Engineer Your Success

Dr. James Bryant
  • 5.0 (33)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Expert interviews and leadership insights for engineering leaders and technical professionals who want to thrive at work and at home. Hosted by Dr. James Bryant, PhD, PE, this podcast equips you with practical strategies to strengthen leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence so you can lead with clarity and confidence. Each week features conversations with engineering leaders and industry experts—plus occasional solo insights—to help you build stronger teams, make better decisions, and design a career and life that work on your terms. Topics include: leadership development for engineers and technical professionals | effective communication and influence | work-life integration and avoiding burnout | delegation, decision-making, and team building | leading with emotional intelligence under pressure | mentorship, coaching, and professional growth. New episodes every Tuesday.

  1. 2D AGO

    Can My Business Survive Without Me

    Episode 239 Most business owners reach a point where they realize their company depends on them for everything — and that dependency isn’t just exhausting, it’s a ceiling on growth. But knowing that isn’t enough. The harder question is: what do you actually do about it? In this episode, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Laurie Barkman, a business advisor who has spent her career helping entrepreneurs navigate the grow, transition, and exit chapters of business ownership. Laurie brings a rare combination of C-suite experience, including leading through a billion-dollar acquisition, and on-the-ground advisory work with mature business owners who are ready to build something that doesn’t require them to be in every room. If you’ve ever wondered whether your business could thrive without you — and what it would take to get there — this conversation delivers both the framework and the mindset shift to start. Key Takeaways Owner dependency is often a process problem, not a people problem — most leaders blame the wrong thing. There are two types of business owners: sunsetters who keep delaying transition, and investors who are growing toward it. Knowing which one you are changes everything. Identity is the invisible ceiling — the stronger a leader’s identity is tied to the business, the harder it is to let go in a healthy way. The vacation test is a simple diagnostic: if your business breaks when you step away, you haven’t built an organization — you’ve built a dependency. Delegation fails most often because leaders hand off the task but keep the decision rights. True delegation requires handing off the authority to match. Laurie’s BUILT method — Blueprint, Unlock, Integrate, Lead, Transition — gives business owners a concrete framework for reducing owner dependency and building toward a successful exit. Letting go doesn’t just reduce a leader’s workload — it increases job satisfaction and clarity for the entire organization. The head, heart, and wallet framework: decisions in business transitions require logic, emotional readiness, and financial clarity — and most owners are weak in at least one of the three. Timestamps 00:00 — Opening & Introducing Laurie Barkman 01:40 — One word: Laurie’s answer and why it frames the whole conversation 02:44 — Laurie’s career path and the billion-dollar acquisition 05:35 — The two types of business owners — and which one you want to be 07:46 — Why technical and engineering firm owners make ideal clients 12:04 — The bottleneck is rarely who you think it is 14:10 — The Business Transition Handbook and the BUILT Method 21:55 — CIYC: Delegate. Equip. Empower with Authority. About the Guest Laurie Barkman is a business advisor, author, and founder of The Business Transition Sherpa®, where she works with mature business owners navigating the grow, transition, and exit chapters of entrepreneurship. She is the author of The Business Transition Handbook and the host of the award-winning Succession Stories podcast, which ranks in the top 2% globally. Her work is grounded in firsthand C-suite experience, including serving as CEO of a third-generation company that sold in a billion-dollar acquisition. Laurie works primarily with technical, analytical, and AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) firm owners who want a structured, clear-eyed approach to building lasting business value. Connect with Laurie at lauriebarkman.me or find her on LinkedIn. About the Host Dr. James Bryant is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. His mission is to help professionals win at work and at home by developing the leadership skills and presence that technical training alone does not provide. www,engineeryoursuccessnow.com

