The Happy Engineer | Career Success for Engineering Leadership

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The Happy Engineer helps engineering leaders reach the next level without suffering burnout - because success without fulfillment is failure. You will discover how to redefine work/life balance and lead with purpose, while accelerating your next promotion. Bring a growth mindset, engineers... It's time for personal development before technical development, emotional intelligence (EQ) before IQ, and coaching to crush your comfort zone! If you find yourself asking questions like these, then this show is for you:* How do I decide between a technical career path or management? Can I ever go back?* How do I reignite passion and purpose in my engineering career (or just stop dreading Monday)?* Why am I not getting promoted to Manager / Director / VP (and my peers are)?* How can I increase my salary and total compensation faster?* What should I do if I want to change discipline, industry, or even leave engineering?* What does it take to move from engineering to entrepreneurship?* WHY AM I SO UNHAPPY???Your host, Zach White, knows how frustrating building your engineering career can be. As an engineer himself, he climbed the corporate ladder. He's seen (and survived) it all. He's felt stuck, been burned out from 80-hour weeks, suffered under a bad boss, and had his career plan thwarted multiple times by corporate reorgs. You know the worst part? He lived below his full potential.Ultimately Zach found incredible success in his career, but it was not without trials, failure, and a rock-bottom experience with burnout.Each week, the former engineering leader, now turned CEO and sought-after Lifestyle Engineering Coach, will help you create an action plan to level up your career while designing a life you love. Enjoy inspiring conversations with experts from all corners of industry and life. Learn how to overcome any career obstacle you face. Get off the road to burnout. Build your career. Balance your life. BE HAPPY!

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Recent Reviews
  • Andyrich.us
    Inspiring and educational
    Just finished my first episode of The Happy Engineer. I learned a lot in this episode, and am ready to apply these things to my business. Keep it up!
  • lhn546
    Valuable and action insights!
    Zach does a great job of providing valuable and actionable insights for a listeners. Great show for engineers and beyond.
  • Scarlette J. Rojas
    Scarlette J. Rojas
    Zach was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The conversation flowed so well and I'd recommend him to any guest looking to have a strong flow and intentional questions throughout the discussion.
  • Guillaume Wiatr
    Expanding the Definition of Success for Engineers
    Zach’s podcast is a fantastic resource for engineers, and I really appreciate how he thinks outside the box for his audience. He brought me on with curiosity and confidence, even though I don’t typically speak about engineering. Despite that, he still managed to create a valuable conversation. Zach goes beyond the typical clichés, expanding the definition of success for engineers. We are lucky to have someone like Zach in our business community!
  • RobertJHunt2010
    Talking about Accountability
    Zachary was a great host with great energy and wisdom. He asks great questions and made me feel very comfortable in the interview.
  • GoodMoodMatt
    Zach is the truth
    Zach white is a happiness master, and he teaches all of us, engineers as well as non-engineers, how to live a life of fulfillment.
  • PeakPerformanceDoctor
    So impressed with the quality of this podcast!!
    Got introduced to Zach by a common friend (Aaron Walker - thank you - and please do yourself a favor and check out his episode with Zach!) - and immediately was impressed by how genuine, intelligent, enthusiastic, and thoughtful he was. Then I started listening to the Happy Engineer podcast - and was further impressed by the quality of content, the engaging conversations, and the practical value that was packed into each of the episodes I listened to. Next - I was blessed to be asked to be a guest on this show - and have to say that this was one of my favorite experiences of being a podcast guest. In summary - I highly recommend subscribing to this podcast (if you do - get ready to learn information and strategies that you can put into action - and that will undoubtedly equip you to level up in work, life, and relationships!). Respectfully, Dr Andy Garrett
  • Matthias Merrill
    Amazing podcast
    This podcast is excellent. It has not only given me peace of mind on several things, but has also given me a lot of practical advice that when applied makes a true difference! As an engineering manager, applying some of the principles Zach has taught and exposed in this podcast, has helped me excel in my career, climb the ladder faster than my peers, and overall produce better results and lead teams to true success! “Crush Comfort Create Courage”
  • Fire builder
    Firewalking 🔥👣 with Zach White
    Was just interviewed by Master Host: Zach White of "The Happy Engineer Podcast. I knew when the mics went live that this would be an outstanding podcast. Zach is "all in" and his attention to detail shows up big time. He asks powerful questions and has a focused flow to his show. This is a podcasting guest's dream come true. Would go back on his show in a heartbeat. Dave Albin CEO Firewalk Adventures
  • Lynn Gravatt
    Inspiring Leading Edge Guests!
