Engineering Change: Lessons Learned on My Path to New Opportunities

Hey everyone,

This week, I’m sharing my experience moving from a small firm to a big one—and what that’s meant for my career and growth over the last year nine months. This year had a lot of ups and downs (this episode was recorded in June and I am just getting it out…). I am happy for Nicolai’s support through this and I look forward to many more episodes coming out.

What would you like to see more of?

Personal takeaways:

* Flexibility: Turns out, the big company isn’t as slow-moving as I thought. Milestones and structure actually bring freedom to explore, innovate, and make mistakes.

* Expanded toolbox: The more people you connect with—across disciplines—the better you get at your job. Every new conversation and collaboration adds a new tool.

* Resources: There’s more access to technical codes, sample projects, and experts, but also space to build my own reusable tools, like spreadsheets for designs.

* Soft skills: Volunteering and joining internal networks (like Enlace for Hispanic engineers) have grown my network and boosted my confidence. These bigger companies have endless training resources.

* Endless career pivots: You can chart new paths, propose new ideas, and switch directions—all without leaving the company.

Action items for you:

* If you’re thinking of switching firm sizes or career tracks, connect with someone who’s done it. Be curious, not cautious.

* Start a conversation with colleagues outside your “bubble.” There’s wisdom everywhere.

* Volunteer, join an internal group, or attend a conference—don’t wait for permission, but do learn the process for asking.

* Reflect on whether your workflows and resources are making you more effective—and start building (or sharing) something reusable.

As always, keep an open mind. If your current job isn’t sparking joy, experiment with new options before making a leap. We’re here to help you navigate challenges!

If you’ve got questions, feedback, or just want to chat, reply to this email or visit luisfelipeduque.com/contact.

Thanks for tuning in. Let’s continue to engineer our future!