The Modern Engineer Podcast

Syed Ishaat
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The Modern Engineer is a high-signal podcast for senior engineers, managers, and tech operators navigating the jump from Senior to Staff, Staff to Principal, and beyond. Each episode spotlights experienced professionals inside companies like Google, Meta, and Apple as they share what actually moves the needle at the top levels of engineering careers. We talk about: Breaking into engineering leadership Managing high and low performers Giving hard feedback Navigating big-tech politics Negotiating $300k+ compensation packages Deciding when to switch companies vs. stay for equity upside Building long-term career moats Managing burnout without sacrificing growth This isn’t generic career advice. It’s strategic insight for engineers who want leverage, status growth, and long-term optionality, while staying sharp, relevant, and in control of their trajectory. If you’re serious about maximizing your engineering career, you’re in the right place.

  1. Jul 29

    Why Engineers Should Think Differently About Money, Leadership & Real Estate

    What does it really take to build a successful engineering career, and create financial freedom beyond your paycheck? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with John Gravelyn, founder of First Principles Partners and former engineering leader at Ford and Rivian. John shares his journey from studying physics to leading prototype vehicle programs, becoming an engineering manager, launching his own company, and helping engineers make smarter real estate decisions. What You'll Learn Lessons from launching vehicles at Rivian Why confidence changes careers The importance of soft skills for engineers How leadership creates opportunities Why engineers should understand real estate investing Entrepreneurship after engineering Long-term wealth strategies for technical professionals Chapters [00:00] Introduction [01:00] John's engineering journey [04:15] Launching the Rivian R1S [08:20] Confidence through leadership [11:15] Why soft skills matter [14:20] Entrepreneurship after engineering [17:00] Real estate and financial freedom [19:10] Advice for young engineers [20:20] Closing thoughts   🎙️ Want to be the next guest speaker? Apply here: CLICK ME!!!

    Why Engineers Should Think Differently About Money, Leadership & Real Estate

  2. Jul 22

    AI Will Change Engineering Forever... Here's What Every Developer Should Know!

    Artificial Intelligence isn't replacing engineers, it's redefining what great engineering looks like. In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Senior AI Architect Trent McFarlane to discuss his journey from building websites at age 11 to leading AI platform governance for enterprise organizations. They explore how AI is transforming software development, why engineers should rethink traditional career paths, Microsoft's engineering culture, continuous learning, and the opportunities AI creates for future developers. What You'll Learn Trent's path into software engineering Lessons from Microsoft AI governance explained Why AI education is changing faster than universities The future of engineering careers Why every engineer should think like a business owner Practical advice for students entering tech today Chapters [00:00] Introduction [01:25] Trent's early engineering journey [05:18] Career turning points [10:40] Microsoft experience [15:10] AI and society [22:30] AI infrastructure and data centers [27:45] Advice for new engineers [33:10] Building a business alongside your career [35:20] Closing thoughts Guest: Trent McFarlane Senior AI Architect   🎙 Be chance to be the Next Guest Speaker! Book here: CLICK ME!!!

    AI Will Change Engineering Forever... Here's What Every Developer Should Know!

  3. Jul 15

    The Career Advice Everyone Needs: Don't Be Afraid of "No"!

    How far can your career grow if you're willing to hear "no"? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, host Syed Ishaat sits down with Julie Price, Director of Marketing at Atlanta Tech Park, to discuss the career decisions, mindset shifts, and leadership lessons that helped shape her professional journey. Julie shares how she transformed an administrative role into a marketing career, why creating your own opportunities matters, and the importance of persistence, teamwork, and asking for what you deserve. The conversation also explores marketing in the age of AI, startup culture, protecting equity, and why the people you surround yourself with can have the biggest impact on your success. What You'll Learn How Julie created opportunities instead of waiting for them Why "don't be afraid of no" became her career philosophy Lessons from building marketing teams AI's role in modern marketing Why networking still matters Protecting equity when building a startup Career advice for young professionals Chapters [00:00] Introduction [01:02] Julie's role at Atlanta Tech Park [03:28] How her marketing career began [07:05] Creating opportunities inside Duracell [11:00] AI, creativity, and modern marketing [14:30] Career advice: Don't fear "No" [17:00] Startup lessons and protecting equity [19:40] Final advice for young professionals If you're building your career, growing a business, or leading a team, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately.   🎙 Get a chance to be the Next Guest Speaker! 👉 CLICK ME!

