Communication Mechanics: A Podcast for Engineers

Celebrating the Woodruff 40 Under 40: Communicating Impact and Leading Change

In a very special season finale, Dr. Jill Fennell [https://www.me.gatech.edu/user/1080]sits down with episode co-host Dr. Mihir Pathak to speak with five Georgia Tech Woodruff School Alumni who were selected to be part of the 2025 class of 40 under 40 honorees [https://www.me.gatech.edu/news/5-woodruff-school-alumni-named-2025-class-40-under-40]. Join Kevin Cone, Dr. Joe Harms, Dr. Robert Herbert, Dr. Akanksha Menon, and Shay Natarajan as they share their insights, career successes, challenges, and advice for current students and new engineers. _ Show Notes and Timestamps: * 01:00 Introduction to Episode and Co-Host * 03:01 Introducing 40 Under 40 Honorees * 05:42 Why honorees think they were selected for the award * 10:26 Honorees who went into academia and why they chose academia * 13:35 Connection between studying engineering and pursuing sports * 15:32 Balancing engineering and full time sports * 17:45 Insight into investment in companies * 25:07 Major obstacles honorees faced and how they overcame them * 35:06 Advice for current students and early career engineers * 42:42 Final advice, support and resources, and thanks  Resources for Georgia Tech Students in Need: * Center for Mental Health Care and Resources [https://mentalhealth.gatech.edu/] * Stamps Health Services [https://health.gatech.edu/] _ For more information about this episode's guests, please see links and details below: Mihir Pathak [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pathakmihir/] Current title and organization: cofounder at antitech Shay Natarajan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shweta-shay-natarajan-9a252634/] Current title and organization: Partner, Alliance Kevin Cone [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cone/] Current title and organization: Assistant AD | Student-Athlete Development, Georgia Tech Athletics Association Akanksha Menon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akankshamenon/] Current title and organization: Assistant Professor, Georgia Tech [https://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/menon]  Robert Herbert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-herbert-lsu/] Current title/org: Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University Joseph Harms [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-harms-487379190/] Current title/org: Assistant Professor, Washington University School of Medicine [https://radonc.wustl.edu/people/joseph-harms/] _ A transcript of this episode is available here [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pthfzaxiUxSPtDrFqEbNXp8xKJG58eCTYvjNrhNNLhM/edit?usp=sharing].  Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.

Engineering Communication Across Power Differences

In this episode, Dr. Jill Fennell [https://www.me.gatech.edu/user/1080]sits down with Mike Tinskey [https://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/tinskey], Professor of the Practice in Mechanical Engineering and Interim Associate Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Georgia Tech, to talk about best practices for communication across power differences in different engineering contexts.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps * 01:01 Intro to Topic and Guest * 02:55 Defining Power Differences * 07:53 Advice for new engineers regarding risk and consequences * 09:56 The importance of Audience and Communicating Up in the workplace * 13:46 Communicating to direct supervisors and asking questions without signaling incompetence * 16:17 Communicating to Executives and how to present information effectively * 19:45 Communicating upwards and clear signaling of informing versus requesting decisions * 22:49 Students interacting with sponsors and advice for Capstone students * 25:14 Lateral communications within power structures * 28:56 Communicating with machinists and technicians and other specialised roles * 30:50 Advice for how new engineers can demonstrate respect for experiential knowledge while also communicating their design goals * 33:05 Advice for students as they navigate power differences for the first time * 34:53 Importance of listening and receiving communication and the importance of engagement * 39:20 Final advice for communicating across hierarchies A transcript of this episode is available here [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bp5Kd9zQf2lgfIuyMLFkapr5eebBy5Eu3haMbBKiiMQ/edit?usp=sharing].  Episode Edited by Lee Hibbard.

