Engineering leader Archives

175: Do You Make These 3 Mistakes in Mentorship?

by Max Ahumada | Jul 1, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I share my journey of leveraging mentorship to pivot from engineering to business leadership. I discuss the critical importance of having world-class mentors and how their guidance opened doors I never thought possible.

You’ll learn about the three biggest mistakes mentees make: not having world-class mentors, not meeting with them regularly, and not asking for what you really want.

Through my own experiences and the lessons I’ve learned, I provide practical advice on avoiding these pitfalls and maximizing the benefits of mentorship.

So press play and let’s chat about how to elevate your career through powerful mentorship!

157: Learn to Say More with Less Words | Executive Communication

by Max Ahumada | Feb 26, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I reflect on a recent coaching session with an engineering leader named David, who struggled to articulate his career challenges concisely.

I share how, despite his impressive background, David’s long-winded communication hindered his progress. From experiences like this, I’ve learned the critical importance of clear and concise communication in career advancement.

I delve into how engineers, like myself, often fall into the trap of verbosity, but mastering concise communication is essential for success. Whether it’s in emails or conversations, brevity saves time and fosters clarity. By adopting this habit, engineers can project authority, autonomy, and decisiveness, crucial qualities for effective leadership.

Join me as I discuss the power of concise communication and its transformative impact on career growth.

So press play and let’s chat about leveling up your communication game!

151: Forget Work-Life Balance If You Want to Be Happy | Master the Wheel of Life

by Max Ahumada | Jan 15, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the crucial concept of whole life balance, challenging the traditional notion of work-life balance.

The centerpiece of this episode is the Wheel of Life, a powerful tool for assessing satisfaction in eight key areas, including body, finances, relationships, mindset, and vocation. I guide you through the process of scoring each domain and emphasize the importance of taking small, specific actions to improve each area gradually.

The episode concludes with an actionable plan to prioritize and address the areas that need attention the most. Don’t miss the chance to grab the accompanying workbook and embark on your journey toward whole life balance.

So press play and let’s chat about transforming your life one wheel at a time.

136: Formula 1 Performance Leads to RAPID Career Acceleration with Paul Teasdale | McLaren F1 Team

by Max Ahumada | Oct 26, 2023 | Podcast

In this episode, we bring you high performance Formula 1 insights for your career acceleration goals with Paul Teasdale.

Paul is a former member of the McLaren F1 Racing team, and now travels around the world helping companies and individuals as a coach, speaker, facilitator, and podcast host.

We cover his RAPID framework, a unique way to apply the data-driven methodologies of high performance racing into your career. And here’s the most surprising part of his model that every engineer needs to know:

Data comes last.

Paul held various roles including consulting in food manufacturing, international shipping, dairy export and business banking, before landing the opportunity with McLaren, the Formula 1 team and supercar manufacturer. After 6 years with McLaren, Paul went on to launch his own coaching and consulting practice and developed his RAPID framework.

135: Success is Determined by Your Successors | Why You Need a Succession Plan Now

by Max Ahumada | Oct 23, 2023 | Podcast

In this episode, we’re delving into a vital aspect of career growth: succession planning. Just like interviews, succession planning is crucial for career advancement. We’ll explore the three phases of career progression and what often keeps us stuck.

Join me as we discuss the mindset shift needed and three practical tips for effective succession planning. It’s time to take responsibility for your career development and build your path to that next promotion.

Ready for more? Tune in to the Happy Engineer Podcast. Let’s chat…

132: Five Strategies to Win the Inbox War | The End of Never-Ending Email

by Max Ahumada | Oct 9, 2023 | Podcast

In this episode, I dive into the often-overlooked challenges of building a thriving engineering career.

Often, it’s not just about technical prowess. Many crucial aspects have nothing to do with being a great engineer.

We explore the war of the inbox, discussing five strategies to help you regain control and maximize your efficiency.

These practical tips are key to mastering the inbox and reclaiming your focus, ultimately accelerating your engineering career.

So press play and… let’s chat about conquering the inbox war.

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