    The Career Advice Everyone Needs: Don't Be Afraid of "No"!

  4. Jun 10

    The Biggest Career Mistakes Engineers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

    What does it take for an engineer to grow into leadership, navigate career pivots, and build long-term professional success? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Gary Gillespie to discuss his journey from working at NASA Johnson Space Center to leading software companies and co-founding a startup in the IT space. Gary shares practical lessons on networking, leadership, communication skills, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and how engineers can intentionally shape their careers over time. Gary is also the co-founder of Rhodium Systems Inc., a company focused on IT software solutions and DNS configuration management. Learn more here: ResorsIT What You’ll Learn How Gary transitioned from mechanical engineering into software Why networking matters more than most engineers realize The communication skills engineers need to develop What changes when you move into leadership roles Why side hustles and complementary skills matter today How engineers can become more intentional with career growth Chapters [00:00] Introduction [00:38] Gary’s Current Role in Software Startups [01:32] Starting at NASA Johnson Space Center [02:26] Transitioning Into Software Engineering [03:08] Career Challenges During the Dot-Com Era [04:32] The Career Pivot That Changed Everything [06:03] Growing Into Leadership Roles [08:00] Why Communication Skills Matter for Engineers [10:04] Networking & Helping Others Succeed [12:20] Why Engineers Should Take Initiative [13:53] Side Hustles & Career Optionality [15:10] Career Advice Gary Wishes He Knew Earlier [16:20] Intentional Career Growth for Engineers [17:02] Final Thoughts Want to share your story? Book a Call here!

    The Biggest Career Mistakes Engineers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

  5. Jun 3

    Why Most Founders Fail at Team Building (And How to Fix It)

    What happens when a 20-year Air Force career meets entrepreneurship, startup pivots, and relentless persistence? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with retired U.S. Air Force veteran and Montjoy Inc. founder Timothy Montjoy to discuss his journey from military service into the tech startup world. Timothy shares the lessons he learned transitioning into civilian life, building a startup team, navigating uncertainty, and why mentorship became one of the biggest accelerators in his entrepreneurial journey. From leadership and resilience to startup execution and long-term thinking, this episode is packed with practical insights for engineers, founders, veterans, and aspiring entrepreneurs. What You’ll Learn How veterans can transition into entrepreneurship Why startup pivots are sometimes necessary The importance of mentorship and networking How to build balanced, high-performing teams Leadership lessons from military experience Why persistence matters more than perfection Chapters [00:00] Introduction [01:10] Transitioning from the Air Force to entrepreneurship [03:45] Building a nonprofit and startup journey [06:20] Taking risks and overcoming fear [08:30] The challenge of building the right team [12:15] Founder Institute and startup acceleration [15:10] Persistence and navigating setbacks [18:20] Long-term thinking and business growth [20:10] Advice for younger professionals [21:40] Final thoughts Want to share your story? Book a Call here: Click me!

    Why Most Founders Fail at Team Building (And How to Fix It)

  6. May 27

    How Engineers Can Build Wealth Beyond Their Tech Career

    What happens when an engineer starts thinking beyond just a paycheck? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Ajay Katneni to discuss his journey from data engineering and automation to entrepreneurship and real estate investing. Ajay shares how consistently meeting client expectations shaped his career, why intentional focus matters, and the investing lesson he wishes he learned much earlier. If you're an engineer, tech professional, or entrepreneur thinking about long-term wealth and career growth, this conversation offers practical perspective grounded in real-world experience. What You’ll Learn How Ajay built a 20+ year tech career Why client relationships accelerated his growth The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur Why engineers should think about investing early How real estate became a second growth engine The importance of making your money work for you Chapters [00:00] – Introduction [00:28] – Ajay’s background in tech and data engineering [01:28] – Moving from engineering into entrepreneurship [02:06] – The key to career growth: client expectations [03:02] – Leadership, responsibility, and recognition [04:01] – Advice for engineers seeking success [05:05] – Making your money work for you [06:34] – Why Ajay wishes he started investing earlier [08:08] – The best time to start is now [08:50] – Final thoughts and closing Apply to Be a Guest! Click here

