Podcast Episode Show Notes

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.

Tom Macrokanis is a qualified boilermaker who started his first business at 17 and has since founded Macro3D, a concrete 3D printing company tackling housing affordability. Here, Tom shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies in construction: extreme ownership, leading through action, picking the right mentor, handling setbacks, and communicating to keep every stakeholder on side.

Leon Simmons left a secure, well-paid career to start again as an apprentice electrician in his 30s and built an online community documenting the journey. Here, Leon shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: leadership without a title, building confidence as a junior onsite, taking responsibility beyond your job description, what makes a good mentor, and building an online community. Grounded, humble, and full of real apprentice-floor wisdom.

Harry Murtough has spent years telling the trade industry's stories as editor of The Tradie Magazine, giving him a front-row seat to the patterns behind good, and overlooked, leadership. Here, Harry shares 5 leadership lessons for tradies: the difference between knowledge and wisdom, why sharing your story matters, listening as a leadership skill, why empathy matters, and self-awareness as the throughline of great leaders. Thoughtful and genuinely insightful.

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