What does it take to lead with heart, overcome challenges, and build a legacy rooted in emotional intelligence?

This week, I’m joined by Nada Lena Nasserdeen—internationally acclaimed thought leader, keynote speaker, and founder of Rise Up For You—to talk about her latest #1 bestselling book, the power of soft skills, and how she’s helped transform over 100,000 lives across 50+ countries.

We get real about:

• What emotional intelligence actually looks like in action

• How leaders can shift from reactive to intentional communication

• Building a global brand from purpose and passion

• The Rise Power Up Method: how Nada empowers individuals and teams

• The behind-the-scenes of speaking on TEDx, co-hosting on The Office Hours, and sharing the stage with icons like Tony Robbins and Les Brown

If you're ready to unlock the mindset, energy, and skills to rise up in your life and career, this one’s for you.

Connect with Nada:
🌐 riseupforyou.com
📸 Instagram: @nadalena_rise
📚 Book: RISE UP FOR YOU: Closing the Gap Between You and Your Potential
🎥 TV & Media: Amazon Prime, Bloomberg, Apple TV

What if you could land a job making $70K more while working fewer hours and feeling less stress?

In this episode, I sit down with Morgan Chawaga, career and business coach, former architect, and founder of The Healthy Architect, to talk about how she's helping architects reclaim their time, energy, and income. From negotiating unheard-of benefits to ditching burnout-inducing mindsets, Morgan is shaking up the AEC world—and helping architects thrive without sacrificing their sanity.

We talk about:

• Why burnout is so normalized in architecture (and how to break the cycle)

• Morgan’s 4 holistic pillars for sustainable success

• Real client wins: +$70K salary jumps, 32-hour weeks, and maternity leave breakthroughs

• The truth about setting boundaries and rethinking hustle culture

• How you can stress less and make more—starting now

Connect with Morgan:
🌐 www.thehealthyarchitect.org
📸 Instagram: @the_healthy_architect_
🎧 Podcast: The Healthy Architect, LLC

Inside the 2025 ENR 500: Why the Real Battle Is for Talent, Not Just Projects

In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce breaks down the newly released ENR Top 500 Design Firms list for 2025—and why it’s more than just a revenue leaderboard.

With $135 billion in combined design revenue and firms rapidly expanding into infrastructure, data centers, and sustainability, the AEC industry is clearly booming. But here’s the problem: the growth is outpacing the talent pipeline.

Bryce shares how today’s leading firms are struggling to fill roles fast enough—and why attracting and retaining top talent has become the real competitive edge in 2025.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• The big takeaways from the 2025 ENR 500 list

• The growing disconnect between project wins and staffing capacity

• What AEC leaders need to do now to stay ahead in the talent race

• How to build a brand that top candidates want to work for

💡 Whether you're leading a firm or managing a growing team, this episode will inspire you to rethink your hiring strategy and invest in building a workplace that thrives long-term.

👉 Got hiring challenges? Bryce can help. DM her on Instagram or LinkedIn, or visit www.brycebatts.net

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek, a leading voice in the field of AI and the CEO of Clarity AI. Ranked the #4 Influencer in Voice AI by Voicebot.ai, Joan shares her insights on building custom AI solutions and discusses her debut book, Your AI Roadmap: Expand Your Career, Money, and Joy, which has already become an Amazon bestseller.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Joan’s journey in the AI industry and her experience working with Fortune 500 clients

• Insights from her bestselling book and how it addresses resilience, networking, and financial freedom in the AI era

• The importance of building custom AI solutions for businesses

• Highlights from her podcast, Your AI Roadmap, and conversations with top experts from industry giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft

• The future of AI and its impact on various sectors

• Joan’s experience as a speaker at major conferences like CES and Voice Summit

Guest Background: Dr. Bajorek has over a decade of experience in AI development, having led significant projects for companies such as Nuance (acquired by Microsoft), Netavox, and VERSA Agency. She has successfully closed multiple high-value contracts and is actively investing in innovative startups.

