Engineer Your Success

How To Leverage Friction For Safer Roads And A Fulfilling Life

Ryland Potter is the U.S. Director at WDM, a company specializing in pavement condition measurement and friction management. Her work helps transportation agencies use friction data and leading indicators to make proactive decisions about their road networks — part of a broader effort to bring asset management thinking to road safety. In this conversation, she traces her own path through management consulting, a community grocery store that almost was, and finally to the work that fits. Along the way: why curiosity is the option-preserving skill she leans on most, what burnout taught her about updating her thinking, and how she approaches change management as a daily practice rather than a formal plan. Key Takeaways Reactive systems wait for failure. Proactive systems track the leading indicators that predict failure before it happens — and the same logic applies to roads, careers, and leadership. Friction changes in time and in space. The places that demand the most from you are the places that wear down fastest. Knowing where your demand is highest is the first step to managing it. There is no inherent value in data. The value is in implementing decisions from it. Most agencies do not lack data — they lack the work of turning data into useful information. Burnout is often the signal that the best available option has stopped being good enough. The discomfort is the data. Holding your plan loosely is not the same as having no plan. A tight plan held loosely is what allows you to navigate the conditions life actually presents you. Curiosity is a leadership skill. Approaching conversations without all the answers opens up possibilities that confirmation-driven thinking forecloses. We are not who we think we are. We are not the vision of who we want to be. We are eventually what our habits create — which is why systems matter more than goals. Change management is rarely a formal plan. It is the daily practice of choosing whether to move with what is in front of you or reject it. Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 01:00 — Why pavement friction matters to everyone, not just engineers 03:00 — The shift from reactive to proactive road safety 07:00 — 40,000 fatal crashes a year and what data-driven decisions could change 13:00 — One word to describe yourself: thoughtful, curious, options 17:00 — Returning to Richmond after management consulting burnout 19:00 — What management consulting taught Ryland about updating her priors 26:00 — The community grocery store that almost was 30:00 — Change management as a daily practice, not a formal plan 32:00 — Advice for listeners considering a change 35:00 — The mic flip: what would you go down the rabbit hole on? 36:00 — Vision, curiosity, and the power of habits 39:00 — Coach in Your Corner About the Guest Ryland Potter is the U.S. Director at WDM, a UK-headquartered company with 80 years of experience in pavement condition measurement and the original developers of SCRIM continuous pavement friction technology. After a decade in management consulting and a stint with the State of Virginia, she now works with departments of transportation and private industry to bring proactive friction management into modern asset management practice. She is based in Richmond, Virginia. Connect with Ryland on LinkedIn. WDM | Global Leader of Intelligent Road Management Services Ryland Potter | 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. Sign-up for the Win By Design Newsletter Here

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Building the Next Generation of AEC Professionals

4w ago00:31:07Tap to summarize

Most people can name a building. Very few can name the people who made it possible. Crystal Miller is on a mission to change that — and she is starting long before students ever set foot on a job site. As the program director for architecture and AEC programs at Brightpoint Community College, Crystal sits at the intersection of education, workforce development, and mentorship. In this conversation, she breaks down what it really takes to build the next generation of engineering and construction professionals — and why the pathway to the built environment starts much earlier than most people think. Key Takeaways Architecture is a calling, not a career choice — Crystal’s first filter for every student who walks through her door Community colleges fill a specific and critical gap in the AEC pipeline: entry-level talent with real-world readiness Industry partnerships are not optional — advisory boards, job postings, guest lectures, and career fairs are embedded in how the program operates The AEC workforce is aging out faster than it is being replenished, creating a widening gap between entry-level and mid-level positions Soft skills — or as emerging educators are calling them, durable skills — are the single most consistent gap Crystal sees in students at every level You cannot be a designer if you cannot defend your ideas — public speaking and listening are taught as core design competencies, not extras The historical registry class project is a masterclass in experiential learning: real client, real paperwork, real field work, real outcome Richmond’s AEC market is unusually resilient — a mix of private, government, military, medical, and data center work insulates it from volatility Every student who wants a job leaving Crystal’s program has one when they graduate — sometimes before The pipeline has to start at middle school, not college — Crystal is already working in K-12 environments to introduce design and AEC pathways earlier Timestamps 00:00 — Host intro to the RVA Leadership Series and Crystal Miller’s work at Brightpoint 01:13 — Crystal’s origin story: architecture as a calling from age seven 02:22 — Burnout, the recession, and falling into teaching by accident 03:06 — What solidified teaching for Crystal: real-time impact and non-traditional students 04:15 — Overview of the Brightpoint AEC programs: degrees, pathways, and what students can pursue 05:11 — What sets the program apart: informed career decisions before the debt of a four-year school 07:29 — How the program connects to industry: advisory boards, job postings, guest lectures, career fairs 08:43 — The aging workforce gap and where community colleges fit in the pipeline 10:04 — AI and emerging technology in architecture education: honest about what they are and are not yet teaching 11:58 — Helping students discover their why: individual advising and the historical registry project 16:26 — Beyond technical skill: durable skills, public speaking, and listening as design competencies 20:09 — Richmond’s strengths as an AEC market: geography, diversity of work, and relationship culture 23:34 — What excites Crystal most: the community college becoming a true connector in the pipeline 25:11 — Starting the pipeline at middle school and high school, not college 26:22 — How to find Crystal and the Brightpoint programs 26:37 — Mic Flip: Crystal asks James about his most memorable podcast moments About the Guest Crystal Miller is a licensed architect in Virginia and Arizona with approximately 15 years of experience in the field. She currently leads the architecture and AEC programs at Brightpoint Community College in the Richmond, Virginia area, where she oversees degrees and pathways in architectural engineering technology, CAD and modeling, building construction and supervision, and GIS and survey. Her background includes expertise in historical renovation and adaptive reuse, and she is actively involved in K-12 design education through volunteer work, camps, and school programs. Listeners can find program information at the Brightpoint Community College website — Crystal will provide a direct link. https://www.brightpoint.edu/majors/architectural-engineering-technology-aas 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.

