I would say that Goleman’s perspective is not too far off. Because the type of work required by biomedical engineers is a collaborative effort you need a certain level of interpersonal skills in order to work with a group of intelligent strong-willed people. IF you are insufferable to work with nobody is going to ask for your help when an issue comes up, instead preferring to collaborate with someone who might have a little less knowledge on the subject but who is easier to work with. And this lack of EQ will affect the projects you get put on and can slow down the career you had planned out