Most engineering students are told to focus on grades and internships—until they step into a competition and realize real innovation happens under chaos. Isabel Boncher and Riya Desai, leaders of the University of Michigan Mars Rover Team, reveal how they manage a 200-person engineering juggernaut, build robots that simulate Mars missions, and turn failure into fuel for success. In this episode, discover the inside story of designing a competitive robotic arm that increased its range of motion by 75%, and learn how these students master complex systems while balancing demanding workloads. Isabel shares her journey from freshman to team president—navigating leadership, design, and reliability challenges at a global competition in Utah—and how that experience catapulted her toward aerospace internships at Boeing and VAST. Riya opens up about machining over half of their robotic arm parts before college, and the thrill of troubleshooting a rover with no visibility—sometimes scoring points in the chaos. You'll also break down the culture of Michigan's intense yet supportive engineering environment, how project teams integrate with coursework, and the importance of mentorship—especially for women in tech. They reveal the secret sauce for balancing ambition and wellness, why asking questions is key, and how to push past the fear of standing out as a woman in engineering. If you’re dreaming of space, robotics, or just breaking through tough terrain, this episode is your blueprint for persistence, innovation, and leadership. Perfect for aspiring engineers, STEM enthusiasts, and anyone ready to turn setbacks into breakthroughs. Lessons learned here go far beyond the rover—because when you persist through chaos, you build not just machines, but your future.