What does it look like to build a career that blends technical mastery with creative freedom?

In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Nicole Roe, founder of R. Nickson Interiors, to talk about her unconventional path from construction to couture-level interiors — and what it takes to carve your own lane in a male-dominated industry.

With more than 15 years of experience across construction and design, and a degree in Building Construction from Georgia Tech, Nicole brings a rare blend of technical credibility and expressive creativity. She shares how her background allows her to design spaces that aren't just beautiful, but deeply functional and aligned with how her clients actually live.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Transitioning from construction into high-end interior design

• Building confidence and credibility as a woman in male-dominated spaces

• Why understanding the full construction process changes how you design

• Scaling a boutique design firm with operational control (including launching a warehouse and receiving space)

• Designing homes that support real life, not just aesthetics

Nicole also opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, creativity with structure, and ambition with authenticity — all while raising four energetic boys and building a design brand that refuses to fit into a single box.

If you're navigating a career pivot, building a business, or redefining success on your own terms, this episode will resonate.

https://rnicksoninteriors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rnicksoninteriors/

What happens when technical excellence is no longer enough to lead?

This week on Wine After Work, Bryce is joined by Kirby Lee, Professional Engineer, third-generation HVAC construction professional, and AEC leadership expert, for a candid conversation about what leadership really requires in today's AEC industry.

With more than 23 years of experience spanning consulting engineering, owner's representation, HVAC construction, and equipment sales, Kirby brings a rare, holistic perspective on the pressures facing AEC leaders today. He shares how his engineering background — combined with decades in the field — led him to recognize a critical gap in traditional leadership development programs.

In this episode, Bryce and Kirby discuss:

• Why most leadership training fails AEC professionals
• The transition from technical expert to people leader
• How emotional intelligence shows up on real projects
• What resilient leadership looks like in an evolving AEC workforce
• Why the industry needs leadership systems designed for AEC, not borrowed from elsewhere

Kirby also shares insights from his work with ASHRAE and how service, mentorship, and intentional leadership shape stronger teams and better outcomes.

If you're an AEC professional navigating leadership, growth, or transition — this episode will resonate.

What happens when working harder stops working?

In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Ritu G. Mehrish — former corporate executive, leadership advisor, and author of Leader's Block and Rewrite the Rules.

After leading global teams across five continents and managing multi-million-dollar business lines, Ritu reached a pivotal moment many high-performing leaders quietly face: the strategies that once worked… no longer did.

That turning point became the foundation of her work today — helping leaders navigate burnout, loss of clarity, confidence dips, and high-stakes transitions that don't show up on performance reviews.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about what it really takes to recover, reset, and lead forward when the path isn't clear.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why high performers often feel "stuck" — even when they're successful on paper

• The hidden leadership moments no one prepares you for (burnout, self-doubt, transition missteps)

• Ritu's "Critical Quarter" framework for navigating the first 90 days of leadership change

• How perception-based stakeholder feedback can create momentum instead of fear

• The invisible cultural dynamics impacting Asian women leaders — and what leaders can learn from that research

• How to rewrite the rules when your old playbook no longer fits

Who This Episode Is For:

• Leaders navigating change, transition, or burnout

• Women questioning visibility, confidence, or next-level growth

• Executives who want clarity without clichés

https://www.ritumehrish.com/

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