A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of Masters in Engineering Management and Leadership students at Rice University—my own alma mater. Stepping back onto campus, now as a mentor rather than a student, felt like a full-circle moment, especially since this seminar was hosted by RCEL, where many years ago I was Rice’s inaugural Entrepreneur In Residence. Reflecting on the highs and lows of my own career journey, I shared how entrepreneurial principles have helped me build a career resilient to an ever-changing world. My goal was to provide these emerging engineers with tools to shape adaptable, impactful careers, especially in a dynamic landscape where technology, sociology, and innovation change more rapidly than they ever have before.
Engineering + Entrepreneurship: The Keys to a Future-Proof Career
The starting point of my presentation was a challenge familiar to anyone pursuing a technical career: building a path that remains relevant as industries evolve. With predictions that 85% of the jobs students will encounter in the next decade don’t even exist yet, creating a “future-proof” career requires a different set of tools and mindset—one centered around entrepreneurial principles. Although I started my own career in computer science, today I lead a nanomaterials company, DexMat. This non-linear path highlights how an adaptable mindset and a willingness to pivot can valuable assets in a technical career.
Three Entrepreneurial Principles to Guide a Resilient Career
- Seek Solutions to Problems, Not Job Titles
I emphasized to the students that successful entrepreneurs don’t just pursue roles—they identify problems and create opportunities by solving them. My own career journey exemplefies this pattern: in oil & gas software I learned that traditional energy was unsustainable ,so I began working in energy transition software; in energy transition software I learned that it would take more than 1s and 0s to solve the climate challenge, so I pushed into climate deeptech; in climate deeptech I learned that commercializing, deploying, and scaling deeptech was hard and slow, so I founded Third Derivative to accelerate it; at Third Derivative, I learned that we had a key gap in our climatetech innovation pipeline – low-carbon, high-performance materials to decarbonize heavy industry – so I joined DexMat. Identifying a pressing problem and dedicating yourself to solving it often leads to a career path that’s both rewarding and resilient to shifts in the job market. - Expand Your Resources Through Partnerships
Another key aspect of my journey has been building partnerships that complement and amplify my abilities. By working with experts across academia, finance, industry, and government, I’ve been able to extend my reach far beyond what I could accomplish alone. For students, I highlighted the importance of networking and building alliances early on. Seeds planted today may yield opportunities a decade down the road. - Set Affordable Losses and Embrace Learning
Entrepreneurship inherently involves risks, but success is often about managing those risks wisely. I shared my own experiences with risk—deciding which ventures to pursue, which investments to make, and, critically, when to pivot. I urged students to think of their careers as ventures in themselves: invest time, effort, and resources where you see the most potential but be prepared to pivot if necessary. This approach has taught me that failure is not only a learning opportunity but often a necessary step on the path to success.
DexMat: From a Climate-Focused Problem to a Career Solution
My career and DexMat’s story are intertwined, illustrating how entrepreneurial principles apply to both business and personal growth. DexMat’s mission is to replace traditional, high-emission materials with sustainable alternatives. To do this, we leverage advanced carbon nanotube materials, which offer strength, conductivity, and resilience without the environmental cost of traditional materials like steel and copper. Transitioning into a a materials venture wasn’t something I initially anticipated, but it was a move that aligned my skills with a high-impact problem—a lesson in itself for building a career that is both meaningful and enduring.
Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Value of Giving Back
One of the most fulfilling parts of the presentation was the opportunity to “pay it forward” to a new generation of engineers. These students are stepping into an industry and a world that will likely challenge them in ways they can’t yet imagine. My hope is that by fostering an entrepreneurial mindset early on, they can approach their careers with confidence, curiosity, and resilience. After all, entrepreneurship is a form of self-efficacy: the best way to predict the future is to create it!
In the end, I was reminded that while career success is gratifying, the real reward comes in sharing the journey and lessons with those following behind. Speaking to the Rice students gave me a renewed sense of purpose and connection—both to my alma mater and to the larger mission of empowering future leaders to co-create the sustainable, prosperous, equitable future.