S2 Ep. 01: The Power of Curiosity and Resilience in Leadership with Melissa Aarskaug - Part 1

What if your biggest obstacle in leadership isn’t a technology problem—but a decision problem? Carrie Hunter sits down with executive leader and tech trailblazer Melissa Aarskaug, who built her career thriving in chaos and mastering high-stakes decisions. From starting out as a fiercely independent child to managing $500 million projects in male-dominated fields, Melissa Aarskaug unpacks how curiosity, resilience, and betting on yourself play a bigger role than you think.Discover how an engineering mindset can be your superpower across any industry, why slowing down in a crisis leads to better outcomes, and how women can—and should—ask for more at the negotiation table. Packed with real talk on learning from mistakes, navigating male-dominated workplaces, and creating lasting impact, this episode will challenge what you thought about leadership, risk, and personal growth.Episode Overview:00:00 Who is Melissa Aarskaug? An introduction to her unique leadership journey02:04 Childhood independence, curiosity, and early ambition05:28 The origins of drive: Babysitting at 8 and the power of self-sufficiency07:21 Buying her first car and learning the value of independence11:55 Shifting from civil engineering to cybersecurity to leadership13:39 How an engineering mindset solves big problems18:58 Making decisions under extreme pressure20:32 Lessons from mistakes and the importance of betting on yourself22:07 Slowing down: The key to high-stakes decision-making28:32 Navigating emotions and authenticity in male-dominated spaces32:38 The power of asking for what you want and learning from successful men33:52 Outro and preview of Part Two