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 military and the construction/skilled trades industry — all anchored in one core belief:



“The most important investment any leader can make is in their people.”



They dive into emotional discipline, people development, mindset, and the practical habits that shape culture from the ground up. Russ also shares how growth at work impacts life at home, and why leaders must define their personal philosophy if they want to lead with clarity and purpose.



Even if you’re not in construction or the military, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, culture, and what it really means to invest in people.







What You’ll Learn




* Why emotional discipline sets the tone for your entire team



* How to turn challenges into opportunities through mindset



* Practical ways to unify field and office teams



* Why presence and connection matter more than authority



* How defining your leadership philosophy guides decisions and fulfillment








Episode Timestamps



01:00 – Russ’s core belief: investing in your people03:00 – Accountability and discomfort in developing leaders05:30– Turning challenges into opportunities08:00 – Emotional discipline: staying steady as a leader11:00 – Bridging the gap between field and office teams14:00 – Connecting by walking around17:30– Refilling your cup and managing energy20:30 – How leadership growth carries into home life24:30 – Defining a personal leadership philosophy29:00 – Russ flips the script and interviews Dr. Bryant



Connect with Russ



LinkedIn: Russ Spiegel







More Ways to Connect



Private Podcast: Engineer Your Success InsidersOne story. One insight. One action to help you lead with intention. engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders



Podcast Hub: sleekbio.com/eyspodLinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant







Engineer Your Success – Dr. James Bryant



Success isn’t just about achieving results — it’s about building a life shaped by your values. Dr. James Bryant helps engineering and technical leaders create systems that bring clarity, confidence, and balance so they can win at work and at home.



Visit: www.EngineerYourSuccessNow.com

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 transparent and inspiring conversation explores ambition, family, faith, and the cost of imbalance — and what it takes to create a life where work and home thrive together.







What You’ll Learn




* The three questions that reveal whether you’re truly winning at work and home



* How to recognize when career goals are out of alignment with personal values



* Why success without presence comes at too high a cost



* How Dr. Bryant rebuilt his life and leadership from a place of faith and purpose



* Practical ways to prioritize family, faith, and fulfillment without sacrificing results








Episode Timestamps00:00:00 Introduction: The Three Questions00:03:38 Growing Up in Inner City Philadelphia00:05:00 The Path to Civil Engineering00:07:18 Early Career and Work-Life Balance00:12:12 The Turning Point: Realizing Imbalance00:19:32 Making the Change: Prioritizing Family and Self-Care00:20:37 Coaching Others to Win at Work and Home00:22:21 The Turning Point: Choosing Family Over Career00:24:22 A Lesson in Priorities: Early Career Decisions00:27:56 The Power of Delegation in Business00:30:33 Balancing Work and Family: Practical Advice00:35:43 Faith and Business: A Personal Perspective00:38:09 Leadership Coaching – Ad Break00:38:40 Closing: The Select Few







More Ways to ConnectPrivate Podcast — Engineer Your Success Insiders: One story, one insight, one action to help you lead with intention. engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders



Podcast Hub: sleekbio.com/eyspodLinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant







Engineer Your Success – Dr. James BryantSuccess isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about living a life that reflects your values and priorities.Dr. James Bryant helps engineering and technical leaders build systems that create clarity, confidence, and balance so they can win at work and at home.



Visit: www.EngineerYourSuccessNow.com

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 the decisions that shaped his path from project engineer to executive leader.



They discuss how to align drive with discipline, how mentorship multiplies opportunity, and why the hardest decisions often lead to the greatest rewards — both at work and at home.



Even if you’re not in construction, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership growth, boundaries, and balance.







What You’ll Learn




* Why mentorship matters at every stage of leadership



* How to know when it’s time to take a career leap



* The connection between ambition, preparation, and readiness



* How to lead with faith and authenticity in professional spaces



* The family rule that helped Babatunde win at home



* Why self-awareness is key to sustainable success



* How great leaders create opportunities for others to grow








Episode Timestamps




* 00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome



* 01:04 The Importance of Mentorship



* 02:20 Career Journey and Growth



* 04:05 Making Tough Career Decisions



* 06:51 Current Role and Responsibilities



* 09:15 Balancing Work and Home Life



* 19:09 Leadership and Faith



* 23:29 Mentorship and Ambition



* 31:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts








Guest Bio — Babatunde Onadele Jr.



Babatunde (Tunde) Onadele Jr. is Vice President of Operations at CORE Builders, a South Bay multifamily general contractor. With over a decade of experience in construction leadership, he oversees project operations from design through completion, manages operational risk, and mentors emerging leaders across the industry.



A graduate of San Jose State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, Tunde is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within construction—particularly in senior and executive leadership. He serves on the Board of Directors for AGC California, chairs its DE&I Steering Committee, and was recognized as a 2023 Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.



Tunde takes pride in helping others grow, building strong teams, and making a lasting impact in his community.



Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/babatunde-onadele-jr/







More Ways to Connect



Private Podcast: Engineer Your Success Insiders — one story, one insight, one action to help you lead with intention. engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders



Podcast Hub: sleekbio.com/eyspodLinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant

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 guiding a 5x headcount expansion, Tim knows what it takes to grow a company that people love to work for.



They unpack what culture really means, how to measure its impact, and why great leadership starts with shared values and accountability — not slogans on a wall.



Even if you’re not in construction, the lessons here on culture, clarity, and connection will help you lead stronger teams and build a business that thrives through its people.







What You’ll Learn




The biggest myth about culture in construction — and why every organization can have a strong one



How to define culture as the lived expression of your vision, mission, and values



The core values that create durable, growth-minded teams: dependability, attitude, and professionalism



How to grow your own talent and reduce turnover with intentional culture systems



Why accountability and communication are essential to scaling a healthy organization



How to measure ROI on culture using retention, engagement, and performance indicators



What it really means to win at work and at home








Episode Timestamps



00:00 – Introduction & framing the question: what if culture is your biggest growth lever?02:00 – Tim Ernst’s background and cross-industry HR experience05:00 – Core values that shape strong, people-centered companies09:00 – Shifting culture through transparency and trust13:00 – Scaling from 85 → 400 employees and reducing turnover by 60%17:00 – Measuring the ROI of culture and the power of accountability20:00 – How success at work fuels success at home







Guest Bio — Tim Ernst



Tim Ernst is an HR and organizational development leader with over 25 years of experience helping companies grow without losing their culture. He has worked across manufacturing, healthcare, and construction—implementing people-first systems that improve retention, engagement, and leadership alignment.



TimothyErnst@msn.com LinkedIn – Tim Ernst







More Ways to Connect



Private Podcast: Engineer Your Success Insiders — one story, one insight, one action to help you lead with intention. engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders



Podcast Hub: sleekbio.com/eyspod



LinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant







Engineer Your Success – Dr. James Bryant



Success isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about living a life that reflects your values and priorities.Dr. James Bryant helps engineering and technical leaders build systems that create clarity, confidence, and balance so they can win at work and at home.



Visit: www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com

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 create long-term sustainability for engineering firms.



Even if an ESOP isn’t on your radar, the leadership principles in this conversation — empowering people, aligning incentives, and protecting your culture — will help you engineer a business that runs on leadership, not dependency.



What You’ll Learn



What an ESOP really is and how it differs from private equity or merger transitions



When an engineering firm should consider employee ownership and what makes a company ESOP-ready



The cultural and financial benefits — from higher productivity to stronger retention and engagement



Common ESOP pitfalls and how to avoid them through proper education and leadership alignment



How ownership thinking transforms teams into accountable, growth-minded leaders



Matt’s personal story of selling his business and finding balance between professional success and family life



Episode Timestamps



00:00 – Introduction02:24 – Matt’s Background04:24 – ESOP Basics and Requirements06:39 – ESOP Challenges and Pitfalls08:21 – Real-World ESOP Examples13:21 – Impact on Company Culture18:14 – Getting Started with ESOP19:44 – Matt’s Personal Journey



Guest Bio — Matt Middendorp



Matt Middendorp is an ESOP consultant and former banking executive who helps companies engineer successful employee-owned transitions. With more than a decade of experience training financial leaders, Matt is passionate about helping business owners protect their legacy, empower their teams, and create sustainable success through employee ownership. Learn more: esopready.com



More Ways to Connect



Private Podcast: Engineer Your Success Insiders — one story, one insight, one action to help you lead with intention. www.eysnow.com/insiders



LinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant



Podcast Hub: https://sleekbio.com/eyspod



Engineer Your Success – Dr. James Bryant



Success isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about living a life that reflects your values and priorities. Dr. James Bryant helps engineering and technical leaders build systems that create clarity, confidence, and the mindset needed so they can win at work and at home.



Visit: www.eysnow.com

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 entrepreneur to present father and husband, the single agreement with his wife that changed everything, and his proven strategies for bootstrapping profitable companies without venture capital.



In This Episode:




* How to bootstrap a company from $0 to $60M in three years



* Why 99% of companies won't get VC funding (and what to do instead)



* The "Friday at 5pm" rule that saved his family



* Teaching vs. torturing: working successfully with your son



* Building AI-powered businesses in 2025




Guest



Jim Weldon – Entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience building self-funded, profitable companies. Founder of Prospect Desk (prospectdesk.ai). Works alongside his son in business.



Key Takeaways




* Keep your day job until your side business generates real cash



* If people won't pay you to consult, you don't know enough to build that company yet



* Get customers to prepay—it's the real test of product-market fit



* You'll spend 70% of time on business as an entrepreneur—engineer specific carve-out times for family



* Physical presence ≠ mental presence. It takes intentional work to truly be there.




