The Impactful Engineer - Mentorship, Career Growth, and Personal & Professional Excellence for Aspiring Engineers

Steve & Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers
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Spreading awareness, success, and accessibility to the world of engineering to aspiring and early career engineers.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 180 - Being Technically Right Isn't Enough With Ashwin Aravindakshan

    Being the smartest engineer in the room means nothing if you're solving the wrong problem. In this episode, Steve and Jake sit down with Ashwin Aravindakshan, professor at UC Davis and former director of its Master of Science in Business Analytics program, to discuss what separates technically capable engineers from those who create meaningful business impact. From asking better questions and understanding customers to navigating stakeholders and communicating results, this conversation challenges how engineers approach their work. Not theory, but practical, tactical advice on becoming an engineer whose contributions actually drive decisions and results. Key Topics Covered: Why technical correctness alone doesn't create business value.How asking the wrong questions leads to wasted engineering effort.Why engineers need to understand customer needs before designing solutions.How observing end users reveals problems specifications never capture.Why understanding business constraints matters as much as technical capability.How storytelling turns complex technical solutions into decisions stakeholders support.Why smaller, measurable wins build trust faster than ambitious promises.How to control project chaos by clarifying decisions, ownership, and deadlines.Why doing more work doesn't necessarily make you more valuable.How connecting technical execution to measurable outcomes accelerates career growth.Actionable Steps: Before starting a project, ask what decision your work is supposed to change.Identify who makes that decision and what evidence they need.Define how you'll measure whether your work made a difference.Ask customers and stakeholders what problems they're actually experiencing instead of assuming you know.Observe how your designs or deliverables are used in the real world.Understand cost, schedule, and operational constraints before proposing improvements.Break large initiatives into smaller deliverables that demonstrate value early.When decisions stall, present two or three options, your recommendation, an owner, and a deadline.Take time to anticipate stakeholder concerns before rushing into execution.After delivering, ask what worked, what failed, and what should change next time.Who This Episode Is For: Early-career engineers trying to distinguish themselves beyond technical ability.Engineers frustrated that their hard work isn't recognized or valued.Individual contributors preparing for leadership and greater responsibility.Engineers overwhelmed by unclear priorities, competing stakeholders, and project chaos.Technical professionals who struggle to communicate their contributions to business leaders.Why It Matters: Your career won't advance simply because your calculations are right or your designs are impressive. The engineers who gain influence understand what matters, solve problems worth solving, and make the value of their work visible. That clarity also prevents wasted effort and burnout from chasing work that doesn't move anything forward. Technical excellence gets you in the conversation. Business impact makes people listen. Where to Listen: SpotifyApple PodcastsWherever you get your podcastsFind Ashwin Aravindakshan: Email: aravind@ucdavis.eduLinkedIn: Search for Ashwin AravindakshanUC Davis: Faculty webpageShare: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  2. Nov 2

    Episode 179 - Stop Talking Before You Lose Their Trust

    Confidence can get you noticed. False confidence can destroy your credibility. Engineers often feel pressure to have every answer, especially when speaking to managers, executives, or experienced colleagues. But guessing, exaggerating, or overexplaining doesn't make you look competent. It makes people question whether they can trust you. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down how to communicate confidently without pretending to know everything, recover when you're wrong, and build credibility through preparation, clarity, and ownership. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice for engineers who want their words to carry weight. Key Topics Covered: • Why false confidence destroys credibility faster than admitting uncertainty. • How overexplaining exposes insecurity instead of demonstrating expertise. • The difference between being wrong and misleading people. • How to recover immediately when you give an incorrect answer. • Why vague answers like "I think" leave teams unable to make decisions. • How to respond confidently when you don't have the information. • Why early-career engineers need to prepare more thoroughly for meetings. • How to recognize when you've made your point and need to stop talking. • Why blaming someone else for information you present demonstrates poor ownership. • How concise, reliable communication builds long-term professional trust. Actionable Steps: • Admit uncertainty immediately rather than inventing an answer. • Correct yourself in the moment when you recognize a mistake. • Follow up with verified information when you can't answer accurately. • Prepare for meetings by anticipating the questions and decisions that matter. • Give direct answers first. Explain the supporting details only when needed. • Stop talking once you've made your point. Let others ask for clarification. • Ask what level of detail someone needs before diving into technical explanations. • Replace speculation with a clear commitment to verify and follow up. • Take ownership of every recommendation you present, even when the information came from someone else. • Review what caught you unprepared and improve your preparation for the next meeting. Who This Episode Is For: • Early-career engineers learning to communicate with experienced professionals. • Engineers who feel pressured to always have the right answer. • Individual contributors struggling to earn credibility and leadership trust. • Technical professionals who tend to overexplain or become defensive when challenged. • Aspiring engineering leaders who want greater influence in important conversations. Why It Matters: Your technical knowledge might earn you a seat at the table, but your credibility determines whether people listen when you speak. Every conversation is an opportunity to build trust or erode it. You don't need to know everything to become a respected engineer. You need to be prepared, communicate clearly, own your mistakes, and consistently deliver reliable information. That's how engineers earn influence and create opportunities for greater responsibility. Where to Listen: Spotify Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts. Share: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  3. Oct 26

    Episode 178 - Maybe It’s Not the Job. Maybe You Quit When It Gets Hard.