    12 min

  2. MAR 31

    How to Access Flow State and Accelerate Your Success

    What if exhaustion at the end of the day has nothing to do with how hard you worked — and everything to do with the state you were in while doing it? In this episode, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Deri Llewellyn-Davies, a former chemical engineer who spent decades studying peak performance in both extreme sport and the boardroom, to explore the science of flow state and why most leaders are unknowingly blocking their own ability to access it. You will walk away with a clear understanding of what flow state actually is, how to build the conditions that make it possible, and why the state you are in does not just affect your performance — it affects everyone around you. Key Takeaways Flow state is not a hack or a shortcut. It requires purpose, a commitment to mastery, and intrinsic motivation. Remove any one of those three and flow will not come. Technology has not just distracted us — it has hijacked our neurochemistry. The always-on phone keeps most leaders stuck in a high cortisol, reactive state that blocks creativity, focus, and genuine connection. High performance requires recovery. Athletes never skip recovery after an Ironman. Leaders routinely skip it after a demanding workday. The biological need is the same. There are six ultra states, not just flow. Flow, focus, peak, recovery, reboot, and ultra connect each serve a different purpose and require different conditions to access deliberately. The leader’s state sets the temperature for everyone in the room. When you walk in on cortisol, your team feels it immediately. Presence is not just personal — it is a leadership responsibility. Burnout is not about working too hard. It is about values misalignment, feeling unrewarded, and losing connection to purpose — a distinction that changes how you diagnose and address it. Identity built on a single thing is fragile. Deri’s second burnout came when the financial crisis stripped away the wealth his entire identity was attached to. Purpose-anchored identity survives loss. Presence is a decision, not a default. Without an intentional transition between work and home, most people are never fully in either place — and the people around them feel that absence. Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction and episode overview 01:35 — Deri’s journey from chemical engineering to high performance leadership 06:39 — Why post-COVID work culture is blocking peak performance 08:36 — What flow state actually is and the science behind it 12:45 — How to intentionally access flow: the three prerequisites 17:15 — McKinsey research and the six ultra states framework 22:39 — Why ultra connect may be the most important state of all 25:45 — Deri’s two burnouts and what they revealed 30:09 — The inner work: purpose, identity, and rebuilding 33:24 — How to connect with Deri 34:27 — Mike Flip: Deri asks James about his own flow practice About the Guest Deri Llewellyn-Davies is a former chemical engineer who rose to European board level within a decade before transitioning into management consulting and board advisory work. Over the past 25 years he has advised hundreds of scale-up businesses and has sat on more than 330 boards. His work in ultra endurance sport — including climbing the world’s highest mountains and completing Ironman triathlons — led him to develop the Ultra States framework, which helps leaders deliberately design the performance states they operate in. His book Ultra States is available as a free download at ultra-states.com. He is most active on LinkedIn under Deri Llewellyn-Davies. About the Host Dr. James Bryant is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. His mission is to help professionals win at work and at home by developing the leadership skills and presence that technical training alone does not provide.

    37 min

  3. MAR 24

    Applying Engineering Thinking to Grow Your Business and Life

    Episode 237 Description What does it look like when an industrial engineer decides that marketing has a measurement problem — and builds an entire business to solve it? Andy Janaitis, founder of PPC Pitbulls, turned his engineering training into a competitive advantage in a field that rarely asks whether the data is actually right. In this episode, Andy breaks down the systematic gap he found in digital advertising and why an engineering mindset may be the most valuable asset you bring into a non-traditional field. Key Takeaways Industrial engineering is “business engineering” — the problem-solving framework transfers to virtually any industry Most paid advertising fails not because the ads are bad, but because the underlying data is wrong or misunderstood Before optimizing for more leads, you have to map the full pipeline — from click all the way to paying customer Clients often don’t know their own goal clearly enough — the real consulting work starts with defining what success actually means Human judgment in the loop will not be replaced by AI; strategic context is the irreplaceable piece Career transitions can be de-risked: Andy negotiated part-time hours before going all in — that move is more available than most engineers think AI proficiency is now a competitive differentiator — engineers who use these tools aggressively will outperform those who resist Your engineering mindset is an asset in non-traditional fields — especially where everyone else is guessing Timestamps 00:00 — What drew Andy to industrial engineering 01:32 — What he thought his career would look like coming out of school 02:42 — Discovering data and modeling as a discipline 05:15 — Early career in government consulting and engineering management 08:08 — The decision to go out on his own 11:33 — Building PPC Pitbulls around a data-first marketing approach 13:46 — The biggest challenge: helping clients define the real goal 16:34 — Mapping the full client pipeline from lead to paying customer 17:49 — The surprising gap: how often businesses misread their own data 21:50 — Advice for engineers who want to branch out 25:19 — AI, existential risk, and how Andy’s firm stays ahead 29:27 — Where PPC Pitbulls is growing next — specialty manufacturers 31:39 — Mic Flip: Andy interviews James 33:58 — Coach in Your Corner About the Guest Andy Janaitis is an industrial engineer turned digital marketing entrepreneur and the founder of PPC Pitbulls, a data-driven paid advertising agency. He applies engineering systems thinking to Google and Meta advertising — helping small and medium businesses measure what is actually working, identify where their pipeline leaks, and drive real business outcomes rather than vanity metrics. Andy works especially with specialty manufacturers and B2B businesses that have strong products but weak digital visibility. Listeners can book a free strategy session directly with Andy at ppcpitbulls.com. About the Host Dr. James Bryant is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. His mission is to help professionals win at work and at home by developing the leadership skills and presence that technical training alone does not provide. Get Your weekly Leadership Insights here: https://www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com/eys-email-update

