Engineers are skeptics by training. We question assumptions, test hypotheses, and demand hard evidence before accepting claims. That skepticism is a strength—but it can also blind us to the larger equation of leadership and purpose that extends beyond raw technical skill.

So let me present an equation—a flowchart if you prefer—that offers a practical roadmap for engineering leadership:

Skillset × Mindset = Success → High Tech × High Touch = Higher Purpose → Exponential Success.

John Wooden’s Pyramid blocks into your STEAM-TEAMS logo framework Note the image below does not include all 15 of the current blocks in John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.  The Pyramid of Success will not be discussed here but can be found here as well as at PyramidX-OS (R5-PPS) | IEEE Pikes Peak Section

Skillset × Mindset = Success

Every engineer knows that technical mastery alone isn’t enough. You can hold multiple patents and still struggle to lead a team, inspire peers, or adapt to setbacks.

• Skillset represents our technical foundation—the “High Tech.” It’s our coding languages, our circuit designs, our simulations. Without it, there is no credibility.
• Mindset is the multiplier. Curiosity, resilience, self-control, and intentness transform skills into achievements. Without mindset, talent is wasted.

The multiplication symbol matters. If either factor is weak, the whole product collapses.

High Tech × High Touch = Higher Purpose

But IEEE members know that engineering doesn’t stop at the lab bench. Technology is powerful, but power without humanity can be empty—even dangerous.

• High Tech is our capacity to innovate, optimize, and solve technical problems.
• High Touch is empathy, mentorship, teamwork, and cultural sensitivity—the ability to connect with people, not just systems.

Together, they unlock Higher Purpose. This is where our work transcends efficiency metrics or grant deliverables and instead addresses what IEEE’s tagline reminds us: Technology for Humanity.

This is not fluff. It’s engineering reality. Consider the systems we design: medical devices, satellites, power grids. Without the human-centered dimension, they fail to serve the very society that funds and uses them.

Higher Purpose = Exponential Success

Here’s where the skeptic might raise an eyebrow. “Exponential success? Sounds like a marketing pitch.”

But engineers already understand exponential effects. Network theory proves it. Metcalfe’s Law states that network value grows with the square of its size. A team of five doesn’t just produce five times the output of one; it multiplies possibilities through collaboration, mentorship, and shared vision.

• One engineer mentoring ten students creates a chain reaction.
• One community partnership, like IEEE’s work with Filipino-American Community of Southern Colorado (FACSC), lifts families across generations.
• One purposeful innovation—say, a laser-guided system or a Bitcoin protocol—reshapes entire industries.

When guided by Higher Purpose, success is no longer linear. It compounds.

A Blueprint for IEEE Members

Think of it as a systems equation for leadership:

1. Self-leadership: Skillset × Mindset = Success.
2. Team leadership: High Tech × High Touch = Higher Purpose.
3. Organizational leadership: Higher Purpose compounds into Exponential Success.

This is not idealism—it’s a design principle for human systems. John Wooden called it “Competitive Greatness.” The Air Force calls it “Service Before Self.” Filipino culture calls it “Bayanihan.” IEEE calls it “Technology for Humanity.”

The language differs, but the blueprint is the same: combine technical brilliance with human connection to achieve results greater than any individual could imagine.

Closing Call

So the next time you hear an equation outside the usual Laplace transforms or Fourier series, don’t dismiss it as “soft science.”

Skillset × Mindset → High Tech × High Touch → Higher Purpose → Exponential Success

It’s not just motivational math. It’s the blueprint for how engineers, IEEE members, and communities can build a future that is not only more advanced—but also more humane.

Author’s Notes:

1.  If you want to see an example of the above use for community outreach to underserved communities in your local area, please visit https://r5.ieee.org/pikespeak/facsc.
2.  In item 1, the mini-website has the following contents: (1)  a recording of the talk, (2) program souvenir, (3) Introduction to the Filipino/Tagalog language of community (4) Letter to FACSC
3. The Miss Fil-Am Coronation is an atmosphere that is a combination of a family reunion and a military ball based on Dr John Santiago’s experience.  The legacy leaders are military veterans along with their spouses.
4.  Here’s a video introduction to the STEAM-TEAMS challenge.  Below the video is an interactive image of the Leadership/Mentorship paradigm given as the STEAM x TEAMS Logo: https://r5.ieee.org/pikespeak/pyramid.  This interactive image serves as one example of introducing and educating the public about leadership pipelines as demonstrated by FACSC.