Colten Russell’s career didn’t follow a straight line.

He started as a teenage machinist apprentice, nearly joined Tesla, considered law school, and ultimately became a Director of Engineering leading a growing manufacturing team.

In this episode of OverArch, we explore:

• Starting in the trades and completing an apprenticeship

• Engineering school and the power of co-op programs

• Making it to the final two candidates at Tesla

• Handling rejection during finals week

• Transitioning from engineer to leadership

• Building and managing high-performing teams

• Advice for young engineers and students

This is a conversation about resilience, career pivots, manufacturing leadership, and why trying different paths early in your career can shape your long-term success ...