Laura Nguyen, a seasoned marketing executive and certified coach, shares her insights on the power of intentional sabbaticals. She reveals how breaks can enhance productivity and well-being, challenging the stigma around time off. The conversation delves into balancing work ethic with personal growth, the joy of problem-solving, and the necessity of mindfulness practices. Listeners learn about planning impactful career breaks, reflecting on values, and overcoming fears of re-entering the workforce, all key to fostering a fulfilled professional life.

Grab the FREE guide mentioned in this episode, "How to Influence & Get What You Want at Work: Powerful Questions for Engineering Managers"  Click Here to Download the Guide   ======================   When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational insights you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our exclusive coaching program for engineering leaders, The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️.   ============================   Are office politics holding you back from achieving your full potential as an engineering leader?   In this episode, I dive into the often dreaded topic of office politics and why they are crucial to your career growth as an engineering leader.    I share real-life examples, like my conversation with Matthew, a Senior Manager who felt stuck and frustrated by the politics in his company.   Here's the catch — it's not the politics that holds you back, it's your mindset toward them.    Together, we'll explore how to shift your perspective, step into the political arena with integrity, and build influence, one person at a time. Plus, I give you practical tips, including how asking the right questions can change everything.    So press play and let’s chat… It’s time to turn office politics into your secret weapon for career success.   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WE GROW BY WORD OF MOUTH   If you have received value from The Happy Engineer Podcast, would you help us pay it forward by SHARING this episode with another engineer?   Hit the SHARE button, or copy the episode URL and paste it into a text message or social media post!   Thank you for helping us grow the show.   ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube  

Episode 186 - Matt O’Neill Title: (see AirTable)   When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational development actions and key points you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our intensive coaching program, exclusively for engineers.   ============================   In this episode, my guest Matt O’Neill teaches us that happiness is a choice, even when life gets tough.   Matt is is global leader in happiness education, teaching audiences how to live a life of 'Conscious Happiness' and now having impact over 100,000 people worldwide. His work includes the "Good Mood Revolution" book and podcast where he explains the importance of conquering negative thought patterns while embracing habits that lead to a happier life.    Matt's teaching isn't just theory, it's tested in the real world too. Matt and his wife have 4 young children and they run two successful businesses with $8 Million in revenues and over 80 employees. Living by the happiness principles he teaches, his company is recognized as the #1 company to work for in South Carolina.    Matt's unique approach to choosing good moods, even in the face of adversity, resonates deeply with each of us.    So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to unlock your potential for lasting happiness!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WANT MORE AMAZING GUESTS?   “I love Zach and these amazing guests on The Happy Engineer Podcast.” If that sounds like you, please consider following, rating and reviewing the show!    I know it’s a huge favor to ask, but when you follow, leave a 5-star rating, and add an honest review of how these episodes are helping you… it’s a massive benefit for getting the attention of powerhouse guests on this show.    On Apple Podcasts, click our show, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5-stars, and select “Write a Review.”   Thank you so much.    ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube  

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational insights you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our exclusive coaching program for engineering leaders, The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️.   ============================   Are hidden productivity thieves slowing down your career progress?   In this episode, I dive into a critical topic that’s affecting many engineering leaders today: facing uncertainty and fear.    Over the past few months, I’ve had countless conversations with professionals who are feeling the squeeze of an unpredictable economy, career challenges, and the pressure to succeed amidst growing doubts.    Whether it’s a looming layoff, a difficult job search, or navigating career pivots, the fear of the unknown is real. But here’s the truth: the greatest leaders are those who can create certainty in the face of uncertainty.    I’ll share actionable strategies to build confidence, shift your mindset, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.    So press play and let’s chat…how do we find confidence when fear tries to take over?   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WE GROW BY WORD OF MOUTH   If you have received value from The Happy Engineer Podcast, would you help us pay it forward by SHARING this episode with another engineer?   Hit the SHARE button, or copy the episode URL and paste it into a text message or social media post!   Thank you for helping us grow the show.   ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube  

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational development actions and key points you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our intensive coaching program, exclusively for engineers.   ============================   In this episode, you’ll see what career transformation looks like with Bruno Yoshioka, graduate of the Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint, my intensive coaching program for engineering leaders.   Bruno is currently a Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft working on Microsoft Intune, a cloud-based endpoint management solution. He joined Microsoft out of college in 2014 after completing undergraduate degrees in computer science and music performance.    Throughout his 10+ years of working at Microsoft, he has experienced ups and downs from burnout to great success and elation, and found himself at one of those low points in late 2023.   That’s when he silenced the skeptic in his head, and joined a community of like-minded engineering leaders in coaching and training for career growth and lifestyle design.   He’ll share how he changed his mindset from fixed to growth, renewed his energy, created extreme clarity in his purpose and vision, and overall transformed the quality of his work life…   In just ninety days.   So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to get off the bleachers and into the arena of your life!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WANT MORE AMAZING GUESTS?   “I love Zach and these amazing guests on The Happy Engineer Podcast.” If that sounds like you, please consider following, rating and reviewing the show!    I know it’s a huge favor to ask, but when you follow, leave a 5-star rating, and add an honest review of how these episodes are helping you… it’s a massive benefit for getting the attention of powerhouse guests on this show.    On Apple Podcasts, click our show, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5-stars, and select “Write a Review.”   Thank you so much.    ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube  

