Engineering organizations are built on the promise of meritocracy: that good work speaks for itself. Often it does not. Long before anyone talks about promotion, visible and hidden mechanisms shape who gets the work that builds a career, whose contribution is credited, and who is considered for the next opportunity. Drawing on my PhD research and two decades in engineering and R&D leadership, this talk opens the black box of an engineering journey. We will explore how seemingly neutral practices shape careers over time, and how talent can remain unseen or underused. You will leave with a practical framework for recognizing these mechanisms around you and identifying where you can act to open real career opportunities.
Engineering & GenAI Transformation Leader | Founder, The Talent Leak Lab | PhD Researcher