    How Engineers Can Build Wealth Beyond Their Tech Career

  7. May 20

    Software Engineering Career Growth, Mentorship & Kubernetes at Microsoft

    What does it actually take to grow into a senior software engineering role at Microsoft? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Paul Johnston shares his journey from struggling to land internships to becoming a Senior Software Engineer working on Kubernetes networking at Microsoft Azure. Paul breaks down the mindset shifts, technical habits, mentorship lessons, and communication skills that helped accelerate his career growth. He also shares why internal tooling, ownership, and helping teammates became the foundation for his promotions. Whether you’re a computer science student, junior engineer, or experienced developer looking to level up, this episode is packed with practical insights for long-term growth in tech. What You’ll Learn How Paul bounced back after internship rejections Why mentorship matters more than prestige early on The real responsibilities of a Senior Software Engineer How Kubernetes and Azure networking fit into Microsoft Why internal tools and automation accelerate career growth The importance of people skills in engineering How side projects and coaching created new opportunities Chapters [00:00] Introduction [00:33] What Paul Does at Microsoft [01:20] Struggling to Land Internships [03:00] First Engineering Role as a Web Developer [04:18] Landing Opportunities After Persistence [05:30] Joining Microsoft During the Kubernetes Boom [07:05] Building Internal Tools & Automation [09:20] The Mindset Shift Into Senior Engineering [11:15] Why Mentorship Matters More Than Prestige [12:50] Side Projects, Coaching & YouTube [15:05] Passion Before Profit [16:00] Why Engineers Need Better People Skills [17:00] Closing Thoughts & Coolster Codes Want to share your story? Book a Call here: Click me!

    Software Engineering Career Growth, Mentorship & Kubernetes at Microsoft

  8. May 13

    How Engineers Can Build Careers Through Networking, Risk & Entrepreneurship

    Most engineers focus on technical skills, but career growth often comes down to networking, adaptability, risk-taking, and mindset. In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Vincent Ceyssens, founder and president of Porter Security Programming, to discuss engineering career pivots, entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a life that prioritizes both growth and family. Vincent shares lessons from working in research engineering, STEM education, IT leadership, and launching his own business in the security technology industry. What You’ll Learn Why networking matters more than most engineers realize How engineers can navigate career pivots successfully The mindset shift required to become an entrepreneur Why discomfort is necessary for growth How to balance career ambition with family priorities Lessons from building a technology-focused business Chapters [00:00] Intro [01:18] Vincent’s engineering background [03:45] Early career challenges [08:20] Taking ownership of your career [11:02] The power of mindset and personal growth [14:12] Entrepreneurship and stepping into discomfort [17:45] Building a business and balancing family [21:03] Networking advice for engineers [25:10] Final career advice for young professionals Want to share your story? Book a Call here: Click me!

    How Engineers Can Build Careers Through Networking, Risk & Entrepreneurship
See All (13)

About

The Modern Engineer is a high-signal podcast for senior engineers, managers, and tech operators navigating the jump from Senior to Staff, Staff to Principal, and beyond. Each episode spotlights experienced professionals inside companies like Google, Meta, and Apple as they share what actually moves the needle at the top levels of engineering careers. We talk about: Breaking into engineering leadership Managing high and low performers Giving hard feedback Navigating big-tech politics Negotiating $300k+ compensation packages Deciding when to switch companies vs. stay for equity upside Building long-term career moats Managing burnout without sacrificing growth This isn’t generic career advice. It’s strategic insight for engineers who want leverage, status growth, and long-term optionality, while staying sharp, relevant, and in control of their trajectory. If you’re serious about maximizing your engineering career, you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Syed Ishaat
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Modern Engineer Podcast