Cambridge Business Association
How Successful Engineers Become Great Business Leaders
Book

How Successful Engineers Become Great Business Leaders

Paul Rulkens
BEP, 2018
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Editorial Rating

9

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Recommendation

In this comprehensive, unusual work, engineer and performance expert Paul Rulkens provides expert advice, background information, pragmatic tips and solid insights specifically to engineers seeking a successful transition into the world of business leadership. He explains how engineers can use their skills to build a top performing corporate culture. Rulkens serves engineers who are moving into the business world as well as leaders who want team members with an engineering background to succeed in a business environment.

 

Summary

Nearly a third of Fortune 500 CEOs have an engineering background.

Can engineers become business leaders? Yes. In fact, nearly one in three Fortune 500 CEOs have engineering degrees. They attained corporate success through a straightforward process: Engineers become business leaders by gaining non-engineering business experience or by broadening their knowledge with additional education or training, such as obtaining an MBA. Many do both. 

Unfortunately, both these career strategies can carry major downsides for engineers. Gaining the necessary experience can require decades of hard work. And, many MBA programs offer cookie-cutter curricula that work for salespeople, accountants and lawyers, but may not prove useful for engineers.

Engineers have an alternative course, however. Carefully position yourself within your corporation or industry, so you can make a smooth transition from the engineering side to the business side. This requires astute planning and adroit career positioning, but it is more efficient than spending your adult life striving to gain the necessary engineering expertise...

About the Author

Former chemical engineer Paul Rulkens is an international keynote speaker and boardroom advisor. More than a million people have watched his TED Talks. He also wrote “The Power of Preeminence: High performance principles to accelerate your business and career.”

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