    When engineering gets difficult, what's your response? Do you step up, or start looking for a way out? Tight deadlines, complex technical challenges, rising expectations, and mounting pressure are part of professional growth. But too many engineers mistake difficulty for a reason to leave, never realizing they're walking away from the experience that could take their careers to the next level. In this episode, Steve and Jake challenge engineers to stop chasing the easy path and start building the grit required to handle bigger responsibilities. Not theory, just practical, tactical advice about ownership, perseverance, and discovering what you're actually capable of. Key Topics Covered: Why constantly escaping difficult situations limits career growth.How pushing through challenges builds lasting confidence.The hidden cost of repeatedly starting over at new companies.Why technical ability alone won't prepare you for greater responsibility.How overcoming difficult projects expands your capacity for future challenges.The difference between working long hours and stepping up when the stakes are high.Why personal growth matters even when professional rewards don't materialize.How perseverance builds credibility and inspires others to push harder.Why the obstacle you're avoiding may be your greatest opportunity.Actionable Steps: Identify one difficult challenge you've been avoiding and commit to tackling it.Stop looking for an exit every time expectations increase.Break overwhelming challenges into specific actions and start executing.Take ownership of difficult deliverables instead of waiting for someone else.When pressure rises, focus on what you can control and move forward.Draw confidence from challenges you've already overcome.Push through a difficult season before deciding whether a role is right for you.Measure growth by the challenges you can now handle, not just compensation.Demonstrate resilience through consistent execution when your team needs it.Reflect on what each difficult experience taught you and apply it to the next challenge.Who This Episode Is For: Engineers considering leaving because their current role has become difficult.Early-career professionals struggling with pressure and expectations.Individual contributors who want leadership opportunities but avoid uncomfortable responsibilities.Engineers frustrated by stalled growth or repeated career resets.Ambitious professionals who want to build the confidence to tackle bigger challenges.Why It Matters: Your ability to handle difficulty determines how far you can push your capabilities. Every challenge you overcome builds skills, confidence, and resilience that stay with you regardless of your job title or salary. When others see you consistently delivering through difficult situations, you demonstrate the qualities that leadership demands. The next level isn't always somewhere else. Sometimes it's on the other side of the challenge you're facing right now. Where to Listen: SpotifyApple PodcastsWherever you get your podcastsShare: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  4. Oct 19

    Episode 177 - Nobody Needs the Whole Story. Give Them the Punchline.

    Technical expertise gets you into the room. Your ability to communicate determines how much influence you have once you're there. Too many engineers bury their message under technical details, unnecessary context, and lengthy explanations. They know their subject, but struggle to make their point. The result? Wasted time, lost attention, and decisions that go nowhere. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down why communication is one of the biggest differentiators in engineering careers. From interviews and executive presentations to leading meetings and influencing stakeholders, they discuss how to command a room, deliver information with purpose, and stop overwhelming people with details they never asked for. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice for engineers who want to lead. Key Topics Covered: Why technical expertise alone won't accelerate your career.How communication separates engineers competing for leadership opportunities.Why your presence and delivery matter in engineering interviews.How to command a room without being naturally outgoing.Why every meeting needs a clear purpose, leader, and desired outcome.The importance of adapting technical explanations to your audience.Why leading with the conclusion improves understanding and decision-making.How excessive detail creates distractions and unnecessary questions.Why concise communication establishes credibility and authority.How to structure conversations that actually move work forward.Actionable Steps: Lead with your conclusion before explaining the supporting details.Identify the decision or outcome you need before starting a conversation.Open meetings by establishing the purpose, expectations, and desired result.Define who is leading and how participants should raise questions.Tailor your message to the technical understanding of your audience.Practice explaining complex engineering problems in plain language.Remove information that doesn't help the conversation move forward.Prepare presentations around outcomes, challenges, and solutions.Ask whether additional detail is necessary before providing it.Develop your presentation skills deliberately, regardless of personality type.Who This Episode Is For: Engineers who are technically strong but struggle to gain influence.Individual contributors pursuing management or leadership roles.Engineers preparing for interviews, presentations, or executive reviews.Introverted professionals who want to develop stronger presence.Engineering leaders frustrated by meetings that waste time and energy.Why It Matters: Your technical knowledge has limited impact if people can't understand or act on it. Every unnecessary explanation costs attention, energy, and credibility. Engineers who communicate with clarity make decisions easier, build trust faster, and become the people others rely on to move work forward. If you want more responsibility, influence, and career growth, learn to deliver the message that matters. Where to Listen: SpotifyApple PodcastsWherever you get your podcastsShare: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  5. Oct 12