  4. MAR 17

    One Things That Separates Good Managers From Great Ones

    Episode 236: Most engineers and technical professionals are promoted because they’re exceptional at their craft. But nobody tells you that the skills that got you promoted are almost entirely different from the skills you need to lead. If you’ve ever felt underprepared stepping into a management role, this episode will tell you why — and more importantly, what to do about it. Ben Perreau is a former music journalist turned leadership strategist who has advised senior executives at major global organizations. He now helps early career managers build leadership capabilities in real time through his company Parafoil. Ben brings a rare perspective — he’s lived the IC-to-leader transition himself, stumbled through it, and spent his career helping others navigate it better than he did. In this conversation, Ben and James dig into why frontline managers are chronically undersupported, how feedback became the turning point in Ben’s own leadership journey, and what it actually takes to go from high performer to high-impact leader. Plus — James flips the mic and shares the one thing he wishes he had known earlier in his career. Key Takeaways: Almost every individual contributor who transitions to manager is underprepared — not because they’re not talented, but because it’s a fundamentally different career requiring different skills Feedback is the primary mechanism for leadership growth, but most people aren’t ready to receive it even when it’s being given to them High performance requires high learning — the most effective leaders treat their development like an agile process, not an annual review Creating space for reflection — whether through journaling, coaching, or conversation — is a non-negotiable leadership practice As AI takes over more technical work, human judgment, discernment, creativity, and moral reasoning become the differentiating leadership skills Timestamps: [00:24] Introduction — The frontline manager gap and who this episode is for [01:24] What Ben learned advising senior executives at Fortune 100 companies [04:28] Where the real friction is — why frontline managers are left carrying culture change [07:12] Why moving from IC to leader is a career change most people aren’t prepared for [09:05] Ben’s story — from music journalist to accidental manager at 24 [12:51] The moment feedback changed everything — and why pride almost got in the way [16:03] How feedback accelerates leadership development in frontline managers [17:40] The case for continuous feedback vs. the annual performance review [19:43] Are you ready to receive feedback? James coaches directly to the listener [21:48] Practical takeaways — reflection, the whole person, and leading in an AI world [24:23] Mic Flip — Ben asks James what he wishes he had known earlier [26:46] Closing — James thanks Ben [26:57] Coach in Your Corner — Feedback is data, not a verdict on your worth Guest Information: Name: Ben Perreau, Leadership Strategist and Co-founder of Parafoil Contact: humans@parafoil.co Website: parafoil.co About the Host: Dr. James Bryant is a professional engineer, executive coach, and the host of Engineer Your Success — a podcast dedicated to helping engineering professionals win at work and at home. James brings a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership coaching to help engineers grow beyond their discipline and into their full potential as leaders.

  5. MAR 10

    The Everyday Sales Leader

    Episode Description Most leaders are already selling every day. They just don’t call it that. In this episode, Drew Norton — sales trainer, podcast host, and founder of the Everyday Sales Leader — makes the case that influence, discovery, and communication aren’t sales skills or leadership skills. They’re the same skill set, and most engineers are leaving them on the table. Drew spent over a decade building and leading sales teams before turning his focus to training professionals how to communicate clearly, handle resistance, and influence outcomes — without twisting anyone’s arm. His perspective is especially valuable for technical professionals: the goal of sales isn’t to convince — it’s to guide someone through a process of self-discovery until they reach their own conclusion. In this conversation, Drew and James dig into the transition from technical expert to seller-doer, why introverts often outperform extroverts in sales, the three A’s of leadership, and how the inner narrative you carry is the hidden ceiling on everything you’re trying to build — at work and at home. Key Takeaways Great salespeople don’t convince — they guide people to their own conclusions through discovery Engineers transitioning to seller-doer roles tend to over-feature-dump; buyers decide based on benefits and emotional outcomes, not specs The three A’s (Acknowledge, Ask, Agreement) apply equally to closing a sale and correcting a struggling team member Confidence in others starts with confidence in yourself — your inner narrative directly limits your external results You don’t have to choose between winning at work and winning at home; most bottlenecks trace back to leadership or systems, not time Timestamps [00:00]  Introduction — Why sales skills are leadership skills [01:26]  Sales is life: Drew’s core philosophy on communication and influence [04:53]  Drew’s journey — door-to-door sales to training leaders [06:29]  Overcoming the stigma of sales and finding the moral obligation to serve [09:14]  Advice for engineers becoming seller-doers: stop feature-dumping, start benefit-connecting [11:12]  How government and internal leaders can use sales skills to influence teams [14:25]  The three A’s of leadership: Acknowledge, Ask, Agreement [16:12]  Self-leadership and the inner narrative that caps your success [21:52]  The Abundant Man: faith, family, fitness, and finance without sacrifice [26:13]  Mic flip — James answers: what does it take to engineer your own success? Guest Information Name:  Drew Norton, Everyday Sales Leader Website:  theeverydaysalesleader.com About the Host Dr. James Bryant, P.E. is an engineer, executive coach, and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. He helps engineering professionals win at work and at home by bridging technical expertise with leadership development. Website: engineeryoursuccessnow.com All links: sleek.bio/eyspod

    30 min

  6. MAR 3

    How to Create Brave Spaces That Unlock Your Team's Performance With Hacia Atherton

    Episode 234 What if the phrase “psychological safety” has been getting it wrong all along? In this episode, organizational culture expert Hacia Atherton reframes the conversation entirely — it’s not about creating safe spaces. It’s about creating brave spaces. And for engineering leaders navigating high-pressure environments, that distinction changes everything about how you lead. Hacia’s background is as unconventional as her approach: she combines accounting, consulting, and positive psychology — and the origin of that third pillar is something she discovered not in a classroom, but during six months in a hospital bed after a near-fatal horse riding accident. That lived experience gives her a perspective on resilience, reframing, and human performance that is impossible to manufacture. In this conversation, Hacia and James explore why culture problems almost always show up in the numbers first, how leaders unknowingly trigger the people they’re trying to lead, and what it actually takes to help a team stop reacting and start responding — including a concrete conflict mediation framework you can bring to your next difficult conversation. Key Takeaways: Brave spaces, not safe spaces: Psychological safety isn’t about emotional coddling — it’s about whether people can speak up, share ideas, and show up as themselves without shutting down. Culture problems are financial problems: Overtime, turnover, and missed KPIs are often symptoms of psychological distress on the team — understanding the story behind the numbers is where the real work begins. Leaders don’t always fail from malice: Poor leadership often comes from unexamined personal triggers that no one helped them identify or address — and those blind spots have real consequences for team culture. Emotional mastery over emotional intelligence: Knowing you have emotions isn’t enough — the competitive advantage comes from learning to correctly label, interpret, and channel them rather than react from them. When people fill in the blanks, they fill them in differently: Lack of information from senior leadership causes middle managers to invent narratives — and those different narratives create friction, misalignment, and culture breakdown. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [02:38] The psychological story behind the numbers [06:08] Why people leave managers, not companies [10:08] Redefining psychological safety — brave spaces vs. safe spaces [11:27] How to transform workplace culture — the mirror work leaders must do [13:22] Conflict mediation in practice — a step-by-step framework [18:43] What new leaders aren’t prepared for [20:04] How information gaps create culture breakdown [21:35] Hacia’s personal journey — from near-fatal accident to positive psychology [26:23] Human competitive advantage in the age of AI [30:40] Guest question for the host [32:05] Coach in Your Corner Guest Information: Name: Hacia Atherton Website: haciaathe​rton.com About the Host: Dr. James Bryant, P.E. is an engineering leadership coach, the founder of Engineer Your Success, and the host of the Engineer Your Success Podcast. His mission is to help technical professionals design and live a life where they’re winning at work and at home. Connect with James at engineeryoursuccessnow.com or find him on LinkedIn.

