From Student to Systems Leader: The IEM Journey in Action We're proud to spotlight one of our exceptional alumni and IEM Ambassador, Reginald Holmes, MEng, CSEP, PMP®, who continues to raise the bar in technical leadership and innovation. Since graduating from the IEM@UAB - Information Engineering and Management in Spring 2022, Reginald has stepped into a pivotal role as Chief Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman, leading strategy and integration across advanced engineering systems. His impact was recently recognized with the Modern-Day Technology Leader Award — a national honor celebrating emerging leaders in STEM. He’s also pursuing a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, with a research focus on AI System Safety — a field shaping the future of technology and society. Reginald has presented at top academic forums including AI4SE and CSER, and his recent peer-reviewed paper: "Navigating Uncertainty: Enhancing AI System Safety through the Integration of Systems Theory and R3+ Concepts" dives into building AI systems that are not just capable — but robust, reliable, and resilient in the face of uncertainty. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e864CRUT Reginald embodies what IEM is all about: turning technical skills into strategic leadership, transforming research into real-world impact, and leading with clarity and purpose. Congrats, Reginald — your journey continues to inspire the entire IEM community. Bennie Griggs III Alan Hill Gregory Ratcliff Rusty Yeager Sandria Elrod-Iqbal #IEMAlumni #UABEngineering #uabiem #SystemsEngineering #AIResearch #STEMLeadership #CareerGrowth

For all of you entrepreneurs out there... What leadership characteristics do entrepreneurs need to have or to learn?

Let’s settle a debate What’s the most underrated skill in career growth? 1 Public speaking 2 Networking 3 Writing 4 Asking for help Drop your vote or add your own in the comments. Curious what you’ve seen make the biggest difference.

Remote work isn’t the goal. It’s a step — and a small one at that. When I talk to professionals who feel stuck, they almost always mention flexibility: – “I just want to work from anywhere.” – “I’d be happier if I didn’t have to sit in traffic.” – “I need more time at home with my family.” I get it. But here’s what they really want: – Control of their income – Control of their time – Control of their direction That doesn’t come from your boss approving two days of remote work a week. That comes from ownership — building something that belongs to you. A client of mine recently started doing consulting on the side. He had just one client at first. He told me the biggest change wasn’t the money — it was the mindset. “For the first time in my career, I didn’t feel owned.” Remote work is nice. But working for yourself — even part-time — is freedom. Want to test the waters? Start small. Use your expertise to help one person. Just one. That’s how real freedom starts. Not with a job perk. With ownership.

Improving your soft skills or people skills are often more important than your technical skills. They will take you higher in the company and generate more cash in a long-term. #uabiem #careersuccess #softskills #incomegrowth