What if the thing holding you back wasn't your grades, but your belief in what you were capable of?

Abby joins Josh on The Engineer a Career Podcast for one of the most honest engineering career conversations we've had on the show. From leaving school with a B in English and a C in Chemistry, being rejected from art school twice and nearly not making it through third year at Strathclyde, to completing a PhD, researching with BAE Systems and founding her own engineering consultancy.

This isn't a polished success story. It's a real one.

Josh and Abby explore what it actually means to think like an engineer beyond the technical skills. Why being comfortable with ambiguity separates good engineers from great ones, how systems thinking becomes one of the most powerful tools across your entire career, and why building genuine connections matters more than any networking event ever will.

Abby also opens up about imposter syndrome, a dissertation presentation so bad the head of department called her into his office, and what finally pushed her to back herself and start Defankle.

If you've ever feel like you didn't quite fit the mould, this one's for you.

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Kate Barnard joins Josh on The Engineer a Career Podcast to share the unconventional path that took her from failing her A Levels to leading engineering teams at Rolls-Royce, and why mindset matters more than grades.

From leaving school with just three UCAS points to discovering engineering by accident during a foundation year, Kate explains how giving it “a go” changed everything. Josh and Kate explore her time studying mechanical engineering at the University of Southampton, the power of applied learning in labs over lectures, and how getting involved with IMechE helped her build confidence, networks and leadership experience alongside her degree.

The conversation then moves into her 20 plus year journey at Rolls-Royce, from climbing inside Apache helicopters as a service engineer, to writing build instructions for the F-35 lift fan in the United States, and later leading one of the company’s first electric engine programmes. Kate shares what it was like running multidisciplinary teams, why cost should be designed out rather than driven out, and how working across university and industry partnerships broadened her perspective beyond a single organisation.

Since leaving corporate life, Kate has stepped into startups, explored climate and fintech ventures, and now operates at the intersection of engineering, strategy and emerging technologies. Along the way, she offers practical advice on staying open minded, identifying transferable skills, building a diverse mentor network, understanding risk early in your career, communicating beyond the engineering echo chamber, and why students should pay attention to those management lectures. The episode also touches on AI, technical grounding, and never losing sight of the “wow factor” of working in engineering.

If you’re a student, graduate, career changer or experienced engineer reflecting on your next move, this episode is packed with honest insight, perspective and practical guidance.

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Website: www.engineeracareer.co.uk

Rob Cussons joins The Engineer a Career Podcast to share his route from astrophysics to offshore wind, and what it really takes to build a career in the energy transition.

From being inspired by an unforgettable physics teacher, to studying physics with astrophysics at the University of Leeds, Rob explains how early exposure to industry shaped his thinking long before he ever joined a renewable project team. We explore his year in industry, time working in Vancouver, and completing a PhD in Germany, before making the decision to step into renewables after the 2008 Climate Change Act.

I also dive into his 17 year journey at SSE, including his first role as a wind analyst, what wind analysis actually involves, and how moving through 9 or 10 different roles helped him develop the range of skills needed to lead complex projects. Rob shares what it means to be Project Director for Dogger Bank D, the scale of the wider Dogger Bank programme, and the types of engineers and roles involved across a major offshore wind development.

Along the way, he shares some of the most useful advice I have heard on the podcast so far, including why chasing job titles can hold you back, why feeling uncomfortable in new roles is normal, how to find mentors, and why values matter when choosing the organisations you build your career with.

If you’re a student, or early career engineer, this episode is packed with practical insight, purpose, and honest reflection.

Follow Engineer a Career

LinkedIn: @engineeracareer

Instagram: @engineeracareer

TikTok: @engineer.a.career

YouTube: @engineeracareer

Website: www.engineeracareer.co.uk