Futureproof Focus

Vaughn College

Welcome to Vaughn College's Futureproof Focus Podcast. Here, we discuss the latest news, career opportunities and insights in the exciting fields of engineering, technology, management and aviation. Through unscripted, honest conversations with prominent industry leaders, students, faculty and alumni, we explore diversity, equity and inclusion in education and employment, and the forces that drive personal and career growth.

  1. SEP 25

    Episode 20: Talon Air CEO James Chitty on Charter Aviation Careers

    Vaughn College President Sharon DeVivo speaks with Talon Air CEO James Chitty about career opportunities in charter aviation. They discuss the aviation workforce shortage, Talon Air’s partnership with Vaughn, and how technology and sustainability are shaping the industry.

    13 min

  2. APR 16

    Episode 19: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures in Aviation with Samantha Mitchell

    In this inspiring episode of Futureproof Focus, Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo sits down with trailblazer and Vaughn alumna Samantha Mitchell—founder and president of Black Women in Aviation. From her beginnings as the first female aircraft mechanic for Air Jamaica to launching a movement focused on representation and mentorship, Samantha shares her powerful journey through a male-dominated industry and her mission to redefine the norm.  Learn how her time at Vaughn helped her discover her calling, the hurdles she overcame and the passion that drives her to uplift future generations—especially young women of color—toward meaningful careers in aviation and aerospace. This episode offers a fresh perspective on leadership, empowerment, and what it really means to be futureproof.

    29 min

  3. FEB 7

    Episode 18: Futureproof Engineering Careers: Vaughn’s Partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory

    In this episode of Futureproof Focus, Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo sits down with Shari Lindner, learning and development manager at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), and Jason Becker, a Vaughn graduate and mechatronics engineer at BNL. Together, they explore the exciting career pathways available at BNL, the importance of continuous learning in engineering, and the lab’s commitment to fostering innovation through accessibility and professional growth. Jason shares his journey from Vaughn student to engineer, while Shari discusses leadership development and the future of engineering careers. Tune in to learn how Vaughn and BNL are shaping the next generation of engineers and discover upcoming opportunities for students interested in this dynamic field. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WBvoz-Eq0NA

    33 min

  4. 11/25/2024

    Episode 17: Unlocking Career Opportunities with Vaughn's Robotic Automation and Engineering Certification Programs

    In episode 17, Sharon DeVivo, Vaughn College president and CEO, sits down with Doug Jahnke, assistant professor of engineering and technology, to discuss the new cutting-edge programmable logic controller (PLC) and robotic automation certificate program. Discover how this program opens doors to high-demand careers in robotic automation across a variety of industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and transportation, along with the advantages of pursuing other specialized engineering certifications Vaughn offers. Whether you're an aspiring engineer or looking to upskill, this episode highlights opportunities to futureproof your career in a rapidly evolving industry. Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/pDpeNH0-zfI

    21 min

  5. 10/03/2024

    Episode 16: An Alumna's Journey to the Right Seat of the Flight Deck

    Tune in to to hear Xylene DeCoteau's '20 journey to becoming a first officer at Mesa Airlines, and how you, too, can start on your path to becoming a pilot at Vaughn College. She discusses her flight training, how she landed her job and her goals for the future. You won't want to miss this one! You can also watch on YouTube here.

    32 min

  6. 07/01/2024

    Episode 15: PSA Airlines Brings Coaching and Expertise to Vaughn’s Aerospace Maintenance Competition Team

    Richard Ugarte, vice president of maintenance and engineering at PSA Airlines discusses the unique partnership with Vaughn where his staff coached the Aviation Maintenance Team to complete in the MRO Americas in Chicago, which had its best showing of 90 teams in April. The conversation also covers a range of timely topics including the aviation workforce shortage, building a more diverse workforce and emerging technologies in the field. This is one you won't want to miss!

    34 min

  7. 05/31/2024

    Episode 14: Empowering Women to Fly Drones: Insights from the Founder of Women Who Drone

    Elena Buenrostro discusses how her company, Women Who Drone, is connecting people, especially young women from underrepresented communities, who love drones through shared stories, education and career opportunities. Listen in to see how she's changing the world, one person at a time through a shared passion for autonomous flight.

    27 min

  8. 03/11/2024

    Episode 13: Making an Impact with Engineering: Building the Supply Chain for Offshore Wind

    In this episode, we speak to Vaughn mechanical engineering alum Okera Bullen '22 about his job at a pure electrification company called Nexans working in supply chain management. He speaks about his passion to have a positive impact on society and the world as a whole which brought him to Nexans, which supplies the cable connectors from Long Island wind farms to the land. Tune into this episode to learn how you can make an impact and contribute to a more sustainable future with an engineering degree from Vaughn.  Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/SkLsLjZbt_U

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Vaughn College's Futureproof Focus Podcast. Here, we discuss the latest news, career opportunities and insights in the exciting fields of engineering, technology, management and aviation. Through unscripted, honest conversations with prominent industry leaders, students, faculty and alumni, we explore diversity, equity and inclusion in education and employment, and the forces that drive personal and career growth.

Information

  • Creator
    Vaughn College
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Futureproof Focus
  • Show Website
    Futureproof Focus