Mudasir Gulzar’s Journey to Pass the Geotech PE Exam with CEA

While becoming a true expert in our particular field and subject of interest can lead us throughout our career, being a successful engineer requires much more than being extremely good at our craft. There are people skills we inevitably need to learn, soft skills related to project management we need to understand, and as today’s guest will prove, sales skills. Today on the show, Isaac interviews Mark Wainwright, a marketing and sales professional with 25 years of experience working for and with professional services firms—civil engineering firms fall into this category. Building upon his past experience in the field, he has now been running his own sales consulting business for the last few years and has helped a broad spectrum of professional services firms with their marketing and business development functions, from civil engineering to architecture to financial management. By differentiating marketing activities from sales activities and explaining how the lack of a sales culture within the company can hurt the organization’s future work, Mark sheds light on the importance of learning and practicing sales skills at every level of the company. He goes on to mention how engineers can use the skills they already have to become better part-time salespeople, as well as the importance of pricing based on both the effort required from the firm and the value created for the buyer in our long-term, low-volume, high-dollar industry. Resources (some links are affiliate links) Mark Wainwright (Website) - https://www.wainwrightinsight.com Managing The Professional Service Firm, by David Maister - Amazon Link The Trusted Advisor, by David Maister, Robert Galford, and Charles Green - Click here To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, by Daniel Pink - Click here The Win Without Pitching Manifesto, by Blair Enns - Click here Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen - Click here The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer. - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

16 Juni 202136min

Whether we fail our professional exam or make a mistake at our job, the key takeaway we should walk out with from these experiences is what we’ve learned from them. Even though some moments in every industry require a much more cautious approach than others, as our guest today says, “when we make small mistakes and we can be honest about them, that helps us prevent large, major, really bad mistakes.” Today’s guest is Mark Graban, an internationally recognized Lean management consultant, author of several award-winning books, and keynote speaker. He got his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a dual master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. Building upon his engineering background combined with his practical experience working with different companies in different industries—from manufacturing to technology to healthcare—he teaches managerial and leadership methodologies applicable to all sectors. On today’s episode, Mark explains how his transition from engineering to a management consultant role happened, how he managed to put himself out there publicly even after being considered a heavy introvert by the Myers-Briggs test, as well as the personal mistakes that led him to start his own podcast. As a bonus, Mark shares what he would do if he were trying to pass his FE/PE exam but had already failed it before. You’ll definitely not want to lose this! Resources (some links are affiliate links) Mark Graban (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgraban Mark Graban (Website) - https://www.markgraban.com My Favorite Mistake Podcast - myfavoritemistakepodcast.com Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement, by Mark Graban - Click here Practicing Lean: Learning How to Learn How to Get Better... Better, by Mark Graban - Click here Healthcare Kaizen: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Sustainable Continuous Improvements, by Mark Graban and Joseph Swartz - Click here Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, by Mark Graban - https://www.measuresofsuccessbook.com KaiNexus - https://www.kainexus.com Value Capture - https://valuecapturellc.com The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q

9 Juni 202125min

The field of civil engineering allows us to positively impact the lives of many people and make a huge difference in our nation. Even though getting through our schooling and professional exams can be really hard, the end result of all this hard work is well worth it. As our guest today put it, “The nation needs engineers and will always need engineers. And if you stick with it, you'll have great opportunities”. Today’s guest is none other than Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, a graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, an instructor of mechanical and civil engineering at West Point, and the 53rd Chief of Engineers of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). During his tenure as Chief of Engineers, he worked on the recovery from Superstorm Sandy, completed the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Borgne Surge Barrier in New Orleans, which won the 2014 ASCE Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award, prevented the 2011 Mississippi flood from being as destructive as it could be, and much more! Mr. Bostick is a living example of how engineering can really impact people’s lives and keep them safe during natural occurrences, as well as help the nation get back on its feet again after being disrupted by such natural disasters. With amazing stories about leadership, comebacks from failures, and the importance of mentors and the engineering profession, this episode will definitely inspire you in your studies and life. Resources (some links are affiliate links) Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick - https://thomaspbostick.com/meet / contact@thomaspbostick.com Winning After Losing: Building Resilient Teams, by Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick - https://amzn.to/3o6Pckj U.S. Military Academy at West Point - https://www.westpoint.edu Air Force Academy - https://www.usafa.af.mil U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - https://www.usace.army.mil The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier received the ASCE’s 2014 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award - https://www.asce.org/templates/press-release-detail.aspx?id=10312 PPI is our partner to help you ace your FE and PE exams. Use our discount code of CIVACand our link to get 15% off of any book you order - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi Built Bar - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer. - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

