From Track to Boardroom: How Formula Racing (FSAE) Shaped These Engineers’ Careers
The Birth of an Engineering Team at Rutgers University
In a recent episode of JAKTALK, Jeff Kinsberg is joined by three of his college buddies who all met on the Rutgers University Formula Racing (FSAE) team in the 90s. This intercollegiate design competition requires students to build and race homemade open-wheel cars. Back then, the competition focused solely on internal combustion engines, though it has since expanded to include electric vehicles.
Their bond was forged through mutual respect for each other’s capabilities and the challenges and failures they faced while competing. These experiences were pivotal in shaping the culture at JAKTOOL. The war stories from Formula SAE are not just tales of mechanical triumphs and failures; they are about teamwork, problem-solving, and relentless perseverance.
The Impact of Teamwork in Engineering Projects
During the episode, the four discuss the biggest lessons they took away from the experience and highlight the importance of teamwork. In engineering, as in life, you can’t do it all alone. You need to rely on and motivate others to achieve a common goal. This principle has guided their careers, allowing them to build high-performing teams in various projects by fostering good rapport and morale.
Another key takeaway from their Formula SAE days is the process of getting things done. This includes setting timelines, working under pressure, and learning from failures. While college sets engineers up for a successful career with the right tools to carry out a project, the core skills needed to be a good employee are often missed.
Failure was an integral part of our learning process. It was not about avoiding failure but understanding that failure was a step towards success. This mindset is crucial in engineering, where iterative testing and constant improvement are the norms.
Building Trust and Effective Communication in Engineering Teams
Building trust within a team is essential. Understanding each team member’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial for setting each other up for success. This trust is built over time through repeated collaboration and mutual support. Chris added that effective communication is key, especially when dealing with complex technical problems. It’s about translating technical jargon into understandable concepts for all team members, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Balancing Innovation and Risk
Managing a team of engineers requires balancing aggressive goals with a safe environment for innovation. Chris mentioned that in his role, he ensures that problem-solving is methodically broken down into manageable steps. This approach allows his team to tackle challenging projects without being overwhelmed.
Engineering Lessons for Future Success
Looking back, it’s clear that our experiences in Formula SAE were about more than just building race cars. They were about developing a mindset geared towards continuous improvement, creative problem-solving, failing fast while working toward a solution, and effective teamwork. These lessons have been instrumental in shaping the four’s professional lives and successes.
WHAT IS THE VISION VAULT?
The JAKTOOL Vision Vault is a space for us to expand on the passions that drive innovation and growth at our company. On this blog, we’ll take deeper dives into industry news and our expertise and highlight the leaders we have under our own roof through featured blogs. Follow along for updates throughout the month and recaps on new episodes of JAKTALK, our biweekly podcast hosted by our founder, COO, chairman, and visionary, Jeff Kinsberg.
This article is a recap of JAKTALK episode #9. You can watch the full episode on YouTube.
This episode features JAKTOOL COO & Founder Jeff Kinsberg, along with four of his college buddies, Christopher Strianse, George Wahlgren, and Jeff Darbig, all esteemed engineers in their fields.