How To Leverage Friction For Safer Roads And A Fulfilling Life

Ryland Potter serves as U.S. Director at WDM, working on pavement condition measurement and friction management to help transportation agencies make informed, proactive road safety decisions. In this conversation, she traces her path from management consulting through a community grocery store that almost was, and into her current role at WDM. She reflects on what burnout taught her about updating her thinking, why she leans toward preserving options, and how she approaches change management as a daily practice — moving with what’s in front of you rather than rejecting it. Dr. James Bryant closes the episode with his own reflection on the power of habits and the systems that shape who we become.