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What’s Working, What’s Not and What’s Coming Next 2026 Q1 Review

Apr 2100:15:25Tap to summarize

Most leaders finish a quarter with a feeling — good or bad — but can’t fully explain why. The problem is usually the same: they never defined what winning looked like. In this Quarterly Review episode, Dr. James Bryant pulls back the curtain on Q1 2026 at Engineer Your Success — what the numbers actually mean, what worked, what didn’t, and what’s being built for Q2. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s an honest look at how intentional leadership actually operates. Key Takeaways Downloads are a vanity metric — retention is the real indicator of audience relationship. 89% of EYS listeners complete at least 75% of every episode. Measuring engagement across multiple signals — downloads, email open rates, response rates, and real conversations — gives a more honest picture than any single number. When something isn’t working, a pivot is not a failure. It’s the application of the same engineering discipline you bring to your projects. The weekly emails have been the most consistently resonant content in the EYS ecosystem — and that content is coming to audio. Winning at work and at home doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design — and that requires defining what winning looks like before the quarter starts, not after it ends. You cannot course correct what you never defined. If you can’t name your three leadership KPIs for Q2 right now, that is the work. Building tight plans and holding them loosely is not a compromise — it’s how leaders stay responsive without losing direction. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome and episode setup 01:15 — How EYS measures success: downloads, retention, and engagement 02:30 — The 89% retention stat and what it actually means 03:45 — What’s been working: Coach in Your Corner, Mic Flip, email series 05:15 — What didn’t work: EYS Insiders and the pivot 06:30 — What’s coming: Best of Emails series, Win By Design newsletter, subscriber highlights 07:45 — The book update: manuscript complete, Marcus, and the four-step Blueprint 09:00 — RVA Leadership Series tease and Ask James Anything 09:45 — Coach in Your Corner: Your Q2 KPIs 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 engineering and technical professionals win at work and at home by developing the leadership skills and presence that technical training alone does not provide. Connect with Dr. Bryant at sleek.bio/eyspod. Resources Mentioned Win By Design Newsletter — weekly leadership content for engineering professionals. Official launch June 2026. Sign up here: EYS Email Update – Engineer Your Success Ask James Anything — submit your question by voice or text: https://app.voiceform.com/to/4Mmw5ss8ADqGBukK The Engineer’s Blueprint for Success: Stop Balancing, Start Winning — book in revision, coming soon. sleek.bio/eyspod — podcast hub, newsletter signup, and Ask James Anything

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Can My Business Survive Without Me

Apr 700:12:02Tap to summarize

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

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How to Access Flow State and Accelerate Your Success

Mar 3100:36:50Tap to summarize

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.

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Applying Engineering Thinking to Grow Your Business and Life

Mar 24Tap to summarize

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

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One Things That Separates Good Managers From Great Ones

Mar 17Tap to summarize

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.

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The Everyday Sales Leader

Mar 1000:30:01Tap to summarize

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

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How to Create Brave Spaces That Unlock Your Team’s Performance

Mar 300:32:59Tap to summarize

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: haciaatherton.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.

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Building an Engineering Firm People Like to Work with

Feb 2400:40:40Tap to summarize

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 EngineeringMultidisciplinary 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

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All episodes

How To Leverage Friction For Safer Roads And A Fulfilling Life

Building the Next Generation of AEC Professionals

What’s Working, What’s Not and What’s Coming Next 2026 Q1 Review

Can My Business Survive Without Me

How to Access Flow State and Accelerate Your Success

Applying Engineering Thinking to Grow Your Business and Life

One Things That Separates Good Managers From Great Ones

The Everyday Sales Leader

How to Create Brave Spaces That Unlock Your Team’s Performance

Building an Engineering Firm People Like to Work with