You don’t look like an Engineer

Laura Miranda & Sohan Roopra
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Laura Miranda and Sohan Roopra co-founded You Don’t Look Like an Engineer. A podcast aimed at challenging the stereotypes about what an engineer looks like, the show sparks meaningful conversations about inclusion, finding your passion in your career, leadership and self-improvement.   The corporate world is often seen as impersonal and robotic, even, but the podcast is here to show its human side—the people and their stories, and the diversity that is reshaping this profession. Through honest conversations, we explore industry issues like gender equity, cultural diversity, and leadership, offering real insights and ideas to help workplaces become places where everyone feels they can fulfill their dreams, and everyone feels like they belong.   With a mission to drive change through storytelling, our podcast reshapes perspectives and opens doors for a more inclusive future in engineering and beyond.

  1. 4d ago

    Kelen Polli: What Makes Us Different Makes Us Powerful

    What if the thing people call your weakness is actually your superpower? 🦸‍♀️🤔 Kelen Polli went from a low-income childhood in Brazil to winning Young Engineer of the Year for Queensland and Australia, and her story is a masterclass in resilience, belonging, and sheer grit. Raised by a single mother and grandmother, Kelen shares what it took to break into engineering without a single roadmap or role model to help pave the way. She talks openly about the violence, financial hardship, and self-doubt that shaped her early years - and the scholarship exam she failed not once, not twice, but three times before finally getting the score that changed everything We break down the real path into the industry for overseas-trained engineers, including learning English from scratch, working multiple jobs, getting her degree recognized, and landing that first opportunity through networking instead of online applications. Kelen shares the importance of mentors to help support you and promote you to new heights in your career. But most importantly, Kelen shares her inspiring journey on giving back to the community from the privileges engineering has shared with her. It's about what happens when you keep showing up, even when you feel out of place. Perfect for anyone navigating a career pivot, building a life in a new country, or needing a reminder that your differences are not a flaw, they are your power 💪 If you've ever felt like you don't belong in the room, press play ▶️

    Kelen Polli: What Makes Us Different Makes Us Powerful

  2. Jan 8

    Quota Hire or Qualified? Women Owning Their Power in Engineering

    In this Episode of You don't Look Like and Engineer, we delve into what it really means to build a career as a woman in the energy and engineering sectors. Carolina Mayol, a senior grid connections engineer, and Jasmine Wiklander, a senior energy and infrastructure recruitment consultant, share how childhood passions, cultural identity and career twists led them into renewables and people-focused work. Together, they unpack “quota hire” versus “qualified”, how unconscious bias shows up in hiring and promotion, and why women are often required to overperform just to be seen as equally capable. They explore confidence gaps, risk-taking, leadership styles that don’t fit the traditional “boys’ club”, and the power of using your voice without dimming your femininity or authenticity. This is a practical, honest conversation for women in STEM, leaders, and anyone serious about building truly inclusive teams.

  3. 08/25/2025

    Leadership starts with Understanding YOURSELF | Renowned leadership expert Dr Gretchen Gagel

    What does it take to lead with vision in industries where innovation and resilience are non-negotiable? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gretchen Gagel. Internationally recognised executive, author, and thought leader in leadership and infrastructure, to explore how she helps organisations navigate change, empower teams, and build sustainable futures. Gretchen shares candid insights from her career at the intersection of engineering, business, and leadership, along with the bold strategies that have made her a sought-after advisor across the globe. If you’re ready to rethink what strong, effective leadership looks like in today’s world, this conversation with Gretchen is not to be missed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Leadership starts with Understanding YOURSELF | Renowned leadership expert Dr Gretchen Gagel

  4. 07/21/2025

    Nobody gets into engineering for the money: Engineer and Philanthropist Steve Adamthwaite

    Join us on episode 45 as we chat with Steve, a water business leader at Arup, who shares his journey in engineering. Despite his impressive career, Steve shares that he has also had moments of feeling like he didn't belong in the industry and how he eventually found his place.   From his rural roots to advocating for diversity among First Nations people, improving sanitation for women, and many other impressive philanthropic projects, Steve's story is all about breaking barriers and using engineering to create a better world, one project at a time.   Steve's story inspires how to stand for something that makes space for everyone and improves the lives of those who need it - hear from someone who actually works hard to make a difference.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Nobody gets into engineering for the money: Engineer and Philanthropist Steve Adamthwaite

