HARRISBURG, PA — Careers don’t always follow a clear plan. Sue Engels has spent more than 30 years learning to make that fact an asset. On Wednesday, July 29, she brought that hard-won perspective to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU).
Engels, chief client officer at Camp Hill-based Momentum, Inc., delivered “Courageous Adaptability: Thriving Through Organizational and Career Change” to HU faculty and staff as part of the latest Women Thriving @ HU (WT@HU) quarterly professional development seminar. What followed was one part lecture on change management and one part candid account of living through it.
“This wasn’t just a presentation about navigating change; it was an opportunity to share my own journey,” Engels said. “I spoke about the unexpected career transitions that challenged my identity, the lessons I learned through reinvention, and why I believe our greatest strength isn’t avoiding change, but learning to embrace it.”
The message landed at a moment of transition for Harrisburg University. HU welcomed President Christopher M. Reber, Ph.D., on June 30, and the University is marking its 25th anniversary year. Reber joined faculty and staff colleagues for the morning session.
“Sue shared her personal journey and practical insights on navigating change with confidence, embracing new opportunities, and building resilience when change is no longer optional,” Reber said. “Her message was both timely and impactful, and I appreciated the opportunity to join so many colleagues for this engaging and meaningful discussion.”
Engels is a technology executive with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations bridge the gap between business strategy and technology, and she has led complex transformation initiatives across the public and private sectors. She serves as board chair of the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania and is the immediate past chair of its Women in Technology Subcommittee. She delivered an earlier version of her courageous adaptability talk at the Technology Council’s Power in Tech, Power in Us event in March.
“Sue has spent her career helping organizations bridge the gap between business strategy and technology, and she was already investing in our students through HU’s IT Leadership Program,” said Lorelee Isbell, HU’s vice president for external affairs and strategic growth and a WT@HU organizational ambassador. “Bringing her in to talk about leading through change felt less like booking a speaker and more like continuing a conversation.”
Engels closed on an idea that has become the throughline of her work: that the parts of a professional life most worth protecting are not the ones printed on a business card.
“While titles may change, our purpose, our strengths, and the impact we have on others endure,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who participated so openly and thoughtfully. It was an honor to spend the morning with you.”
Women Thriving @ HU supports the professional growth of the University’s women faculty and staff through a quarterly Lunch & Learn series and monthly meetings that build community and shape future programming.
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Director of Communications for Harrisburg University, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724.
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