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Johannes Traa

Certified Life Coach

Empowering engineers and scientists to achieve their full potential


My story

The story of how I got to be a combination engineer and coach is kind of interesting. So here goes.

Academia and industry

I studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northwestern University for undergrad and went on to do a PhD at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Along the way, I picked up skills in signal processing, machine learning, and algorithm development.

My first job after graduating was as a research scientist at Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI). Industry was very different from academia in ways that caught me off guard. I did my best, though, and wound up having some amazing experiences. I worked in an R&D lab on a wide range of new technology development projects in automotive, consumer, industrial, and healthcare verticals. It turned out to be a great way to launch a career in tech.

In my sixth year at ADI, my thinking around professional identity started to shift. I had been working primarily as an individual contributor and wanted to have more impact, especially through people. I decided to move on and it turned out to be the right decision because of what came next.

Organizational psychology and coaching

After leaving ADI I did a lot of technical upskilling, started a Master's in organizational psychology, and pursued coaching. It turns out that I had already been relating to others in a coaching style for a long time. The training and certification process solidified my skills and I've been working with engineers and scientists to enable their journeys ever since.

At around the same time, I launched a blog called Rolling the Dice on Trust. It's an open journal for reflecting on all things personal and professional. But it's also a platform for telling stories. Sharing through the blog has sparked many insightful discussions. Some of them even come up as a focal point in coaching sessions.

The present

These days I'm serving as Director of Engineering at a medical device startup where we are developing software and AI solutions. Outside of day-to-day technical work, I empower fellow engineers through 1-on-1 coaching, mentoring, and professional development workshops. I'm finding my way along a path that brings meaningful work and strong relationships.

Speaking of which, I hope to meet you soon and learn about your aspirations! Let's turn whatever challenges you're facing into sources of growth and connection. When you're ready to get in touch, you can reach out through the contact form below. Take care for now.



ICF ACC Badge

Associate Certified Coach

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Graduate Certificate in
Organizational Behavior

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Lead Research Scientist

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PhD in Electrical and
Computer Engineering




Get In Touch

Let's talk about what you're looking to accomplish and how I can support you. You can start the conversation by submitting this inquiry form. Hope to connect soon!