Engineer Your Success

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 223) Failure is uncomfortable — but ignored failure is costly. In this episode of the Engineer Your Success Podcast , Dr. James Bryant revisits a powerful framework for turning setbacks into meaningful growth. Building on last week’s conversation about recognizing wins and success autopsies, this episode explores the other side of the equation: using failure as feedback . R...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 222) Before you set goals for the new year, there are three questions every leader must ask . Most engineering leaders jump straight into planning—only to base next year’s goals on whatever they didn’t accomplish this year. In this episode, Dr. James Bryant walks you through a simpler, kinder, and far more effective approach to your year-end review. Rather than focusing on...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 221) The construction and engineering industries are changing—but inclusion hasn’t always kept pace. In this episode, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Dr. Gretchen Gagel , founder of Women Thriving in Construction Global Institute and author of Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction. With over 40 years in the industry, Gretchen shares lessons...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 220) If you’ve ever felt that the engineering profession is misunderstood, undervalued, or overlooked by the public — this episode is for you. Dr. James Bryant sits down with Elizabeth “Lizzie” Archer, Assistant Vice President for Economic Inclusion at Kins, who has spent more than three decades helping engineers, architects, and builders be seen, valued, and understood. Li...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 219) If you’ve ever wondered how great leaders stay steady under pressure, develop other leaders, and build unity across field and office teams — this episode is for you. Dr. James Bryant sits down with Russ Spiegel , Vice President of Operations at Craftsman Electric and former U.S. Marine Corps Battalion Commander. Russ brings decades of leadership insights from the milit...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 218) What happens when your drive to succeed at work starts costing you what matters most? In this episode, Dr. James Bryant shares the story behind three simple but powerful questions that changed his life — and how those questions became the foundation of the Engineer Your Success framework. Originally recorded with Mark Wright on the Beats Working Podcast , this transpar...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 217) If you’ve ever reached a crossroads in your career and wondered whether to stay comfortable or take a leap — this episode is for you. Dr. James Bryant sits down with Babatunde (Tunde) Onadele Jr. , Vice President of Operations at Core Builders, to talk about the leadership journey behind the title. From mentorship and preparation to ambition and faith, Babatunde shares...

🎧 Episode Overview If you’re leading a growing construction or technical firm and you’ve ever wondered how to build a team that truly thrives together — this episode is for you. Dr. James Bryant sits down with Tim Ernst , a data-driven HR and organizational development leader with more than 25 years of experience helping companies scale without losing their soul. From reducing turnover by 60% to...

🎧 Episode Overview If you’re leading a growing technical firm and you’ve ever wondered how to build a business that thrives beyond you — this episode is for you. Dr. James Bryant sits down with Matt Middendorp , a former banking executive turned ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) consultant, to explore how employee ownership can strengthen company culture, attract and retain top talent, and cre...

Episode Description What if building the business of your dreams quietly cost you everything that you care about? Jim Weldon built multiple 8-figure companies—self-funded, debt-free, and profitable from day one. But success came at a cost: he worked 340 days a year for seven years and nearly lost his marriage and connection with his kids. In this episode, Jim shares his journey from obsessed entre...

What if the same engineering mindset that helps you solve complex problems at work could also help you build a thriving marriage at home? In this episode of Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant sits down with Gabriela Embon—chemical engineer turned relationship coach, keynote speaker, and host of the Life Engineering Podcast . Gabriela shares the four pillars of a legendary marriage — me, you,...

Engineering careers are never a straight line—and mentorship can make all the difference. This episode of Engineer Your Success , features insights from Dr. Srijib Mukherjee, Senior Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and professor at the University of Tennessee. We explore what it takes to grow as an engineer, lead authentically, and give back through mentorship. You’ll hear practical less...

Episode Summary: Innovation isn’t just about having a great idea — it’s about making that idea stick and turning it into bottom line impact. In this episode of Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant talks with Stephen Hinch — executive consultant, former tech executive at Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, and TeamLogic IT, and author of Winning Through Innovation . Steve shares lessons from...

Episode Description Technology has transformed dramatically over the past 30 years — from dial-up connections and floppy disks to AI tools that can rewrite how we work. The lesson is clear: leaders who don’t stay current risk getting left behind. In this episode of Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant sits down with Nathan Whittacre , CEO of Stimulus Technologies and author of The CEO’s Digita...

Micromanagement may feel like the fastest way to get results, but it’s actually the biggest bottleneck in your business. In this episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Cary Prejean — a CPA and strategic business advisor with 40 years of experience — to explore why entrepreneurs often sabotage their own growth and how to break free. You’ll learn how to: Spot when you’ve b...

What happens when you dedicate five years competing against SpaceX and Blue Origin for NASA’s moon mission—and lose, twice? Aerospace executive Andy Crocker shares how he led a 300-person team through the highs and heartbreak of NASA’s human landing system project. The loss forced him to recalibrate not just his career but his purpose, leading him to write The Unconditional—a book for his kids tha...

AI is transforming the workplace—but it can’t replace human connection. Kenneth Correa shares stories of AI innovation and why leadership still depends on empathy, trust, and people first.

Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about people. After four decades leading at companies like Bank of America and Alight Solutions, William Davis left corporate America to help shape the next generation of leaders. In this episode, he shares why true leadership begins with your team, not your title, and how to build relationships that inspire trust and performance. You’ll discover the difference b...

Is AI a threat to your career—or the ultimate tool to help you lead and innovate? In this episode of  Engineer Your Success , Silicon Valley entrepreneur  Greg Shove  shares how artificial intelligence can be used to sharpen thinking, improve leadership, and unlock growth. With over 35 years in tech and seven startups under his belt, Greg explains how to become an  AI driver —using AI as a thought...

Feeling mentally checked out at work? Struggling with workplace disengagement or wondering how to regain work motivation? In this episode, Aaron Moncur—engineer, entrepreneur, and host of the Being an Engineer podcast—shares how he went from feeling burned out at work to rediscovering joy by changing how he approached his engineering career. His story is a powerful reminder that even small, intent...

What if burnout isn’t caused by working too much—but by caring too much without the right systems to support you? In this episode of  Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant talks with  Peter Atherton , leadership consultant and former engineering firm principal, about high-performance burnout and building sustainable leadership. From the hidden signs of disengagement to reclaiming agency and pur...

What if your ADHD wasn’t a flaw—but a design feature? In this episode of  Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant talks with  Jake Brown , business coach and consultant for entrepreneurs and middle managers with ADHD, about how embracing neurodivergence can unlock new levels of leadership and self-acceptance. From hiding ADHD at work to reframing it as a superpower (without the cape), Jake shares...

Leadership, Legacy, and Work-Life Fit: A Journey from NASA to Space Center Houston and Beyond What if the secret to developing great leaders isn’t found in training programs, but in the experiences, mentoring, and coaching you provide along the way? In this episode of  Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant talks with Brady Pyle, Chief HR and Inclusion Officer at Space Center Houston, abou...

What if the pressure you’re feeling isn’t a sign of failure, but a signal that you’re growing into something greater? In this episode of  Engineer Your Success , Dr. James Bryant sits down with Ken Mika, an accomplished geotechnical engineer and construction QA leader, to explore what it really takes to grow in your engineering career—without burning out or losing yourself in the process.  From hi...

Exit to Excellence: How Founders Can Transition with Purpose and Power What if the biggest barrier to a successful business exit isn’t market conditions or company valuation, but the founder’s inability to imagine life without their business? In this episode, Dr. James Bryant reunites with Jerome Myers, exit strategist and business partner, to explore why 80% of businesses listed for s...