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🎧 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 – Introduction
02:24 – Matt’s Background
04:24 – ESOP Basics and Requirements
06:39 – ESOP Challenges and Pitfalls
08:21 – Real-World ESOP Examples
13:21 – Impact on Company Culture
18:14 – Getting Started with ESOP
19:44 – 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