Map Your Ascent: Ashwini Balasubramanian on Engineering Leadership, Innovation, and Embracing Change

Are you navigating career change, leadership challenges, or wondering how to thrive in industries traditionally dominated by men? In this inspiring episode of Your American Dream, host Anisha Jennings sits down with Ashwini Balasubramanian, Vice President of Research & Development for the Transportation & Energy Business Unit at 3M, author, nonprofit leader, and advocate for women in engineering and automotive leadership. Ashwini shares her journey of leading innovation across global automotive organizations while embracing change as a leadership superpower — offering powerful insights on leadership development, career reinvention, resilience, and creating inclusive, high-performing teams. About the Guest Ashwini Balasubramanian is a senior engineering and innovation leader with more than 20 years of experience across organizations including Harley-Davidson, Bosch, Toyota, ZF, and Martinrea International. She is passionate about helping professionals and organizations navigate uncertainty, embrace transformation, and build future-focused leadership skills. Ashwini also serves as President of the Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation, where she advocates for advancing women in STEM and automotive industries. She is the author of Map Your Ascent: Embracing Change as Your Leadership Superpower, which introduces her practical 3P Framework: Personality, Perspective, and Presence to help leaders navigate change and growth. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why career transitions and change can feel overwhelming — and how to navigate them confidently Ashwini’s strategies for embracing change as a leadership advantage How to build resilience and reinvent your career without losing your sense of purpose Practical steps for becoming a stronger leader through emotional intelligence and self-awareness The importance of inclusive leadership, supporting women in STEM, and creating high-performing teams Episode Outline Guest’s Journey: Ashwini’s Path to Leadership (0:53) Navigating Change and Embracing Leadership (1:57) Breaking Barriers in Engineering (6:00) Career Transitions and Learning (9:39) Advice for Aspiring Leaders (13:21) Balancing Career and Family (16:22) The Journey to Authorship (24:02) Future of Women in STEM (33:24) Reflections on the American Dream (35:18) Connect with Ashwini Balasubramanian Want to learn more about Heidy’s work or connect with her directly? 🌐 Website → https://www.mapyourascent.com/ 📧 Email → [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashwini-balasubramanian/ 📘 Book → Map Your Ascent: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Map-Your-Ascent-Leadership-Superpower/dp/B0GRWVGG1W?utm_source=chatgpt.com Bulk orders: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/products/map-your-ascent-ashwini-balasubramanian-9798886455274 Closing Inspiration "Leadership isn’t about avoiding change — it’s about learning how to grow through it and helping others do the same." If you’ve been feeling uncertain about your next career move, leadership journey, or ability to navigate change, this episode will encourage you to see transformation as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. ✨ Ways to Work with Me (Anisha Jennings) 🌐 Website → https://jenningstechcorner.com/packages/ 📅 Book a Free Strategy Call → https://cal.com/anishajennings 📧 Email → [email protected] 📸 Follow me on Instagram → @jenningstechcorner ⭐ Loved this episode? Your reviews help this podcast grow and reach more amazing listeners! If today’s conversation inspired you, please leave a quick rating & review — it means the world. 💛