Nenad Uzelac is the Chief Innovation Officer at G&W Electric, a U.S. leader in power transmission and distribution equipment. With more than two decades of experience developing advanced T&D technologies, it operates at the intersection of engineering, strategy and global industry collaboration, helping to shape the evolution of modern power grids.
In this lecture, he will present how major global energy trends — digitalization, decarbonization, decentralization, system resilience, and rapid growth in electricity demand — are transforming the engineering profession.
They will also share a concrete example of the development of a unique, pioneering technology, explaining what it really takes to bring a new product to fruition when there are no standards, no predetermined plan and when the risks are high. Through these examples, it will show that technical knowledge can be the beginning of a journey — but that communication, resilience, leadership, negotiation, and collaboration are what enable breakthrough innovation.
His message to students and young engineers is clear: if you want to create something that has never existed before, you need to develop not only technical skills, but also those soft skills that turn ideas into reality.
Note: The lecture will be in English.