28 Maj 202136min

As history books will never let us forget, 2020 was the year the world went remote. Along with that, live events, family gatherings, as well as in-person office meetings shifted to virtual settings. Since the technology will only keep improving and not go away, it’s crucial that we learn the basics of how to run an engaging and effective virtual meeting instead of a long and arduous virtual talk. Mark jumps back on the show to join Isaac on a deep dive into some techniques we can all use to make our virtual meetings better. As working engineers themselves, they’ve used different approaches when running their routine virtual meetings for their work, and today they share with us the ones that turned out to work pretty well when it comes to keeping people engaged and interacting with the content being discussed. All the way from the setup and a test run to tips on what to do during the meeting itself, they talk about how to prepare attendees in advance, when can we have everybody unmuted, what to do to keep people’s attention while also sticking to our agenda, and much more. These will certainly be the basic skills of any professional in the future. Resources (some links are affiliate links!) KiwiCo - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/kiwi Built Bar - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer. - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

19 Maj 202123min

We’ve all at some point wondered how the process to become a civil engineer in other countries goes and what requirements and examinations people need to meet and pass in order to get the desired initials, whether they are P.E, C.Eng., etc. Today, we’ll take a closer look at how this process takes place in the UAE, as well as a deep dive into a really important topic most civil engineers simply, and mistakenly, ignore: Mental Health. Abdulrahman Atif and Ghanim Kashwani are two civil engineers from the UAE who have been friends since the old college days, and they’re the hosts of the Civil Engineering Vibes Podcast. They both got their bachelor's degrees from the American University of Sharjah, and while Abdulrahman got his Masters from Heriot-Watt University, Ghanim got his Ph.D. from the same university. Focused on the ever-changing modern world, the goal of their show is to talk about topics most universities nowadays do not have in their core curriculum but that should be addressed, such as entrepreneurship, the need for programming skills, as well as career and personal development. By elaborating on a period of Abdulrahman’s life in which he went through severe depression and mental health issues, both because of the stress of the work and some personal matters, the three of them dive deep into the reasons we may have mental burn out as civil engineers and how simply letting go of the stigma related to mental health can be beneficial. After all, it’s okay to go to therapists. Once we get past that, they argue, we can avoid those uncomfortable periods. Resources (some links are affiliate links) Ghanim Kashwani - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghanim-kashwani-90739389 Abdulrahman Atif - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulrhmanatif Civil Engineering Vibes - https://www.civilengineeringvibes.com Institution of Civil Engineers - https://www.ice.org.uk Heriot-Watt University - https://www.hw.ac.uk American University of Sharjah - https://www.aus.edu The School of Greatness: A Real-World Guide to Living Bigger, Loving Deeper, and Leaving a Legacy, by Lewis Howes - https://cutt.ly/8bDZlNg Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating an Extraordinary Engineering Career, by Anthony Fasano, P.E. - https://engineeringmanagementinstitute.org/book Dream Big (Netflix Documentary) - https://www.netflix.com/br-en/title/80217136 Practical Engineering Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMOqf8ab-42UUQIdVoKwjlQ The B1M Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6n8I1UDTKP1IWjQMg6_TwA Podcasts From the Engineering Management Institute - https://engineeringmanagementinstitute.org/podcasts Man of Iron: Thomas Telford and the Building of Britain, by Julian Glover - https://cutt.ly/GbDZIz8 Built Bar. Use the code CIVAC to get 10% off - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

