Podcast Episode Show Notes

Jason Loft is managing director and co-founder of PROTRADE United, and has spent over 16 years helping trade and construction business owners build stronger teams and lead with more confidence. Here, Jason shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: leadership as influence, communication under pressure, asking for feedback, resolving conflict with the GROW model, and running effective toolbox meetings.

David Mehmel has spent 16 years in and around the automotive industry, the last three working full-time as an apprentice trainer and mentor in a dealership environment. Here, Dave shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies leading apprentices: understanding learning styles, treating apprentices as people, building confidence, improving retention and culture, and self-care as a mentor.

Mick Hawes has spent decades coaching builders to turn stressful, time-poor operations into businesses that actually work, with self-leadership at the centre of everything he teaches. Here, Mick shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: creating a leadership environment, why self-leadership comes first, work-life harmony over work-life balance, emotional regulation, and why empathetic listening matters. Deep, practical, and hard-earned.

Stacey Combe brings calm to the chaos of construction, working with everyone from site managers to designers on handling pressure and mental load without losing the plot. Here, Stacey shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: what self-leadership actually means, handling mistakes without shame, practical mindfulness tools, switching off after work, and taking productive breaks to manage stress. Grounded, practical, and genuinely calming.

Chad Perry has more than 20 years in concreting and built a successful business leading diverse teams with one core practice: paying more attention to people. Here, Chad shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: practising leadership without a title, leading different people on the same team, learning from setbacks, why tradies should share their knowledge, and preventing burnout as a business owner. Honest, hard-won, and genuinely useful.

Louise Azzopardi started her trade at 15, represented Australia at the 2017 WorldSkills competition, and now coaches tradeswomen through confidence and anxiety challenges. Here, Louise shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: becoming a role model, the impact of your words as a leader, giving feedback that works, managing workplace anxiety, and the power of self-talk and confidence. Honest, practical, and built from lived experience.

Raman Badekar started out as a maintenance mechanic apprentice and went on to mentor World Skills medallists and lead skilling projects across Australia, New Zealand, India and China. Here, Raman shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: showing up reliably as a mentor, why mentoring apprentices matters, building trust early, why people skills outlast technical skills, and practical tips for mentoring without formal training. Grounded, generous, and full of tools you can actua