The Leadership Skills Engineers Need Before They Have the Title - Erica Dawson

Full transcript and show notes: https://www.sharnafabiano.com/2026/07/29/the-leadership-skills-engineers-need-before-they-have-the-title-erica-dawson/

Engineers are trained to solve difficult problems, but technical expertise alone does not determine whether a team succeeds. Erica Dawson explores why engineers need the ability to influence, challenge ideas, and contribute from any position — not only when they hold formal leadership roles. Through her work developing engineering leadership education at Cornell University, she has helped students understand that effective teams depend on active participation from everyone.

Erica Dawson is Professor of Practice and Nancy and Bob Selander Executive Director of the Engineering Leadership Programs at Cornell University. She previously served as a professor at the Yale School of Management, founded the US-Israel Center for Innovation and Economic Sustainability at UC San Diego, and has taught ethical leadership internationally through the Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at MIT.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why engineering leaders need influence skills beyond technical expertise
• How to build the ability to challenge and support decisions from any role
• Why disengaged team members create hidden costs for organizations
• How engineering programs can prepare students for real-world teamwork
• What “influencing without authority” looks like in technical environments

Episode References

Ira Chaleff, The Courageous Follower
https://irachaleffauthor.com/books-the-courageous-follower/

Cornell Engineering Leadership Programs
https://leadership.engineering.cornell.edu/

S1 E5: Amy Lombardo
https://leadfollow.buzzsprout.com/1735834/8586603-a-model-of-equitable-leading-and-following-in-the-coaching-relationship-amy-lombardo