Best Quotes



"What did it cost me? Nearly everything. Just being healthy, emotionally, physically, relationship wise was not healthy." – Jim Weldon



"You're 99 times more likely NOT to raise money from an institutional investor. Why would that be your strategy?" – Jim Weldon



"Do you wanna make this an experience where you teach him or torture him?" – Jim's wife



Connect with Jim



Email: jim@prospectdesk.aiWebsite: prospectdesk.ai



Resources




* Prospect Desk – AI-powered prospecting platform



* Charlie Munger's mental models



* YPO & EO – Peer learning organizations




About This Podcast



Engineer Your Success helps engineering leaders and business owners win at work and at home. Hosted by Dr. James Bryant, PhD, PE.



New episodes every Tuesday



Join Engineer Your Success Insiders for exclusive coaching insights: engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders

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, our, and us—and explains how intentional structure, communication, and rituals can transform relationships. Together, James and Gabriela explore why so many high achievers excel in their careers but struggle at home, and what it takes to align professional success with personal fulfillment.



If you’ve ever wondered how to strengthen both your leadership at work and your partnership at home, this episode will show you practical steps to start engineering not just your career, but also your love and legacy.



What You’ll Learn in This Episode:




* Why many professionals settle in relationships while striving at work



* How to apply engineering principles to love, intimacy, and communication



* The four pillars every marriage needs to thrive



* The role of rituals in keeping couples connected



* How to pursue both career success and a legendary relationship




Resources & Links:




* Connect with Gabriela: GabrielaEmbon.com



* Download the prologue of her book Becoming a Power Couple: BecomingAPowerCouple.net



* Learn more about Engineer Your Success Insiders: engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders

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 lessons and inspiring stories that span academia, utilities, consulting, and research, including:




* How to navigate early career challenges and stay authentic



* Why adaptability matters more than chasing money or titles



* What it means to “win at work and at home” at different life stages



* Practical advice for young professionals who want to grow as leaders



* An inspiring story of mentorship that helped a student become an engineer against the odds




Connect with Dr. Mukherhee on LinkedIn



Want more tools to help you win at work and at home? Visit EngineerYourSuccessNow.com.



Join the Engineer Your Success Insiders private podcast: engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders

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 a career credited with over a billion dollars in new revenue. From leading disruptive projects inside large corporations to running his own IT business, Steve explains what it takes to drive meaningful innovation while still keeping balance in life.



You’ll Learn:




The difference between incremental and disruptive innovation



Why most managers can’t lead true disruptive innovation



Best practices for staffing and launching innovation projects



How failure can be a stepping stone to success



Lessons from Steve’s journey: R&D → marketing → general manager → entrepreneur



What it really means to win at work and at home




Connect with Steve Hinch:




Website: https://www.stephen-w-hinch.com/



LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinch/




Resources & Next Steps:




Join the Engineer Your Success Insiders private podcast: engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders



Learn more at: engineeryoursuccessnow.com

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 Digital Survival Guide. Since 1995, Nathan has been helping businesses adapt to every major tech wave. He shares stories from his early days sending emails through university mainframes, to guiding companies through today’s AI-driven workplace.



Together, James and Nathan explore:




Lessons learned from three decades of tech evolution — and how they apply today



Why leaders must focus on ROI before adopting new technology



How process-mapping prevents wasted effort and failed implementations



The growing importance of cybersecurity and compliance for every business



Practical ways engineering leaders can leverage AI as a tool, not just hype




Whether you’re leading a small team or a whole organization, this conversation will help you see how technology can serve as an asset — if you stay intentional, strategic, and current.



Episode Timestamps




01:00 – Meet Nathan Whittacre– From founding Stimulus Technologies in high school to leading through today’s AI-powered workplace



04:00 – Lessons from 30 Years of Tech – How the industry evolved from Windows 95 to AI and what leaders can learn



06:00 – ROI Over Hype – Why leaders must set baselines and ask “why” before adopting new tech



09:30 – Process Mapping in Action – The “wasted reports” story and how to avoid automating the wrong work



12:30 – Writing The CEO’s Digital Survival Guide – Why leaders need trusted guides for technology decisions



18:00 – Cybersecurity & Compliance – The next big threats and how structure strengthens organizations



21:00 – Key Takeaway – Stay current with technology, or risk getting left behind








Connect with Nathan Whittacre



LinkedIn: Nathan Whittacre | Website: https://www.stimulustech.com/




Resources



Engineer Your Success Insiders – A private podcast for leaders who want practical coaching in their corner. Join here.

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 become the bottleneck
Empower your team to design and own the processes
Use trust, curiosity, and vulnerability as leadership strengths
Apply KPIs and dashboards to stay in control without micromanaging

If you want to scale your business without burning out, this conversation will show you how to lead with trust, clarity, and impact.

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 that became a framework for leadership and life. Andy and Dr. James Bryant explore five unconditional values—love, gratitude, integrity, accountability, and endeavor—that help leaders win at work without losing what matters most at home.

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.