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Engineering Leadership Solutions

Strengthening Organizations through the Development of People, Processes, and Best Practices

Want to have Wendy speak to your group?

Wendy accepts a limited number of speaking/coaching/training engagements each year. Click on the link to get more information about her topics. As with everything Wendy does, programming is customizable to your needs.

Does the idea of a nontraditional work schedule elicit fear for you? What about excitement? Either way, it’s time to broaden your perspective on what professional success can look like. 
Even if you’re a ‘yes’ person, who struggles with the guilt of letting people down if you challenge the status quo, you can. It’s time to reframe your professional life and consider customizing a schedule that works best for all the parts of your life.
Using simple engineering principles and some psychology, this book can help you:
  • Get where you want to go using the 4-step EVALuation method
  • Proactively manage your presence to build your personal brand
  • Get what’s right for you when it comes to work/life balance
  • Support flexibility in your organization
Above all, you will discover that by redefining your professional boundaries , you will be able to do your best work while simultaneously being the best version of yourself at home too.
Do you wish you had more control over your own career development? It’s time to take control back and decide where you want to go next professionally on your own.
Having a fulfilling and interesting career isn’t always about moving up - it's a journey, not a ladder. Sometimes, a career move is about skill-building over promotion, but it’s up to you to break free from the constraints of a traditional corporate system to figure out what’s next..
The trick is to run your own career like it’s a small business and you’re the product. This allows you to give your career the attention to grow in ways that can increase your own cross-functional exposure and training while ensuring you’re happy at work.
By running your career like a small business, you can:
  • Understand and manage your personal brand
  • Develop a career strategy that works for your specific needs
  • Invest in yourself and those around you
When you work for yourself while you work for your company everyone wins.
What makes work truly work? When Work Works: Cutting-Edge Solutions for the Contemporary Workplace delves into this complex question. Through the lens of fifteen diverse thought leaders spanning various industries and roles, this insightful volume navigates the multifaceted terrain of high-performing organizations. It sheds light on the myriad factors shaping contemporary work environments, from culture and well-being to work/life balance, flexibility, diversity, inclusion, belonging, personal and professional development, and even spirituality in work.

One resounding message emerges: there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Each chapter presents a unique perspective, showcasing the nuanced approaches organizations can take to foster success. Whether it's redefining workplace culture, prioritizing employee well-being, embracing flexible work arrangements, or championing diversity and inclusion, this book offers a wealth of ideas for creating optimal workplaces.

Through engaging narratives and actionable insights, When Work Works invites readers to reconsider conventional notions of work and embrace innovative strategies for building thriving organizations. It's a compelling read for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone passionate about shaping the future of work in a rapidly evolving landscape. Let’s get to work!

Individual and Organizational Resources

Click here for access resources to help you along your journey to flexibility. Check back often to see what’s new or sign up to get alerts.

Listen to Wendy’s Message

Not sure where to start?

Get the Making Flex Work Companion Workbook to jumpstart your journey or work through it with a friend. This resource walks you through the EVALuation method as well as providing tools to requesting and succeed on a Flexible Work Arrangement. Workbooks are $15 each.

About Wendy

Wendy Cocke is the Founder of Engineering Leadership Solutions LLC where she provides management coaching and leadership development. 

Wendy is a chemical engineer by training and spent over 20 years leading technical teams in Fortune 500 companies prior to joining the faculty at Georgia Tech. During that time, she led large, international projects and coordinated resources across time zones, borders, and languages. After moving into leadership roles, she managed teams spanning R&D, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain, focused on increasing sales, improving quality, enhancing design, and reducing costs. She has been integral to the launch of two major medical devices and provided support during numerous supply chain interruptions to reduce customer impact.

About ten years into her career, when her oldest child was still an infant, Wendy pursued a flexible work arrangement that would allow her to balance all aspects of her life. She was told that, though the company supported her desire to pull back, her career would stall and she would never move up in the organization. Little did they know that the change to her work schedule would be the catalyst that would propel her career.

Wendy lives in metro Atlanta with her extended family (lovingly referred to as the rolling circus), which includes her husband, two kids, mother, and grandmother.

Contact Me

What people are saying about Wendy’s Books

  • "I’m so excited to see an engineer who challenged the norms of what a technical role should look like, applied logical principles, found proven success including career progression, and is sharing this knowledge with others so they can successful, happy and fulfilled."

  • "Wendy is living proof that flex work is possible! Get inspired with her story and apply her tips to create your own success! I love how she mixes in some psychology tools as well."

  • "GREAT book. Loved this. I could hear Wendy's voice throughout. It’s like she's an older sister giving me the scoop on how to manage my career."

  • "Great, real life stories of how to be intentional on what you need and how to ask to make sure it is best for your employer too. Wendy guides you on steps to get the schedule you need and how to prioritize your life to be successful and balanced. She encourages you to be patient and when to ask. I wish I had this book 13 years ago when I was making the decision on my career and how to do it all."

  • “You have outdone yourself! This was such a good read. It really was exactly what i needed to hear at this point in my career. i can't wait to give copies to my friends!”

  • "The last thing I usually want to do is read about work but this book is a quick read and is full of helpful tips and tools for things to consider if you want to approach your management about a flexible work arrangement. It is also a great guide for leaders on what to consider if they are approached by an employee who is requesting a flexible arrangement."