Soliciting Engineering Lab Involvement

In this episode, Dr. Jill Fennell [https://www.me.gatech.edu/user/1080]sits down with Dr. Brandon Dixon [https://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/dixon], Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies at the Woodruff School and Director of the Laboratory of Lymphatic Biology and Bioengineering [https://llbb.gatech.edu/] at Georgia Tech. The two discuss how undergraduate engineers can get involved with lab work and how best to solicit lab directors for opportunities in different labs.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps: * 01:01 Introduction to Topic and Guest * 02:05 Value of lab involvement as an undergraduate * 04:20 Advice for students interested in labwork and available labs * 07:06 How does student communication shape their perception by lab faculty? * 11:49 What qualities are lab directors looking for in potential students for labs? * 14:03 Which ways of communicating are preferred by faculty? * 16:10 How to demonstrate being a good fit for the lab and crafting identity in communication * 19:05 Demonstrating readiness and fit without over or underselling yourself * 21:16 How can students show preparation if they don’t have any research yet? * 23:30 What kind of language signals understanding of research vs. wanting a lab job? * 25:33 What are common questions asked during the meeting stage? * 27:37 Good questions from students during the meeting * 31:28 Good practices for following up after email exchange * 33:41 Reasonable window for a next steps follow up email * 36:37 How best to communicate a change in plans without burning bridges * 38:08 One takeaway piece of advice for students interested in lab research; outro A list of undergraduate research opportunities is shared here. [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jkSjHwbJJcmKEww45l-GH6E2dSsdGihp/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100075234716198946683&rtpof=true&sd=true] Take a look at an example email solicitation here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gDK5qfVU6kO0dLry2Doiuz88lA7lhi3E/view?usp=sharing].  A transcript of this episode is available here [https://docs.google.com/document/d/11fFV6oMBSShJ-Tlm33j8R5ZE0p7uczRtvy1I8mb1b2E/edit?usp=sharing].  Episode Edited by Lee Hibbard.

Engineering Communication is Rhetorical

In this episode, Dr. Jill Fennell [https://www.me.gatech.edu/user/1080] sits down with Georgia Tech alum Foster Finley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fosterfinley/] to challenge the myth that technical communication is objective by examining how engineers make strategic, audience-driven choices in real work.  Take a look at Foster's book list here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AvTtWcKvUVt8F03beBsrehVP4qVcR4VS/view?usp=sharing]. _ Show Notes and Timestamps: * 01:00 Introduction to topic and guest * 02:18 Why reading is fundamental for engineers * 03:33 Why all communication is rhetorical * 08:13 Importance of audience understanding * 10:35 Project failure and communication * 14:04 Audience as codesigner versus audience as recipient of facts * 17:42 Rhetorically skilled engineers in the workplace * 22:01 What employers are looking for in technical positions * 24:24 Risk of engineers making assumptions * 26:14 How students can handle interpreting data and audience influence * 28:50 Role of persuasion in an engineer’s job * 31:26 How can students practice these principles in everyday communication * 34:03 Advice for students preparing for cross functional roles and internships * 37:43 Engineering as building and as advocacy * 40:33 One nontechnical book you would assign engineers to read * 42:14 Wrap up and importance of rhetorical consideration, reading A Transcript of this episode is available here.  Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.

Design Communication for New Engineers

In the season 4 premiere, Dr. Jill Fennell [https://www.me.gatech.edu/user/1080] sits down with returning guest Dr. Amit S. Jariwala [https://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/jariwala] and new guest and fellow instructor Marty Jacobson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-jacobson-cswe/] to discuss the conventions of Design Communication. The episode covers how early-career engineers make communication decisions as they move from "student writing" into professional practice, design teams, and real constraints.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps: * 01:00 Welcome and Introductions to Guests - Amit Jariwala and Marty Jacobson * 01:36 Communication Design Processes: Creating Specifications * 03:27 What defines a strong input or specification * 06:27 Role of the spec sheet in early design decisions and how you discuss them * 09:02 Common misunderstandings students have about requirements * 12:10 examples of good or bad Specs * 15:47 Ensuring Measurable Specifications * 20:05 How do students talk about design processes to different stakeholders? * 20:57 How do students build trust that their designs are feasible and reliable? * 22:27 Undercutting utility through qualitative language * 25:55 Specific Qualitative Phrases * 29:46 advice for students resisting to commit to numbers early in the process * 33:43 Advice for students trying to balance flexibility and actionability * 38:06 Wrapping up and last points of advice A transcript of this episode is available here [https://docs.google.com/document/d/19lFiOlx95pnSlStvn-9X9Qk0JjR6NYvdEYvh9SH1i7E/edit?usp=sharing]. Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.