Madison Lenz

A large part of my success is just a passion for what I do. I was really fortunate to discover that I loved working in the technical workspace and working with peers at a young age. I'm a genuinely curious person, so learning something new every day, no matter how small, has pushed me farther than I could have ever imagined. But an even larger part has been the mentors that I've been lucky enough to have throughout my education. They've been so beneficial - even though it might not be an industry professional, maybe it's just a peer or a family friend, my mentors have helped me see myself from an outside view, a holistic view. I've been able to become a better student, professional, and person, and I've even become a mentor myself now. Being able to work with these younger women and younger individuals who look up to me has been super humbling but very rewarding, because it also helps me reflect on myself as a person and where I've gotten.

One of the best pieces of career advice I've ever received came from my mentor Patrick Verdun, who was also my commencement speaker for my graduation ceremony. He told me to 'fail forward' - to learn from your experiences and have that growth mindset. There are things that I never thought were possible for me until I realized that I can push myself past that fear of failure. That advice has really helped me persevere throughout my career as a student and as a professional. It's taught me that perseverance is really at the core of success, and when you treat yourself with kindness, or those around you with kindness, you actually realize the full potential of how happy you can be in your life.

I would say to show up every day. It doesn't always look the same every day, but remembering to show up for yourself is just as important as showing up for your career and your education. Learning something new every day, no matter how small, will push you farther than you could ever imagine. And I can't emphasize enough the importance of mentorship and community - having people who can offer guidance and perspective has been essential in helping me grow not only as a student and future professional, but as a person as well.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in engineering has been learning how to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application while stepping into technical environments early in my career. Balancing being a full-time student, researcher, humanitarian engineering volunteer, and student leader has also pushed me to develop strong time management, adaptability, and leadership skills while working on projects that have real-world impact.

At the same time, those challenges have created some of the biggest opportunities for growth. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and collaborative work, I’ve learned that engineering is not just about solving technical problems—it’s about creating meaningful, community-centered solutions that positively impact people’s lives.

At my core, I think there's that giving back value. Higher than that is kindness and perseverance. One of the biggest and best pieces of advice I've ever gotten from a mentor was to fail forward - learn from your experiences and have that growth mindset. There are things that I never thought were possible for me until I realized that I can push myself past that fear of failure. Perseverance is really at the core of everything I do. And when you treat yourself with kindness, or those around you with kindness, you don't actually realize the full potential of how happy you can be in your life. I'm a genuinely curious person by nature, so learning something new every day, no matter how small, drives me forward. I also value hands-on learning and lived experience - I love working in the technical workspace and working with peers. The mentors I've had have helped me see myself from a holistic view and become a better student, professional, and person.