    I have been so inspired by the high caliber of guests on this podcast! Thank you to Zack for being a hub that brings together so much brilliance to Happy Engineers everywhere.
  • Michelle Toft
    Wonderful!!!!
    I just met Zach at a wellness conference and he is an amazing guy with great character and integrity. I could listen to him speak for hours because of the content and ability to get to what’s important and skip the small talk. Wishing him every success and hope everyone who listens has the same positive experience I did!
  • JakeJik
    Endless Gold Nuggets For Everyone
    Each of us has our own core values, thoughts/truths (or untruths) about life. This podcast is full of gold nuggets that each of the listeners can pull out of the show and use to their benefit. The show will specifically be useful to removing untruths from the minds of engineers today.
  • haddvhjhdes
    A Must-Listen for Engineering Managers
    I usually add podcasts to my list and never get around to listening to them, but this one was different. The breadth of topics covered is highly relevant to me as an engineering manager. Zach's interviewing style is both engaging and informative; it's clear he takes a genuine interest in his guests. I appreciate how he's willing to share insights from his own experience, making the content even more relatable and actionable. Highly recommend for anyone looking to level up in their career.
  • Xdertyb
    Good to listen to
    Has a lot of good info and tips.
  • 😁😤😠😝😡👿😾🙊👎
    Well-Rounded Information
    The Happy Engineer is filled with diverse lessons and knowledge that anyone can benefit from. This is definitely a podcast I’ll be following.
  • Engineering Sales Leader
    Great Insights
    Zach has great guests on the show that bring insights and perspectives I had never considered before. At the end of the podcast, Zach does a good job re-teaching the key points and how they relate to the engineering audience.
  • Ron92694
    Motivational
    The content is very interesting and motivational, great job Zach!
  • Tracewho
    Zach is very informative and helpful!
    This is a great podcast. I just started listening last week and I find immense value in Zach’s insight, as well as his guests. I feel as though I will find value in my career while listening to the podcast. I will learn so much on so many different topic and I look forward to it. 10/10 Give Zach a listen!
  • Roberta Ndlela
    Truly inspirational
    Zach truly delivers when it comes to using his engineering experience in helping those in the profession thrive, find joy in their work and become leaders.
  • Aurora_The_StarWing
    Also applies to design and PD professionals.
    Inspiring and educational.
  • Ma_Vi_S
    "The Happy Engineer" podcast is an absolute must-listen!
    If you're an engineer looking to achieve career success and find greater fulfillment in your work, "The Happy Engineer" podcast is an absolute must-listen! Host Zach White is a master at distilling complex engineering concepts into easy-to-understand language and providing practical advice for navigating the challenges of the industry. What sets this podcast apart is Zach's genuine passion for helping engineers succeed. He draws on his own experience as an engineer and shares inspiring stories from successful professionals in the field. His enthusiasm will leave you feeling motivated and excited to take on your own career goals. "The Happy Engineer" covers a wide range of topics, from building your personal brand to networking to negotiating your salary. Each episode is packed with actionable insights that you can start implementing right away.
  • 907grapenut
    If you’re an engineer, subscribe.
    Zach’s audience is engineering leaders and in his interviews he is always thinking about them and drawing out insights applicable to his audience. He provides summaries of concepts and practical ideas on how engineers can use the info him that his guests provide. Having followed for a while now, I think this podcast is getting more and more valuable to engineering leaders or even those aspiring to love their engineering careers and be great at their craft.