    Episode 176 - You Can’t Lead Everyone the Way You Want to Be Led, With Jeremy Doran

    Jeremy Doran, author and host of Neuroconversant Leadership, joins Steve and Jake to break down why strong engineers still struggle to communicate, influence, delegate, and lead people who think differently than they do. This episode covers communication styles, feedback, personality differences, delegation, trust, and the difficult shift from technical expert to leader. Not theory, practical, tactical advice you can use with your team immediately. Key Topics Covered: • Why DISC and Myers-Briggs can help you recognize how differently people process information • Why quiet or emotionally flat engineers are often misread as disengaged, arrogant, or unprepared • How better meeting preparation gets stronger input from both introverts and extroverts • Why communication problems are often system problems, not people problems • How to determine whether someone needs detailed direction or autonomy • Why "Do you have any questions?" often fails • How defensive reactions destroy the value of good feedback • Why new managers must stop treating technical work as their primary product • How leadership skills help individual contributors influence teams they do not manage • Jeremy's four C's of leadership: command, currency, competence, and culture Actionable Steps: • Tell people what feedback or decisions you need before the meeting • Ask teammates how much direction they need instead of assuming • Replace "Any questions?" with "Ask me two questions" • Change communication methods when email, calls, or meetings are not producing results • When feedback triggers you, acknowledge it, reflect, and respond later • Ask for specific examples when feedback feels too broad to act on • Turn technical explanations into stories tied to a shared problem • Stop assuming what someone meant and ask clarifying questions • Build teams with people who think differently and strengthen skills you lack • Find the person you struggle to communicate with most and learn why they see the problem differently Who This Episode Is For: • Engineers preparing for their first leadership role • New managers struggling to delegate technical work • Strong individual contributors who want more influence without formal authority • Leaders frustrated by teammates who communicate differently • Engineers whose technical ability is strong but whose communication is limiting their impact Why It Matters: Technical skill can make you valuable. It does not automatically make you influential. As your career grows, your results depend more on how well you communicate, earn trust, handle feedback, align different personalities, and enable other people to succeed. You cannot scale your impact if everyone has to think and work exactly like you. Where to Listen: Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Or wherever you get your podcasts Find Jeremy Doran: Website: neuroconversantleadership.com Book: Neuroconversant Leadership, available on Amazon Podcast: Neuroconversant Leadership on YouTube, his website, and podcast platforms LinkedIn: Jeremy Doran Speaks Share: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  6. Oct 5

    Episode 175 - Your Attitude Is Telling Everyone Whether You're Ready to Lead

    Intro: Technical skill gets you in the room. Your attitude under pressure determines whether people trust you with more. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down how engineers signal leadership readiness through the way they respond when projects go sideways, pressure climbs, and the path forward is unclear. Not theory, practical, tactical advice for staying calm, creating confidence, and becoming the person others trust when the stakes are high. Key Topics Covered: • Why attitude can shape your career from your first interview to your final leadership role • How your response under pressure changes how peers and leaders see you • Why negativity spreads quickly through teams • How positive, solution-focused energy creates confidence • Why acknowledging difficulty is better than pretending everything is fine • How to pivot from an emotional reaction into problem solving • Why leaders need to become the calm in the storm • How your boss evaluates whether a difficult problem is safe in your hands • Why trust grows when you pair confidence with follow-through Actionable Steps: • Catch your first emotional reaction before it becomes your final response • Acknowledge when a problem is hard, then immediately pivot toward solutions • Ask what resources, people, or perspectives could change the situation • Replace complaining with a clear next action • When you do not know the answer, communicate confidence in finding it • Show your team that pressure does not change your commitment • Use your words and energy to create stability around you • Follow through after projecting confidence so trust compounds • Treat every hard moment as a chance to demonstrate leadership readiness Who This Episode Is For: • Engineers who want to move into leadership • New managers learning how to lead through pressure • High performers who react quickly when things go wrong • Engineers who feel overloaded, stretched, or close to burnout • Individual contributors who want to earn more trust and responsibility Why It Matters: People remember how you show up when things are hard. Your energy affects the room, your response shapes trust, and your ability to stay engaged under pressure tells people whether you are ready for more. Leadership is not pretending problems are easy. It is helping people believe the problem can be solved. Where to Listen: Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts Share: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  7. Sep 28

