. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at www.drangeliqueadams.com/podcast

    47 min
  8. MEL #053 | From Independent Contractor to Company Builder through Clarity, Trust, and a Willingness to Act with Cathy Toth

    19 ENE

    MEL #053 | From Independent Contractor to Company Builder through Clarity, Trust, and a Willingness to Act with Cathy Toth

    In this episode, I speak with Cathy Toth, founder, president, and CEO of Acato Information Management, a software quality assurance company located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Cathy grew up in a family full of engineers, started in biomechanical engineering, and ultimately finished an electrical engineering degree for practicality and momentum toward graduation.  She moved quickly into software, later negotiated flexible work through independent contracting so she could be home with her kids, and eventually built a career specializing in software quality and testing. That path led her to launch Acato, a company shaped by an early startup experience that proved “good work” and “good for people” could coexist. In our leadership segment, Cathy gave us two examples focused on scaling Acato. First, she talks about her approach to shifting a large project team from delivering every eight weeks to delivering every two weeks, and later she discusses how she is redesigning Acato’s org structure so the company is not “Cathy and everybody else.” Both challenges required clarity, operational redesign, and the courage to make decisions with incomplete information. A key thread was creating buy-in and honest feedback while holding a clear purpose.In our advice segment, Cathy emphasizes taking your leadership development seriously, acting with imperfect information, and telling the truth in a way that supports good decisions. She also highlights relationships as the pathway to results, including building networks through service and nonprofit leadership. Across it all: know what matters to you, do the homework, and be willing to step forward before you feel fully ready. Explore the full episode summary, including guest bio, key takeaways, transcript, and recommended resources in the shownotes at drangeliqueadams.com/podcast.

    45 min
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Are you an engineer looking to go beyond your technical expertise to become an impactful leader? Join Dr. Angelique Adams each week as she features engineers in leadership roles. They discuss their career journeys, dissect real-life leadership challenges they've tackled, and share actionable advice on how to achieve success as a leader with an engineering background. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or a seasoned engineer looking to grow, join us. Mastering Engineering Leadership—your journey to becoming an exceptional engineer leader starts here.

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