  • HuskyHuskie
    Great career advice
    I recently found Zach’s podcast and it was clear after the first episode this was the real deal when it came to career advice for software engineers. I still have a massive backlog of episodes to catch up on but I’m looking forward to the wealth of knowledge offered by this podcast.
  • MHenDevLife
    Great content
    Recently found this gem. A lot of content can be beneficial to engineers across the board. Two thumbs up!
  • ramblin_texan
    A Podcast that Deserves Your Next Listen
    I’m pretty picky about podcasts and like this one quite a bit. It’s simple, direct, no crazy ads, and not aimless rambling, great job! I’ve found myself thinking about what I’ve listened to longer than it took to listen to it.
  • Asolis10
    Great and real conversations
    Very nice conversations and advices, using a real life situations that normally we face as professionals in different work environments.
  • TacoRyan
    Good podcast for leaders
    Zach has a great variety of guests and digs into their fields to learn how they can be applied by engineering leaders. I appreciate the different perspectives that he interviews.
  • Cassell17
    Very encouraging for someone challenging limitations
    After listening to only 2 episodes, I recognized the positive message and encouragement this podcast provides. It’s an inspiration to engineers that push, rush and drive life. This podcast is useful to refocus and regroup to prioritize the work/life balance.
  • jo5bible
    Machine learning for happy engineers
    Episode 67 ML with Kristin was great. I kinda wanna get yellow5 (what I think she called her image classification technique) workin in python and detect (in her case school buss traffic for her neighborhood friends)… …maybe I’d use it as one input along with some others in Minitab’s model ops! - i like these podcasts because of all the ideas and new ideas they trigger for me. Thanks Zach.
  • kbfitgineer
    Great listen!
    Episode 65 was a really good listen this week. I happened to be doing some Leadership training at work alongside the OACO coaching that touched on emotional intelligence, managing individuals, and assessing and deploying talent. One of the sessions was a Steven Covey module on better listening, more specifically, empathetic listening -- really listening, understanding, and acknowledging one's feelings as they speak. Another session was a podcast on the importance of feeling painful emotions. It had two takeaways that I connected with your podcast this week: 1 - Emotions are the thing before action. That is, there is a reason there is an "e" before "motion" in e-motions. 2 - It is important to understand all the emotions - more than just happy, sad, mad - so we can better feel our own emotions and better converse with others more empathetically. In that session, they referenced the emotion wheel - which I just love as there are so many emotions on it. I'm going to get a poster of it so I can use it to do 3 things: 1 - Acknowledge and name my emotions. 2- Acknowledge and name the emotions I am sensing from others, especially for those empathetic listening situations. 3 - Use it to help my children acknowledge and name their emotions. I say all this to say that the podcast was a great listen as it touched on many points in my various training sessions this week; it really helps to put it all together into action. Thanks!
  • Popps biloxi
    An Honestly Great Podcast
    So I thought the conversation was very easy to follow and very honest. I only listen to a few podcasts but I will start listening to this as well. There was some discussion on productivity. I see a lot of manufacturing facilities really hone in on utilization and staying busy as metrics to follow to see if things are going well in a business. I think what Said about priorities is absolutely correct. The goal must be known and it must be clearly and constantly communicated. It doesn’t matter if my robot is 100% utilized if it’s making things that are not supporting proper demand to meet the goal. What I always do is understand the goal or priority and work backwards from there, creating tasks that support that and accomplishing those tasks. If you work tasks from that perspective, it’s easier to course correct when there is a change. I could honestly rattle on for hours about assembly lines and how to set them up for one piece flow but you may fall asleep reading this. Good luck with the podcast and your business! I recommend for anyone that wants to listen to great conversations!
  • thatengineeringguy14
    Zach brings the energy!
    Zach has great energy in every conversation, and works hard to bring in excellent guests that can bring amazing insights and acceleration for engineers! If you are an engineer wanting to level up, this is the podcast for you!
