Soft Skills Are the Hard Part: Teaching EQ to Engineers

Why do 42% of organizational change initiatives face extreme resistance? Often, it’s not the technology—it’s the human element.   In this episode, Chad Jackson sits down with Nikki Maginn, an engineer-turned-educator who teaches emotional intelligence (EQ) to technical professionals. Nikki shares her personal journey from receiving 199 job rejections after the Fukushima nuclear disaster to managing $25 million in projects by age 23—and how those experiences revealed that “soft skills” are actually the hardest part of engineering.   We explore why EQ is a force multiplier for career growth (adding ~$30k to earning potential), how to use the RULER method to regulate emotions in high-stress environments, and why resistance to change should be treated as valuable feedback rather than a barrier.   Key Topics:

• The “Translator” Role: How EQ helps engineers bridge the gap between technical doers and business executives.
• Resistance is Feedback: Why change agents should stop taking pushback personally and start using it to improve the process.
• Generational Shifts: How Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping engineering culture by demanding purpose, mental health awareness, and the “why” behind the work.
• Practical Tools: Implementing the RULER framework (Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, Regulate) in technical teams.

Guest:
Nikki Maginn is an emotional intelligence educator and consultant empowering the next generation of engineers. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.   About the Show:
Change by Design shines a light on engineering transformation, helping organizations navigate complexity and maximize value in their digital journeys.