    Episode 174 - Before You Quit Your Job, Figure Out What You’re Actually Running From, w/ Ben Fox

    Burned out, frustrated, or convinced your job is the problem? Before you quit, get clear on what is actually broken. In this episode, Steve and Jake sit down with career coach Ben Fox, who helps burned-out software engineers figure out what is next. They break down bad managers, weak boundaries, AI-driven change, career uncertainty, networking, and how to know when to fix the situation versus leave it. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice for engineers who want more control over their careers. Key Topics Covered: • How to tell whether the job is the problem or your own boundaries are making it worse • Why high-achieving engineers often overwork, people-please, and carry those habits into the next job • The “Goldilocks quit date” for turning an emotional exit into a deliberate decision • How AI is changing engineering work without eliminating the value of judgment, creativity, and problem-solving • Why a bad manager can make you question an entire career you may still love • How to manage upward before deciding the situation is hopeless • Why career experiments beat making huge decisions based on fear • How cold outreach and relationship-building can uncover better opportunities • Why more education can become a way to delay a decision instead of make one • How thinking like a business owner removes ego and creates better career decisions Actionable Steps: • Audit your last week and list what energized you versus what drained you • Set a clear stopping time for work and protect nights and weekends • Identify what you are contributing to the situation before blaming the environment • Ask your manager directly for the support, clarity, or changes you need • Talk to people already doing the work before changing roles, companies, or industries • Run small career experiments before committing to a major move • Reconnect with people in your network without overthinking the ask • Use AI to remove repetitive work so you can spend more time on judgment and creative problem-solving • Define a realistic quit date if staying indefinitely is no longer acceptable • Ask what would need to change for you to genuinely enjoy the role again Who This Episode Is For: • Engineers who are burned out but unsure whether quitting is the answer • High performers working nights and weekends with weak boundaries • Engineers dealing with micromanagement or poor leadership • ICs questioning their future as AI changes how engineering work gets done • Anyone who feels stuck but has not yet tested another path Why It Matters: Career growth is not just about working harder. Your energy, boundaries, visibility, relationships, and willingness to speak up all shape your performance. If you never identify what is actually draining you, you can leave one job and recreate the same problem somewhere else. Own what you can change, test what you cannot, then make the decision with clarity. Where to Listen: Spotify Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts Find Ben Fox: Visit benfoxcoaching.com to learn more about Ben’s coaching and sign up for a free 45-minute diagnostic call. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares career insights, lessons from his client work, and practical ideas for engineers navigating change.  Share: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

  8. Sep 21

    Episode 173 - Focus Isn’t Doing More. It’s Eliminating More.

    Most engineers try to improve focus by working harder, becoming more disciplined, or finding a better productivity system. That misses the real problem. You probably have too many things competing for your time, energy, and attention. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down why real focus starts with elimination. That means deciding what actually matters, accepting the tradeoffs, and removing the projects, commitments, distractions, and decisions that keep pulling you away from it. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice for engineers who want to execute at a higher level without constantly fighting themselves. Key Topics Covered: • Why willpower is a terrible long-term strategy for staying focused • The hidden cost of trying to maintain too many priorities at once • Why becoming great often requires deliberately becoming less involved elsewhere • How scattered technical interests can keep engineers from developing real expertise • Why specialists become the people others specifically request for important work • How saying yes to everything destroys execution and credibility • Why fewer priorities reduce decision fatigue and mental clutter • How simplifying routine decisions preserves energy for higher-value work • Why every meaningful goal requires a tradeoff • How focused seasons can accelerate career and personal progress Actionable Steps: • Write down the three to five things that matter most in your current season • Audit where your time and mental energy actually go each week • Identify commitments that do not support your highest priorities • Eliminate unnecessary activities instead of trying to manage them better • Choose which technical or professional skill you want to become known for • Stop accepting work that compromises execution on your highest-value projects • Create clear criteria for what deserves a yes and what automatically gets a no • Simplify repetitive decisions wherever possible • Write down what you are willing to trade to reach your current goal • Commit long enough for focused effort to compound into visible expertise Who This Episode Is For: • Engineers who constantly feel busy but are not making enough progress • High performers taking on too many projects and responsibilities • Engineers struggling to become known for a specific strength • Professionals who feel mentally overloaded by competing priorities • Anyone serious about accomplishing something that requires concentrated effort Why It Matters: Your time and energy are finite. Every unnecessary commitment takes resources away from something that could actually change your career. Focus gives you the bandwidth to execute better, build deeper expertise, become more valuable, and earn opportunities that average performance will never create. You do not need to become better at juggling everything. You need to decide what deserves your attention in the first place. Where to Listen: Spotify Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts Share: If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

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Spreading awareness, success, and accessibility to the world of engineering to aspiring and early career engineers.

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