Building an Engineering Firm People Like to Work with
Most engineering firms assume you have to choose: technical excellence or great relationships. Daniel McCaulley, founder of Ultimus Engineering, built a firm that refuses to choose.
In this conversation, Daniel shares how he went from “super nerd athlete” to engineering entrepreneur, creating a multidisciplinary firm with a radically different culture. You’ll hear his 3-5 minute hiring rule for finding engineers with intangible qualities, his “trust to verify” approach to remote work management, and why he offers commission-based compensation to encourage client-facing skills.
Daniel also opens up about his three-tier priority framework—faith, family, work—and how adapting your leadership style to each person’s needs creates both employee satisfaction and business growth.
Rethinking Money for Engineers: A Conversation with Dr. Adam Link
“I’ve maxed out my 401k. I’ve done everything I’ve been told to do. Now what?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re not alone. Many high-earning engineers reach their financial milestones only to realize they’ve been following generic advice without a clear vision of where they’re actually going.
In this episode, Dr. Adam Link—founder of Fireweed Capital with multiple Silicon Valley exits—challenges what you think you know about optimizing your financial life. You’ll discover why low fees might actually be costing you more, how behavioral psychology sabotages smart decision-makers during market downturns, and why clarity on your destination matters more than any strategy.
Whether you’re early in your career or sitting on significant wealth wondering what’s next, this conversation will shift how you think about money, risk, and the life you’re building.
Strategic Skills Not Soft Skills, The New Currency for Engineering Success | EP 231
Many engineers hit a career ceiling not because they stop performing—but because the expectations around leadership quietly change.
In this episode, Dr. James Bryant and Dr. Bushra Khan unpack why technical excellence alone no longer drives advancement after five to ten years, and why strategic skills like emotional intelligence and self-awareness become critical. Dr. Khan explains why “soft skills” is a misleading label—and how engineers can adjust their leadership approach to keep growing.
Your Work IS Your Reputation: Building a Successful Career with Leslie North | EP230
Leslie North built her lighting design firm entirely through word-of-mouth—architects she worked with 15 years ago still call her. Her secret? Doing excellent work on every job in front of her, not chasing the next opportunity.
In this episode, Leslie shares how she navigated painful leadership growth edges, kept her team together during COVID, and discovered that presence matters more than time. Hard-won wisdom for technical professionals who want to build careers of both excellence and integrity.
Discover why your work is your reputation.
Selling Without Feeling Salesy: Making the Leap to Seller-Doer
What happens when an engineer who’s great at solving technical problems suddenly gets told they need to sell? For many technical professionals, the shift from “doer” to “seller-doer” is one of the hardest transitions in their career.
In this episode, Jessica Nuncio—VP of Business Development and Marketing at Naranjo Civil Constructors—shares her unconventional journey from receptionist to leading business development, why engineers freeze when asked to sell, and how to make that transition without losing your authenticity.
Closing the Surveying Workforce Gap with Dustin Gardner
“Once I stamp that document, I’ve bought liability for the rest of my life. I could be cutting the cake at my retirement party and get sued for the first job I ever did. We’ve been doing the same survey for $1,500 since 2000 and we haven’t really upped our prices. So we’re not rising with inflation, but you’re buying that liability and that work for a pretty cheap price comparatively.”
— Dustin Gardner, Fourth-Generation Land Surveyor
Crucial Conversations That Drive Project Outcomes
Most engineering projects don’t fail because of technical problems—they fail because teams aren’t having the right conversations.
In Episode 227, Jason Klous, Ph.D., Principal at Midion, reveals the Language Action Perspective: a framework for understanding how trust, moods, and coordination actually work on high-performing technical teams. Jason shares why the most technically skilled people often struggle with crucial conversations, how to identify which domain of trust is broken (reliability, competence, or sincerity), and practical strategies for having difficult conversations with both care and candor.
If you lead technical teams or complex projects, this episode will transform how you think about communication as the foundation of project success.
Listen now: sleek.bio/eyspod
Navigating Leadership and Mental Health in the Construction Industry with Heath Troyer | EP 226
Episode Description: What happens when a construction leader decides that building people matters more than building projects? In this episode of the Engineer Your Success Podcast Heath Troyer—fourth-generation contractor, business owner, and national mental health advocate—opens up about the hidden crisis facing construction leaders today: managing projects has become easier than leading whole humans. Heath […]
The Evolution of an Entrepreneur Making it up as you go with Amrit Dhaliwal
In Episode 225 of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant sits down with entrepreneur Amrit Dhaliwal to explore the evolution of his journey—from running Italian delis to leading a home care franchise in the UK.
Rather than waiting for perfect clarity, Amrit shares how learning through action shaped his approach to business, leadership, and life. The conversation touches on work-life integration, intentional decision-making, and reframing challenges so they don’t become unnecessary obstacles.
Listeners will gain practical insight into building and scaling businesses, leading teams effectively, and surrounding themselves with people who strengthen—not drain—them. This episode is especially relevant for leaders and entrepreneurs who want to grow professionally without losing sight of what matters most at home.
How to Navigate Career Transitions and Family
In Episode 224, Dr. James Bryant converses with engineer Eli May about the non-linear nature of engineering careers and its impact on personal life. They discuss the importance of adaptability, the drawbacks of fast-track career thinking, and the necessity of considering family in career decisions. The episode encourages engineers navigating transitions to embrace change, rethink work-life balance, and recognize that career paths often require starting over and making decisions that reflect personal values and family dynamics.