12 Maj 202133min

Any pathway within civil engineering is full of speed bumps. Although there are countless options within the field, we may sometimes feel stuck, uncertain of what we should and could do next. Should we make the leap and move into a leadership role? Do we want to move into a leadership role? Should we switch between organizations? Today’s episode will answer these career questions we all have. Our guest today is Mark Crossfield, an accredited coach at Bravo Coaching and a chartered civil engineer who has already led multi-disciplinary railway and highway infrastructure teams in the UK. He helps people make exciting and transformational career changes as well as figure out the next steps they should take in order to up their game in the career path they already have. As civil engineers, all of us fall into at least one of these two categories. We all go through moments in which we question ourselves whether our career is exactly where we wanted it to be, if we’re working with something we’re truly passionate about, or if we should--and want to--change paths. This episode will give you the golden tips to answer these questions. Resources Mentioned Mark Crossfield - https://linkedin.com/in/markcrossfieldbravo Bravo Coaching - https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk Your Bravo Career Podcast (Apple Podcasts) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/your-bravo-career/id1539137736 Institution of Civil Engineers - https://www.ice.org.uk CEA Podcast Ep. 60 - Becoming a Better Public Speaker with Neil Thompson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxnJVIU4dTc Toastmasters - https://www.toastmasters.org Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer, by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell - Grab the book here Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills, by Steven Novella (Course Guide Book) - Grab the book here Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills, by Steven Novella (Audible) - https://www.audible.com/pd/Your-Deceptive-Mind-A-Scientific-Guide-to-Critical-Thinking-Skills-Audiobook/B00D9473WC School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

7 Maj 202133min

As it does every year, the NCEES organization has already released its 2020 Annual Report, in which it provides an overview of the initiatives it has been involved in, a roadmap of what happened in the previous year, and where it’s headed looking forward. Today, Isaac walks us through some of the most important points and how they affect our licensure as professional engineers, but also how we prepare and take the FE, PE, and SE exams. Starting with a frustrated 100-year celebration due to COVID and more efforts towards educating policymakers about the value of a professional license, the report details the drop in the overall number of test takers, the attempts to make engineering international work more accessible, and the stronger push towards accelerating the timeline to make the Civil PE Exam become a closed-book, computer-based test. Today’s episode is a mandatory listen for every engineer out there, regardless of whether or not you already have your license. Our work is regulated by the NCEES along with individual State laws, so we should always be aware of potential threats to licensure, where the industry and its standard exams are heading, as well as the initiatives and activities being funded by the organization to spread the word (and joy) about the field. Resources (some links are affiliate links!) School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope Purple Mattress - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/purple NCEES - https://ncees.org The NCEES 2020 Annual Report - https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/AR-2020_spreads_web.pdf Advance: An NCEES Podcast Series - https://ncees.org/podcast CEA Podcast Ep. 51 with Tim Miller (Video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMS11n5s3yY CEA Podcast Ep. 51 with Tim Miller (Audio) - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/cea-51-the-ncees-chief-officer-of-exams-tim-miller-pe International Professional Engineers Agreement (IPEA) - https://www.ieagreements.org/agreements/ipea Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Engineers Agreement - https://www.ieagreements.org/agreements/apec The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Civil Engineering Academy’s Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems or courses, make sure to check out our home base - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

28 Apr 202122min

Today is not a normal episode of the Civil Engineering Academy Podcast. Whether you’re getting ready for your Geotech Depth Exam on the PE or the California Seismic Exam, this audio version of our last live workshop will make you feel guilty if you haven’t participated in it. Seriously. Isaac and Mark walk us through some seismic, geotech, and deep foundation materials, explaining some key concepts that will most likely be tested on the PE and California Seismic exams, both as theoretical and problem-solving types of questions. In addition, they lay out the resources we can use to prepare for these exams and how to approach each type of question, as well as solving real questions, step by step, which will be valuable for all of us getting ready for the next PE Exam regardless of our depth exam choice. Resources (some links are affiliate links) KiwiCo - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/kiwi School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com Live Workshop on 4.11.21 (Seismic and Deep Foundation Topics) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUBE77mRjYU&t=292s Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Check out our Youtube Channel to watch videos on how to solve real problems, more of our live workshops, and much more! - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems or courses, make sure to check out our home base - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Mark - mark@civilengineeringacademy.com

21 Apr 20211h 7min