  • technetronic
    Authentic and Informative
    In preparation for my interview with Zach, I listened to two of his episodes, both of which were intriguing: one about managing a $10 billion engineering organization and the other featuring Zach himself. So intriguing that I’ve already subscribed to make his podcasts a regular in my repertoire. Having both listened to and been on his show, anyone in engineering looking for an upgrade in their life and in their career would benefit from perusing his shows and sharing in the wisdom and wit that he elicits. Thank you for your contribution to the world of engineering, Zach, and congratulations as you approach your year anniversary!
  • JimmyZucarro
    An Amazing Guest
    I featured Zach on the “Being an Engineer” podcast, which I cohost. He was frankly one of my favorite guests to interview. I migrated over here to his podcast to indulge in his content. Keep up the good work! I like your advice and idiomatic expressions. -Raf
  • stockbd
    Insightful Podcasts!
    Great job in bringing so many compelling speakers forward with great insights about career growth and leading a more rewarding life!
  • Hungry-0716
    Great forum for engineers at all phases of their careers
    Zach is wise beyond his years. He knows how we think, what we care about, and generally what makes us tick. Engineers can use this podcast as a guide to life and career and as a regular reminder of our true north. I also appreciate the value and perspective his guests bring to these discussions. Take a listen…it’s all about constantly and courageously challenging ourselves!
  • Franklin gamer
    Move it!
    I enjoy the interviews and always pick up at least one great idea to think over. Even more valuable is the post-interview analysis from Zach where he helps move the ideas from thought to action. I love the positive energy!
  • phdegbd
    Positive and practical
    This is a great reminder and encouragement toward reaching your goal, which starts with believing (mindset) and the. taking action.
  • Tony D.isciple
    Really gives a push!
    Zach and the whole OACO family are awesome. Real and actionable items that have helped me so much this past month! Getting out of your head Going to the next level Setting goals Finding purpose
  • SenYai WA
    Excellent podcast
    Zach has a voice that’s welcoming and easy to listen to, and navigates each episode with an ideal tempo and fluidity of a seasoned radio personality. The guests are exceptional, experts from a variety of fields, all sharing the same goal - to help you become the best version of yourself that you could possibly be. Always insightful and entertaining, this is the podcast that will help you get the most out of life and your career. And honestly, you don’t need to be an engineer to enjoy it!
  • westmidude
    Awesome insights!
    Zach’s podcast is fantastic, tons of great insights and valuable tips to enhance your mindset and your career.
  • JR4NOTAXES
    Great and helpful podcasts
    The happy engineer podcast is very helpful for attaining the right mindsets, illustrating best practices, & maximizing your effectiveness and efficiency if you put these ideas into practice!
  • Scouter.Steve
    Real Conversations
    Love that Zach connects with his guests and discuss real issues and provide great tips.
  • Tej_G
    Eye opening and inspiring
    Zach brings amazing topics to the podcasts, and his guests always have great insights. These podcasts have contributed significantly in my self reflection, motivation and growth. Always listen till the end for notes from Zach.
  • Coach Tori Gordon
    sooo good!!
    I'm not an engineer, but I still find this show supere helpful. Thought provoking topics i love!
  • JC 2133
    Zach’s the man!
    Great energy, great show 🔥
  • slips8995
    Great listen!!
    Zach has candid conversations that provide engineering career insights. Interesting and insightful!
  • Evy8324
    Great advices and to the point
    I enjoy very much all the tips and great interviews. I always look for honest and practical advice, so this show is one of my favorites. Great job Zack and thank you for sharing with us.
  • Tallorangejosh
    Must Listen
    Zach is a leader through and through. He is warm, energetic and provides loads of great insight and advice!!
  • _sam.lin
    A Must Listen For Any Engineer
    This podcast is amazing! Listening to Zach’s backstory on his engineering discipline gave me the courage to move into something bigger than myself. 😄
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