Published Work:

• Your AI Roadmap: Expand Your Career, Money, and Joy (Wiley, 2025), featured in Forbes

Connect with Dr. Bajorek:

• LinkedIn: Joan Palmiter Bajorek

• Website: Clarity AI

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld, a seasoned HR leader with over 25 years of experience, to discuss her journey in the world of Human Resources and her passion for helping startups build strong, people-first cultures. As the founder of Retain and co-founder of Eleven, Lisa-Maree shares her insights on scaling businesses while ensuring a solid and compliant HR foundation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Lisa-Maree's career journey and her extensive experience with startups and established corporations

• The importance of crafting scalable HR strategies in fast-growing companies

• How Eleven empowers leaders to enhance communication with their teams

• The role of empathy in HR leadership and executive coaching

• Navigating the challenges and chaos of building high-performing teams

• Insights on work-life balance and the importance of joy in both personal and professional life

Guest Background: Before launching Retain and Eleven, Lisa-Maree was the VP of People at Expa, where she played a crucial role in scaling HR for over 20 startups. Her career also includes leadership positions at Lyft, NinthDecimal, and Aria Systems, alongside roles at PG&E and Blue Shield of California.

Fun Facts:

• Lisa is a proud mom of four and loves live music, often attending concerts in her free time.

• She is currently on a mission to persuade her husband to adopt another puppy!

Resources Mentioned:

• Retain

• Eleven

Connect with Lisa-Maree:

• LinkedIn: Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Patricia Stepler, the owner of Creating Top Producers, who specializes in helping business owners and entrepreneurs unlock their potential, boost productivity, and achieve the freedom they desire in both time and finances. A former educator turned personal development and business coach, Patricia shares her transformative journey and the insights she gained from studying under the legendary Bob Proctor.

Patricia’s path to empowerment began when her son manifested a full college scholarship, which sparked her interest in the Law of Attraction and Universal Laws. Drawing from her personal experiences, she now helps others break through limiting beliefs and embrace entrepreneurial thinking to achieve extraordinary success.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how mindset transformation can dramatically impact your business and personal life.

• Discover practical strategies to boost productivity and unlock your full potential.

• Understand the principles of the Law of Attraction and how to apply them to achieve your goals.

• Hear Patricia's personal story and the pivotal moments that led her to become a successful coach.

• Gain insights into overcoming limiting beliefs and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.

Connect with Patricia:

• Creating Top Producers: https://patricia.creatingtopproducers.com/invite

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciastepler/

Join the Conversation: We invite you to share your thoughts on this episode! What insights resonated with you? How do you plan to unlock your potential and achieve your goals? Connect with us on our social media platforms and let us know!

In this episode, we dive into the current landscape of talent acquisition and hiring trends within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Join me as I explore the challenges and opportunities that professionals face in today's competitive market, and share insights on how firms can attract and retain top talent.

Key Topics Covered:

• Overview of the AEC job market and its evolving dynamics
• Skills and qualifications that are in high demand
• Common hiring challenges faced by AEC firms
• The importance of diversity and inclusion in the hiring process
• Strategies for employers to attract top candidates
• What the labor shortage means for the industry
• Predictions for the future of hiring in the AEC sector

What You’ll Learn:

• Current trends shaping the AEC hiring landscape
• Effective strategies for both employers and candidates
• The significance of building a strong company culture to attract talent

Connect With Me:

• LinkedIn
• Wine After Work
• Career Collective

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners!

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Amanda Johnson, known as The Story Oracle, who shares her journey of transforming pain into empowerment through storytelling. With over twenty-five years of experience in story literacy, writing, and narrative medicine, Amanda equips individuals and organizations to leverage the power of stories for personal growth and community connection.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Power of Story: Amanda discusses how storytelling serves as a fundamental tool for human connection and healing, allowing individuals to transmute their pain into a more fulfilling narrative.

• Transformative Experiences: Discover Amanda’s transformative experiences that led her to embrace storytelling as a means of personal and communal growth.

• Working with Diverse Audiences: Learn how Amanda partners with helping professionals, creatives, coaches, CEOs, educators, and parents to harness the magic of storytelling in their lives and work.

• Rebuilding Resilience and Trust: Amanda shares insights on how stories can rebuild resilience, foster trust, and create a sense of belonging within families, workplaces, and communities.

• Saved By Story: Understand Amanda's role at Saved By Story, where she collaborates with organizations to create paradigm-changing brands and content that resonate with audiences.

• Unlocking Latent Superpowers: Explore Amanda’s approach to helping individuals reclaim and leverage their latent superpowers through the art of storytelling.

Takeaways: Listeners will come away with practical insights on using storytelling as a transformative tool for personal development and community building. Amanda's wisdom encourages us to embrace our narratives and use them to create a more connected, resilient, and empowered world.

Connect with Amanda Johnson:

• Website: Saved By Story

• Social Media: Instagram | LinkedIn