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational insights you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our exclusive coaching program for engineering leaders, The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️.   ============================   Are hidden productivity thieves slowing down your career progress?   In this episode, I dive into the five thieves of your productivity—those sneaky forces that derail your progress without you even realizing it.    From the lack of clear priorities to energy mismanagement, each thief subtly steals your efficiency, leaving you overwhelmed and frustrated.    I'll walk you through each one, sharing practical insights on how to identify and combat these productivity killers.    If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard but not getting anywhere, this episode is for you.    So press play and let’s chat… about taking back control of your productivity!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WE GROW BY WORD OF MOUTH   If you have received value from The Happy Engineer Podcast, would you help us pay it forward by SHARING this episode with another engineer?   Hit the SHARE button, or copy the episode URL and paste it into a text message or social media post!   Thank you for helping us grow the show.   ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube

Christopher Belcastro, a seasoned CTO with over a dozen years in product development and engineering leadership, shares his transformative journey from struggling manager to successful leader. He discusses the importance of embracing discomfort for team growth and the critical role of effective communication in resolving conflicts. Christopher reflects on his early management challenges and emphasizes the value of coaching as a catalyst for personal and professional development, encouraging listeners to take bold actions in their careers.

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational insights you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our exclusive coaching program for engineering leaders, The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️.   ============================   In this episode, I tackle the tough topic of layoffs and what to do if you find yourself suddenly out of a job.    I share some hard truths about how layoffs can happen to even the most talented engineers and how it's not a reflection of your worth or abilities.    You'll learn why it's crucial to avoid falling into the trap of endless resume polishing and instead focus on engaging your network and having real conversations that open doors.    I also offer practical advice on how to stay sharp and avoid the mindset pitfalls that can keep you stuck.    So press play and let’s chat… Let’s turn setbacks into comebacks!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WE GROW BY WORD OF MOUTH   If you have received value from The Happy Engineer Podcast, would you help us pay it forward by SHARING this episode with another engineer?   Hit the SHARE button, or copy the episode URL and paste it into a text message or social media post!   Thank you for helping us grow the show.   ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational development actions and key points you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our intensive coaching program, exclusively for engineers.   ============================   In this episode, meet Dr. Romie Mushtaq, author of the “The Busy Brain Cure” and creator of the BrainSHIFT protocol.   Her magic power is to help you find focus, tame anxiety, and sleep again.   Dr. Romie is a regularly featured medical expert analyst on Fox News in Orlando for Fox News and Good Day Orlando.   Every engineering leader I know will want to hear this conversation, including my personal breakthrough in the debrief.   Are you stuck in a success-stress cycle? Is chasing a dopamine high driving you toward procrastination? Find out today, and how to heal yourself naturally.   A traditionally trained neurologist and MD with additional board certification in Integrative Medicine, Dr. Romie completed her medical training at the Medical University of South Carolina, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and University of Michigan (Go Blue!).   So press play and let’s chat…it’s time to cure your busy brain!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WANT MORE AMAZING GUESTS?   “I love Zach and these amazing guests on The Happy Engineer Podcast.” If that sounds like you, please consider following, rating and reviewing the show!    I know it’s a huge favor to ask, but when you follow, leave a 5-star rating, and add an honest review of how these episodes are helping you… it’s a massive benefit for getting the attention of powerhouse guests on this show.    On Apple Podcasts, click our show, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5-stars, and select “Write a Review.”   Thank you so much.    ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube  

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational insights you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our exclusive coaching program for engineering leaders, The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️.   ============================   In this episode, I dive into the common trap many engineering managers fall into when they pursue career growth the lazy way: by working harder and longer hours.    We explore Rahul's journey, a dedicated engineering manager who achieved success through hard work only to find himself overwhelmed and burned out. Through Rahul's story, I highlight the importance of shifting from an individual contributor mindset to a leadership mindset, focusing on strategic delegation, and prioritizing tasks that matter most.    This episode is all about understanding the pitfalls of the “work harder” mentality and embracing a smarter, more sustainable approach to career advancement.    So press play and let’s chat about how to level up without burning out!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WE GROW BY WORD OF MOUTH   If you have received value from The Happy Engineer Podcast, would you help us pay it forward by SHARING this episode with another engineer?   Hit the SHARE button, or copy the episode URL and paste it into a text message or social media post!   Thank you for helping us grow the show.   ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube