Introduction

Imagine a world where every young mind is inspired to see the limitless possibilities of engineering and leadership. Picture a middle schooler, fascinated by building circuits with clay, mentored by a college engineering student who shares their excitement for discovery. Fast forward a few years: that same student, now a young professional, is guiding the next generation of problem solvers, learning from seasoned experts who’ve mastered the art of creating sustainable, legacy-driven systems.

This is not a futuristic fantasy—it’s the vision behind PyramidX-OS, and the IEEE STEAM Teams Initiative.  PyramidX represents an extension of UCLA Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success based on the author’s 46-year lifetime study and extensive experience as a United States Air Force Officer with 26-years of Service and about 20 years teaching at the university-level at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) and teaching experience at Colorado Technical University (CTU). For technical folks, ‘OS’ you can view it as an Operating System while for non-techie folks PyramidX-OS simply Pyramid Extension of Success based on John Wooden by adding more layers to the Pyramid as a Young Professional transition into organization leadership for more responsibility.  These additional layers will be described in future articles.  If you are interested in finding out what these layers are, please contact author at john.santiago@ieee.org. In addition, he has been a member of IEEE since 1982 who is now a Life Senior Member.

What if leadership wasn’t something reserved for the boardroom or the corner office but was instead cultivated step by step, layer by layer, through collaboration across generations? What if every child, parent, student, and professional were part of a system designed not just to learn leadership but to live it?

The Experiment Begins: A Lifecycle of Leadership

Let’s conduct a thought experiment. Imagine a world where leadership development begins early, is rooted in hands-on exploration, and grows into a lifetime of mentorship and innovation. Here’s how it unfolds:

Phase 1: Parents and Kids – The Spark of Curiosity (Middle/High School)

It begins with a young mind encountering the joy of discovery. They’re paired with a college mentor—an IEEE engineering student—who introduces them to Squishy Circuits and other STEAM activities. Through playful experimentation, the child not only learns how to build something tangible but also the value of teamwork, perseverance, and curiosity (Layers 1–6 of PyramidX).

Now imagine the parents are engaged too. Family Engineering Nights become opportunities to bond, dream, and create together, with IEEE mentors guiding the way. Parents start to see engineering not as an abstract field but as a world of possibilities for their child.

Phase 2: Young Professionals – The Bridge to Leadership (Layer 6)

Fast forward a few years: our middle schooler is now a college engineering student, mentored by IEEE Young Professionals (YPs). These YPs, fresh from their first five years in the field, share practical lessons about curiosity, collaboration, and creating value—the core of Layer 6.

Through real-world challenges and hands-on projects, the college student learns to:

  • Transition from individual contributor to team leader.
  • Apply technical skills with character and communication.
  • See engineering as more than solving problems—it’s about creating systems that matter.

The circle of mentorship grows, with YPs shaping future leaders who will carry forward the torch.

Phase 3: LMAG Mentors Young Professionals – The Legacy Builders (Layers 7–10)

Our college student graduates, becoming a Young Professional eager to lead. Enter the IEEE Life Member Affinity Group (LMAG)—seasoned engineers who have mastered the art of organizational leadership and innovation. These mentors take YPs on a journey through Layers 7–10, showing them how to:

  • Lead with wisdom, integrity, and fortitude (Layer 7).
  • Design systems inspired by nature’s resilience (Layer 8).
  • Inspire action and build empowerment (Layer 9).
  • Leave a legacy that endures (Layer 10).

Through reverse mentoring, YPs also teach LMAG members new technologies, creating a symbiotic relationship where learning flows in both directions.

The System of STEAM Teams: An Ecosystem of Leadership

Let’s say there is a strategic goal given as follow:

“For each year, each of the current active and engaged members, recruit one IEEE member and mentor the recruit to be an active and engaged member of the IEEE Pikes Peak Section. By your leadership example, have your recruit who is now an active and engaged member do the same as you did by recruiting one member.”

As a result of this goal, then there is a possibility of a life-cycle of mentorship that doesn’t stop at individual success. It’s a living ecosystem, driven by IEEE’s STEAM TEAMS as proposed by the IEEE Pikes Peak Section as part of the many sections in Region 5 which may help Sections who may want to reboot their operating system:

  • Parents learn alongside their kids, inspired to nurture creativity and problem-solving.
  • College students mentor younger learners, shaping future engineers while discovering their own potential.
  • Young Professionals bridge the gap between technical knowledge and leadership, guided by LMAG wisdom.
  • Life Members pass down legacies, fostering a cycle of innovation, mentorship, and empowerment.

Why It Matters

Engineering isn’t just about building things—it’s about building people and systems that endure. With PyramidX-OS, IEEE can create a world where:

  • Every child sees themselves as a future engineer.
  • Every professional becomes a leader of leaders.
  • Every generation contributes to a legacy of innovation that shapes society for the better.

The Challenge: Can We Build It?

Here’s where you come in. This thought experiment is just the beginning. What would happen if we turned this vision into reality? What if every IEEE chapter adopted PyramidX-OS as its operating system for mentorship? What if parents, students, and professionals all worked together to create a future of collaborative, values-driven leadership?

Author’s Notes & Next Steps

  1. Curious to see how this vision could work in practice? Explore the draft outline of the IEEE STEAM Teams Strategic Plan from the IEEE Pikes Peak Section, where we break down the specific programs, activities, and mentorship pathways designed to bring this thought experiment to life. Let’s build the future—together.  If you have comments and suggestions to improve the plan, please contact Dr. John Santiago at john.santiago@ieee.org
  2. More upcoming brief articles layer by layer of PyramidX-OS will be posted here to further clarify the concepts as well as more detailed description at the IEEE Pikes Peak Website.
  3. John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success has been documented for developing the Young Professional (YP) leadership pipeline from IEEE student branches at their YP minisite.
  4. IEEE Pikes Peak Section recently bought Squishy Circuits Kits from the Region 5 Project Initiative to help sections according to the author’s understanding:
  • (1) revitalize IEEE Section and its leadership,
  • (2) Increase IEEE Young Professional for developing the Young Professional (YP) leadership pipeline from IEEE student branches (please see PPS attempt to help meet this priority at PPS YP minisite
  • (3) Increase engagement with industry, as well as with the community.
  • Description of Image

    Here is the image inspired by the IEEE Region 5 article on PyramidX OS and IEEE STEAM Teams. It visually represents the integration of technology and leadership within the STEAM framework.

    The image depicts a futuristic and vibrant representation of the integration of PyramidX OS and the IEEE STEAM Teams initiative:

    1. Central Pyramid:
      • A glowing, futuristic pyramid symbolizes the PyramidX OS.
      • The pyramid radiates light upward, symbolizing enlightenment and growth.
      • Its sleek design reflects modernity and innovation.
    2. STEAM Icons:
      • Surrounding the pyramid are distinct icons representing the STEAM disciplines:
        • Science: An atom icon.
        • Technology: A circuit board pattern.
        • Engineering: A gear.
        • Arts: A painter’s palette.
        • Mathematics: The pi symbol.
      • Each icon is brightly colored with vibrant accents to highlight its importance.
    3. Human Silhouettes:
      • Diverse silhouettes of students and professionals interact with the pyramid and icons.
      • These figures represent collaboration, creativity, and active engagement.
    4. Background:
      • A gradient background transitions from a darker shade at the bottom to a bright glow at the top.
      • This symbolizes the journey of learning and leadership, moving from foundational knowledge to inspiration and impact.
    5. Color Palette:
      • Blues and greens dominate, representing technology and growth.
      • Accent colors like red, yellow, and purple enhance creativity and diversity.

    The image attempts to convey a dynamic and hopeful vision for future leaders, highlighting the role of STEAM and PyramidX OS in shaping innovation and collaboration.