Mitsubishi Heavy Industries BrandVoice: Advice For Young Engineers: Learn From Failure, Not Just From Success

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries BrandVoice: Advice For Young Engineers: Learn From Failure, Not Just From Success

By Johnny Wood

Mario Gaia is the founder and honorary chairman of Turboden, an MHI Group company.

Turboden

When it comes to offering lessons on navigating a fulfilling career in engineering, Mario Gaia has no shortage of rich material to draw on. He's worked for more than a half century in energy, as an engineer, innovator, entrepreneur and businessman.

Gaia, the founder and honorary chairman of MHI Group company Turboden, started out on the research team of Professor Gianfranco Angelino at Politecnico di Milano, investigating Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) thermodynamics and design. ORC systems generate electric and thermal power from multiple sources, including renewables, traditional fuels and waste heat from industrial processes, waste incinerators, engines or gas turbines, making them an important and versatile technology in decarbonization.

Enthusiastic about the impact the technology could have, Gaia went on to found Turboden in 1980, which became part of MHI Group in 2013. As his company turns 40 this year, Gaia reflects here on success, failure and moments of inspiration – each of which he considers vital to continual growth and creativity.

In addressing engineers who are just starting out, what would you say are the most important skills and qualities for having