  5. 03/28/2025

    Sascha Kurz: What It Takes to Build a Consultancy from the Ground Up

    In this episode, we sit down with Sascha Kurz, Queensland's Engineer of the Year 2024. Her journey shares the road from an engineer to successful consultancy owner. Sascha she built her company IPS Consulting on the values of balancing technical expertise with strong leadership and soft skills, a shift she recommends the whole industry should think about. She shares how true innovation and success in companies comes from fostering a supportive and inclusive company culture. She gives tools on how to achieve not just gender, but cultural diversity, which has played a key role in shaping her business, with over 40% of her team being women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. She also dives into her experience as a woman, mother and entrepreneur navigating the engineering industry and what it truly takes to build a business from the ground up. With other great topics such as what leadership styles work, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to grow their career or start their own business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Sascha Kurz: What It Takes to Build a Consultancy from the Ground Up

  6. 01/27/2025

    Annalie Howling: Set yourself free from shame, recognise burnout and live life on your terms

    Laura and Sohan sit down with Annalie Howling, a renowned coach and trauma specialist who has helped celebrities and high performing athletes overcome barriers like shame.   Annalie opens up about her journey through trauma, navigating a high pressure corporate world, and ultimately making the bold decision to leave such a toxic environment. She shares how she returned to herself - healing her mind and body and eventually leading her to pivot into the transformative work she does today as a performance coach.   In this episode, Annalie unpacks the concept of trauma, introduces the five unspoken trauma responses - two of which you might not have heard before - and discusses her new book, Unapologetic: Unshackle Your Shame, Reclaim Your Power.   This episode is a powerful invitation to break free from your own shackles with Annalie's insights as your guide. We hope you enjoy this coaching session as much as we did recording it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Annalie Howling: Set yourself free from shame, recognise burnout and live life on your terms

  7. 11/11/2024

    David Bainbrigge: The Executive Leadership Expert

    We’re excited to return with an enlightening episode featuring David, an executive engineer with over 25 years of experience in leadership roles, primarily in the natural resource sector. David has seen it all, from the shop floor to the C-suite, and he’s dedicated to transforming technically skilled individuals into effective leaders. It is well discussed that employees need to be exceptional to progress, but the understated elephant in the room is that mediocre leadership can burnout even the best team-members.    In this episode we discuss how we have created more diverse teams in the workforce, but have not equipped our leaders to understand the influence of culture and background on team behaviours, and the opportunities and challenges relating to diversity. David also gives great insights on how to empower leaders to drive meaningful change in their organisations. David is an expert in the field, helping countless professional becoming exceptional leaders through 1:1 coaching, group sessions and workshops about design, facilitation, strategy, focus and many other topics! He believes that exceptional leadership is crucial for overcoming the rising challenges within the workforce and is passionate about fostering an inclusive and innovative workplace.   If you're passionate about becoming an exceptional leader, or think that we can do innovation and diversity in a more effective way, then you need to give this one a listen! We’d love to hear your thoughts on the conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    David Bainbrigge: The Executive Leadership Expert

  8. 07/30/2024

    Darren Flynn: The entrepreneurial engineer

    In this episode, Lau and Sohan chat with Darren Flynn, an engineer on a mission to be more entrepreneurial. Darren's journey began in the trenches, working with pipes, pumps, and concrete, and has spanned over $2B of water infrastructure projects in Australia and Vietnam. Darren employs value engineering, innovative ideas, design thinking, and his vast experience to deliver optimal outcomes for clients and projects. Now, he aims to give back and mentor the next generation of engineers, emphasising the need for engineers to be leaders who shape the future. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Darren's insights are invaluable for both newcomers to the industry and seasoned professionals. Tune in now! Would like to connect with Darren ? Darren Flynn - LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Darren Flynn: The entrepreneurial engineer
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About

Laura Miranda and Sohan Roopra co-founded You Don’t Look Like an Engineer. A podcast aimed at challenging the stereotypes about what an engineer looks like, the show sparks meaningful conversations about inclusion, finding your passion in your career, leadership and self-improvement.   The corporate world is often seen as impersonal and robotic, even, but the podcast is here to show its human side—the people and their stories, and the diversity that is reshaping this profession. Through honest conversations, we explore industry issues like gender equity, cultural diversity, and leadership, offering real insights and ideas to help workplaces become places where everyone feels they can fulfill their dreams, and everyone feels like they belong.   With a mission to drive change through storytelling, our podcast reshapes perspectives and opens doors for a more inclusive future in engineering and beyond.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Miranda & Sohan Roopra
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Laura Miranda & Sohan Roopra
  • Show Website
    You don’t look like an Engineer