Technical Leadership Talks

Hosted by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management

Business Management Technology

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Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Dive into the world of technical management with "Technical Leadership Talks." Brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM), join us as we speak with top industry leaders and executives about tech leadership skills, current industry insights, and EQ-based management strategies that are creating the tech leaders of the future.

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28 recent

October 7, 2026Episode 2841 min

Executive Leadership Series: Bharath Oruganti

In today’s episode, we are featuring Bharath Oruganti, the Chief Transformation Officer at ServiceNow. The audio you will hear is from Texas A&M’s Master of Engineering Technical Management’s Executive Leadership Speaker Series. At this series, Bharath spoke to METM students about his leadership journey and provided insights and advice to help guide students as they navigate their current and future leadership roles. Portions of this audio have been redacted to protect individual privacy. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

August 5, 2026Episode 2713 min

Capstone Spotlight: SKYGUARD and AI for Agriculture

Can AI protect chickens from aerial predators? METM alumnus John Daughtridge set out to answer that question through his Capstone Project: SKYGUARD, an open-source AI-powered raptor detection system. In this episode, John shares the story behind the project, how the technology works, the challenges of building an AI solution from the ground up, and the real-world impact it could have for small-scale farmers. He also reflects on the lessons he learned during his METM Capstone and how the experience shaped his approach to technical leadership and innovation. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

June 3, 2026Episode 2614 min

METM Alumni Spotlight: Don Sweat

In this alumni spotlight, we sit down with Don Sweat, Operations Readiness Engineer at Shell and Master of Engineering Technical Management alumnus. Don reflects on what motivated him to pursue METM, how he balanced the demands of work, life, and graduate school, and the ways the program shaped his leadership style and approach to teamwork. He also shares valuable advice for professionals stepping into leadership roles and why he believes METM is a worthwhile investment for career growth. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

April 1, 2026Episode 259 min

METM Alumni Spotlight: Sara Sanders

In today's podcast episode, we are joined by Sara Sanders, METM Class of 2023. Sara reflects on her experience in Texas A&M's Master of Engineering Technical Management program — from navigating the demands of school alongside a full-time career, to growing alongside professionals from across industries, to developing the emotional intelligence that shapes how she leads today. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

February 4, 2026Episode 2418 min

Building the Future of Technical Leadership at METM with Dr. Sunshine Webster

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sunshine Webster, director of Texas A&M’s Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM) program , to discuss where METM is today and where it’s headed. Dr. Webster shares her vision for the future of the program, how METM continues to evolve alongside industry and technology, and the skills today’s technical professionals need to lead in an increasingly complex world. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

January 7, 202623 min

Designing Leaders, Not Just Engineers: METM’s Founding Story with Dr. Ben Zoghi

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ben Zoghi, founder of Texas A&M’s Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM) program, to explore how METM began and why it was created. Dr. Zoghi shares the industry needs that inspired the program, the leadership gaps he saw in traditional engineering education, and the vision behind METM’s focus on technical leadership, emotional intelligence, and real-world application. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

December 3, 2025Episode 2219 min

Leading Across Generations: Building Culture Through Evolving Management Styles with Austin Gary

In today’s episode, we are featuring Austin Gary, a Senior Project Manager at STRUCTURAL. We discuss how leaders can strengthen workplace culture while navigating the differing management styles of multiple generations. Listeners will learn practical strategies for bridging these gaps, improving communication, and leading unified, high-trust teams. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

November 5, 2025Episode 2117 min

Taking the Leap Into Entrepreneurship

In this episode, we sit down with Teena Redhorse, Founder and CEO of Redhorse Engineering . Teena shares her journey of launching her own company—from the courage it took to take the leap, to the challenges, rewards, and leadership lessons she’s gained along the way. Visit Redhorse Engineering's website at this link . Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

October 1, 2025Episode 2016 min

From Combat to Career: Harnessing Emotional Intelligence to Overcome Challenges

In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Jimenez—combat veteran, engineer, and founder and coach at EQ-Discovery. Chris shares his personal journey from military service to engineering and entrepreneurship, revealing how emotional intelligence has been a guiding force along the way. Through his story, we explore how EQ can help us navigate life’s toughest challenges, strengthen leadership, and create resilience in both career and personal growth. To learn more about Chris’s work and coaching, visit EQ-Discovery . Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.

September 3, 2025Episode 1952 min

Executive Leadership Series: Rafael Patron

In today’s episode, we are featuring Rafael Patron, the Plant Senior Director at Tenaris. The audio you will hear is from Texas A&M’s Master of Engineering Technical Management’s Executive Leadership Speaker Series. At this series, Rafael spoke to METM students about his leadership journey and provided insights and advice to help guide students as they navigate their current and future leadership roles. Technical Leadership Talks is brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management , a program that equips working technical professionals for the next step in their careers.