Engineer Your Success

What happens when you’ve maxed out all your retirement accounts and followed every piece of conventional financial advice—but still aren’t sure you’re thinking about money the right way? Dr. Adam Link, founder of Fireweed Capital, brings a rare combination of Silicon Valley engineering leadership experience, multiple company exits, and deep finance expertise to challenge how tech...

Episode Description What happens when the technical skills that fueled your early career stop producing the same results? In this episode, Dr. James Bryant is joined by Dr. Bushra Khan , professor at the University of Ottawa and leadership coach for tech and engineering leaders, to explore why so many engineers hit an invisible career ceiling five to ten years into their careers. This isn’t about...

Episode Description: What if the secret to career advancement wasn’t networking or resume building—but simply doing excellent work right in front of you? In this conversation, nationally recognized lighting designer and electrical engineer Leslie North shares how she built Aurora Lighting Design from a home office into a thriving firm with offices in the Chicago Board of Trade—all through wo...

Episode Description: What happens when an engineer who’s great at solving technical problems suddenly gets told they need to sell? For many technical professionals, the shift from “doer” to “seller-doer” is one of the hardest transitions in their career. In this episode, Jessica Nuncio—VP of Business Development and Marketing at Naranjo Civil Constructors with nearly...

Episode Description: What happens when half of an entire profession retires within a few years? Dustin Gardner, a fourth-generation surveyor, is facing that reality head-on. The average licensed land surveyor is now in their early 60s, and the industry is racing against time to train the next generation before decades of expertise walks out the door. In this conversation, Dustin pulls back the cur...

Episode Description: What if the biggest risk to your project isn’t technical—it’s conversational? Most engineering projects fail not because of flawed plans or inadequate technology, but because teams aren’t having the right conversations about trust, coordination, and care. In this episode, Jason Klous, Principal at Midion with over 30 years in complex construction projects, re...

Episode Description: What happens when a construction leader decides that building people matters more than building projects? In this episode of the Engineer Your Success Podcast Heath Troyer—fourth-generation contractor, business owner, and national mental health advocate—opens up about the hidden crisis facing construction leaders today: managing projects has become easier than leading whole hu...

Episode Overview (EP 225) Struggling to find real success while juggling work and a personal life? In this uplifting episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant speaks with Amrit Dhaliwal , a driven entrepreneur who mastered the art of ‘making it up as he goes’—and still built and sold multiple businesses across diverse industries. Hear how Amrit transformed setbacks into million-pound wins...

🎧 Episode Overview (EP 224) Career paths in engineering are rarely linear—and the decisions that shape our work often ripple into our home lives in ways we don’t always anticipate. In this episode, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Eli May , an engineer who responded to an open call for podcast conversations shared in the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) forum. Eli brings a thought...

🎧 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...