    33 min

  7. FEB 24

    Building an Engineering Firm People Like to Work with

    Episode Description: What if you could build an engineering firm where clients actually want to work with you AND top engineers want to work for you? Most firms assume you have to choose – either technical excellence or great relationships. Daniel McCaulley, founder of Ultimus Engineering, proved you can have both. In this conversation, Daniel shares how he went from corporate engineer to building a multidisciplinary firm with a radically different culture. From his “super nerd athlete” background to implementing “trust to verify” remote work policies, Daniel reveals the systems, hiring practices, and leadership principles that make Ultimus a firm people genuinely enjoy working with – on both sides of the table. If you’ve ever thought engineering has to be stagnant or dry, this episode will challenge that assumption. Whether you’re building a technical team, starting a consulting practice, or just trying to create better client relationships, you’ll walk away with practical insights on culture-building, remote team management, and why prioritizing faith and family actually strengthens your business. Key Takeaways: Why hiring for “intangible qualities” matters more than trying to train engineers in soft skills they don’t naturally have The “trust to verify” approach to remote work management that balances flexibility with accountability How offering commission-based compensation to engineers encourages business development and client-facing skills The three-tier priority framework (faith, family, work) that prevents burnout and creates sustainable business growth Why adapting your leadership style to how each person needs to be led is more effective than using one management approach for everyone Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction – The “super nerd athlete” origin story [03:52] How team sports shaped Daniel’s approach to engineering collaboration [06:06] The dark side of “if you’re not first, you’re last” and managing competitive drive [12:55] Getting uncomfortable with Toastmasters and developing soft skills [17:38] Building Ultimus: Creating a customer service-focused engineering firm [20:49] Hiring philosophy: Finding engineers who already have the intangibles [25:18] The platinum rule of leadership – treating people how THEY want to be treated [28:40] Biggest headwind to growth: Finding culture-fit engineers [30:36] Faith as the foundation: Prioritizing in three tiers [35:51] Mike flip moment: The “one thing” principle and 80-20 rule Guest Information: Daniel McCaulley, P.E. Founder, Ultimus Engineering Multidisciplinary engineering firm specializing in MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing), Aquatics Design, and Structural Engineering Website: ultimus.engineering or ultimusengineering.com Email: info@ultimusengineering.com About the Host: Dr. James Bryant is an engineering leadership coach and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. He helps technical professionals and engineering leaders win at work and win at home through a philosophy of work-life integration rather than balance. James believes that work and home don’t compete – they work together to create the integrated life you want. Website: engineeryoursuccessnow.com LinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant All links: sleek.bio/eyspod

    41 min

  8. FEB 17

    Rethinking Money for Engineers: A Conversation with Dr. Adam Link

    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 technical professionals think about wealth, risk, and long-term decisions. In this conversation, Adam shares why optimizing for low fees might be costing you more than you think, how behavioral psychology sabotages even the smartest engineers during market downturns, and why your financial goals might be setting you up for disappointment. Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck or sitting on excess wealth wondering “what’s next?”, this episode will shift how you think about the relationship between money and the life you actually want to build. Key Takeaways: Optimizing for low fees alone can cost you more than paying higher fees for better returns—it’s about net results, not minimizing costs The biggest financial mistake engineers make isn’t poor investment choices—it’s locking in losses during market downturns because they lack clarity on where they’re going Wealth without purpose becomes an endless cycle of “now what?”—defining what you want from life matters more than hitting arbitrary dollar milestones The abundance mindset isn’t just about money—it transforms how you approach career growth, time management, and resource allocation in engineering leadership “Feeling rich” doesn’t require millions—it starts when you have enough freedom to make choices aligned with what matters to you Timestamps: [00:25] Introduction [01:43] How money perspective evolves from finance to engineering leadership [05:25] What engineering leadership teaches about resource allocation and human emotions [10:28] The “I’ve done everything I’ve been told, now what?” challenge [12:20] Why you shouldn’t let the tax tail wag the income dog [14:50] The fee optimization trap engineers fall into [18:43] The $200,000 red number: Why psychology matters more than strategy [23:00] The third entrée story: When Adam first felt rich [26:28] Coach in Your Corner: What are you optimizing for? Guest Information: Name: Dr. Adam Link, Founder of Fireweed Capital Connect: fireweedcapital.com | adam@fireweedcapital.com About the Host: Dr. James Bryant is an engineering leadership coach and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. He helps technical professionals and engineering leaders make intentional decisions about how they lead, work, and live—so success in one domain strengthens the other. Learn more at engineeryoursuccessnow.com.

    27 min
See All (242)

5
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Expert interviews and leadership insights for engineering leaders and technical professionals who want to thrive at work and at home. Hosted by Dr. James Bryant, PhD, PE, this podcast equips you with practical strategies to strengthen leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence so you can lead with clarity and confidence. Each week features conversations with engineering leaders and industry experts—plus occasional solo insights—to help you build stronger teams, make better decisions, and design a career and life that work on your terms. Topics include: leadership development for engineers and technical professionals | effective communication and influence | work-life integration and avoiding burnout | delegation, decision-making, and team building | leading with emotional intelligence under pressure | mentorship, coaching, and professional growth. New episodes every Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. James Bryant
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    242
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Engineer Your Success

You Might Also Like