The Hardest Decisions Have the Greatest Rewards: Leadership Lessons on Ambition and Preparation

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Engineer Your Success

Dr. James Bryant

229 episodes

1 day ago

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.

All content for Engineer Your Success is the property of Dr. James Bryant and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

The Hardest Decisions Have the Greatest Rewards: Leadership Lessons on Ambition and Preparation

Engineer Your Success

17 minutes

2 months ago

The Hardest Decisions Have the Greatest Rewards: Leadership Lessons on Ambition and Preparation

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