The heart of it all...
Meet Nikki Maginn (NE/BS ’13)
Meet Nikki Maginn (NE/BS ’13)—a nuclear engineer, pilot, and former Division I athlete who has built her career at the intersection of technical excellence and human-centered leadership. With experience leading multimillion-dollar engineering and logistics programs and shaping innovation in the nuclear startup space, Nikki knows what it takes to thrive in high-stakes technical environments.
​
But her true passion lies in reimagining how engineers are developed. As the founder of Inside Out Engineering, she pioneered a course that brings emotional intelligence into STEM education—first launched at the University of Tennessee and now expanding through industry and academic partnerships. Nikki’s work equips engineers and technical leaders with the courage, curiosity, and communication skills needed to collaborate, lead, and create with impact.
Ways to Get Involved
We provide all levels of emotional intelligence training - from High School to Corporate. Don't see something that suits your exact needs?
We can create a custom program for you!
Partnerships & Companies
Bring Emotional Intelligence to Engineering.
Partner with Inside Out Engineering to integrate EQ and leadership training into your programs or company culture. Through partnerships with global companies, we are able to support them through workshops, curriculum, and research that empower engineers to lead with confidence, communication, and true problem-solving skills.
Schools & Universities
Inside Out Engineering gives you the tools no textbook covers—confidence, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. Whether through workshops at your school, special events, or individual cohorts, you’ll learn to connect your technical skills with leadership and communication that set you apart.
Who We've Worked With
No matter what stage of life
or career you're in...
For Gen Z
Entering the Industry
You’re stepping into engineering with passion and fresh ideas, but often feel pulled between screens, constant notifications, and the pressure to “just do the job.” Inside Out Engineering helps you build emotional maturity, resilience, and communication skills—so you can handle criticism, connect with your work, and lead with confidence.
For Millennials (Current Leaders & Directors)
You’re already in leadership roles and often balancing therapy, coping strategies, and day-to-day demands. What you need now are actionable next steps: ways to strengthen leadership, improve team management, and foster real community in engineering. Inside Out gives you tools to lead more effectively without needing to reinvent entire systems.
For Boomers & Gen X (VPs & C-Suite)
You’ve been leading for years and know the challenges of bridging generational gaps. Sometimes you see millennials and Gen Z as lacking work ethic, while they see leadership as disconnected. Inside Out Engineering helps align expectations, build trust across age groups, and ensure leaders stay personable while guiding engineers to the forefront of problem-solving.
Inside Out Engineering has the EQ tools to support you.
We are engineers dedicated to transforming the technical world by equipping engineers with the tools to understand and manage their emotions, communicate effectively, and build strong, resilient teams.
To do this, we focus on three core areas:
Science of the Mind
Being an engineer in the workforce comes with its unique challenges. We know our brains work differently than others but sometimes we don't know why. By focusing inward and learning about ourselves, it allows us to better understand others and how we show up for them.
_edited.jpg)
Engineering Resiliency
Engineers are born problem solvers. We look at the world analytically - but sometimes we forget that we can apply that same mindset to overcoming interpersonal challenges. We teach engineers in all walks of life how to overcome any type of adversity by leaning into who they are - engineers!
Connection for Success
We're wired for connection. But the academic system focuses on individualism. So, when an engineer enters the work force, there is a steep learning curve on how and why they need to build relationships with others. Through guided activities, Inside Out Engineers graduate the program knowing how to tap into their authentic voice, how it brings them closer to others, and how it leads to meaningful collaboration.
How to Get Started
I believe engineering should feel human and approachable. That’s why the initial 15 minute consult is designed to be more than just technical problem-solving—they’re conversations. I take the time to really hear you, understand your challenges, and then decide together how we can move forward. My goal is to make engineering personable again by putting human connection at the center of the process.
​
Should you need a more strategic conversation around partnering or working together, choose the strategic meeting link below! Please note strategy is paid, but vibe check is free of cost.
A Program For Engineers
Developed By Engineers
Our program is specifically designed for the engineering mind, by engineering minds.
​
As engineers, we're very curious about the world and how it works. This program is designed to get us curious about how WE work so we can be the best engineers we can be.
​​
Our mission is to spark a lifelong journey of emotional intelligence (EQ) development among engineers.
Founded by Nikki Maginn, a University of Tennessee graduate with a degree in nuclear engineering, our company bridges the gap between technical expertise and emotional awareness.
The Power of EQ in Engineering
Why Focus
on Engineers
A Lifelong Journey
Throughout her career, Nikki observed that engineers with a higher EQ advanced faster and led more fulfilling lives. Realizing that EQ can be cultivated over time, just like any technical skill, Nikki was inspired to create Inside Out Engineering to help others unlock their full potential.
Engineers are the force behind every innovation that shapes our world. And to make a lasting impact, technical skills must be paired with emotional intelligence. At Inside Out Engineering, we help engineers develop EQ, enabling them to lead, collaborate, and create with greater effectiveness and success.
EQ isn’t something that develops overnight; it’s a continuous, evolving pursuit. As humans, we are constantly growing and changing, and our emotional intelligence should grow with us. Inside Out Engineering is here to guide engineers on this path, helping them cultivate a rich and fulfilling life both in and out of the workplace.​
We believe in the limitless potential of engineers.
By helping them shine brighter, we’re helping to create a brighter world for everyone.
"This was such a neat experience, and I cherish the relationships and knowledge I gained. I want to extend a special thanks to Nikki Maginn for organizing and developing this curriculum."
Annabeth P.
Industrial Engineering Student​
"I finally found a way to understand how to make meaningful connections. Even in a professional setting...Knowing how to respectfully speak up to someone in a position of authority is a huge skill I'm walking out of class with.."
D. W.
Masters Student, Nuclear Engineering
"No one talks about how lonely grad school is. How hard it is to do something completely on your own and not have peers to connect or collaborate with. I would recommend this to any graduate student - these skills aren't taught anywhere else.."
R. W.
PhD Candidate, Energy Science & Engineering
Associations & Accomplishments
