Industrial Theory: Why Engineering is an Ideal Career Path

Guest: Tom Costabile stands at the forefront of innovation and today’s industry developments. As the executive director and CEO of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), he has spent the last three years working to establish the organization as a global leader in the mechanical engineering space while promoting the technical and societal contributions of engineers.

A calculated risk-taker with deep industry knowledge, Costabile has championed the facilitation and application of engineering knowledge while advocating for the benefits of engineering education and career development.

Focused on the creation of products, services, and programs around key technologies, including manufacturing, bioengineering, robotics, clean energy, and pressure technology, he is also responsible for guiding ASME’s organizational programs in code and standards development, membership, conferences, technical publishing, education, professional development, and public policy.

While embracing ASME’s core values, he most recently orchestrated a merger between ASME and Techstreet projected to be ASMEs next giant growth opportunity. This new merger will accelerate opportunities for ASME to incubate new industry events into revenue generating engines.

Prior to joining ASME, Costabile served as a consultant for Carlan Advisors and as a partner at 3ssentials, LLC, where he served as a private equity investor. He also held leadership roles in the music distribution industry, which included serving as senior vice president of operations for SONY Music, WEA Manufacturing-Warner Music Group, and CBS Records where he led the development of the company’s compact disc and distribution operations. Costabile has built a reputation for developing business strategies, incubating new business models, and building out channel programs.

He is a licensed professional mechanical engineer and began his career in the nuclear power industry. Costabile holds a Finance MBA and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and has served on numerous advisory boards including his current position on the Montgomery Academy’s Board of Trustees.

Episode in a Tweet: “If you have a passion for science, if you have a passion for improving our global environments, engineering is a quick path to making a difference.” – Tom Costabile

Summary: In this episode of Industrial Theory, host Kerry Siggins interviews Tom Costabile, the executive director and CEO of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Tom details the mission, history, and impact of the ASME, along with his vision for the future of the organization. He explains their efforts to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in the engineering community, including educational outreach and various scholarship offerings.

Kerry and Tom discuss why engineering matters and the creativity and technology that goes into manufacturing products. They examine the roles of artificial intelligence and digital twin technologies, detailing how data collection and predictive analytics are improving maintenance and inspection efforts across industries.

Most importantly, Kerry and Tom discuss how engineering standards and technology advancements function to save and improve lives all around the world. Tom shares his passion for progressing sustainability goals, including engineering solutions that support food supply chains and access to clean water.

To hear more from Tom Costabile, listen to his podcast, Unconventional Engineering, featuring co-host Roy Firestone.

Listen to the podcast here.