Joe Lincoln (’88), co-founder of e5 Solutions Group
When students graduate from the School of Engineering and Applied Science they take with them much more than just a degree and ability to obtain a good job. As is the case with GU alumnus Joe Lincoln, they gain a mindset and ability to thrive anywhere and make learning a life-long adventure. Joe described his career, and the value of his Gonzaga education, through an Ed and Bunny Renouard Distinguished Lecture given in February 2016.
Lincoln graduated from Gonzaga with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1988. He went on to co-found and become the Managing Principal of e5 Solutions Group. e5 helps companies maximize their return on financial investments, reduce risk, streamline critical finance operations, and improve corporate performance. His company is on the cutting edge of new technology soon to be utilized by most Fortune 100 organizations.
Lincoln says he believes Gonzaga’s strong balance between technical and liberal arts enables him to walk the line among non-technical and tech people, covering the business spectrum. His company is based on this balance. “We work with clients to translate business requirements into technical solutions,” he said. “I have been able to teach my employees these valuable skills that I learned during my years at GU.”
Obtaining a good job following graduation is on the mind of most Gonzaga students. Lincoln believes the education he received at GU allowed him to do this, but more importantly taught him to appreciate different perspectives, learn, adapt, and master, ultimately opening immense opportunities. “I have been told, and I preach the same thing now, that engineering degrees can be used in many different career fields because you are taught to learn,” he shared. “Employers like this because it takes less time to train engineers.” His hope is that students realize an engineering degree doesn’t just have one technical career path, but rather opens up opportunities to a wide range of career alternatives.”
This past spring, Lincoln was invited to participate in the SEAS Ed and Bunny Renouard Distinguished Lecture Series. Funded through a generous donation from Gonzaga alumni, Ed and Bunny Renouard. The series challenges students, faculty and staff to consider the broad contributions made by engineers and computer scientists to society. Lincoln accepted the invitation because he wanted to both share his story and experience with students, and also grow in his ability to speak publicly. He hopes students who heard his lecture saw that the ability to approach a problem with flexible, varying perspectives leads to better solutions. “Thinking outside the box and realizing you can learn something new, even after 30 years, are both significant ideas to keep in mind,” he said.
Lincoln also serves on the School’s Executive Council. “I joined the council because I hope to offer a unique perspective to a traditional engineering education,” he said. The world is a much different place than when he graduated 30 years ago, and he seeks to use his experiences to help shape future curriculum.