The Trades Accelerator: Women Leading Business Innovation
The Trades Accelerator: Women Leading Business Innovation
For trades business owners and their teams ready to grow together. We share stories, strategies, and proven insights to help you lead better, work smarter, and build the career you want—no matter where you're starting from.
Hosted by Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane.
With engaging conversations, real-life success stories, and actionable advice, each episode is crafted to inspire growth and innovation. From overcoming business challenges to fostering leadership skills and building thriving companies.
Episodes
80 episodes
Episode 80: Next Gen in Charge: Kids Taking on the Family Business
In this episode, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane dive into the complexities of having an owner’s kids join the family business. They explore the dynamics from the kids’ perspectives, no matter their age and what it means for the future of ...
Episode 79: Stuck at $3 Million: Breaking Through the Chaos Ceiling
In this episode, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane explore why companies often hit a wall of chaos around the $3M mark and what owners can do to regain control. They emphasize the importance of stepping back regularly, at least quarterly, to...
Episode 78: Mixing Family and Business: What Works (and What Doesn't)
This conversation explores the complexities of integrating family members into a business, focusing on the dynamics of management roles, the importance of clear communication, and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life. The speak...
Episode 77: From Desk to Field: Fixing the Breakdown in Team Communication
In this conversation, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane discuss the challenges faced by organizations when there is a disparity in workload between office staff and field experts. They emphasize the importance of understanding the customer j...
Episode 76: Honest Conversations that Drive Success in Your Business
In this conversation, Melanie Sloane and Dana Staszkiewicz discuss the complexities of managing employees who may no longer fit their roles as a company grows. They emphasize the importance of having honest conversations about career aspiration...
Episode 75: From Hire to Higher Performance: Creating a Sustainable Workforce
In this conversation, Melanie Sloane and Dana Staszkiewicz discuss the challenges of managing a growing workforce, particularly in the context of hiring, onboarding, and retaining employees. They share personal experiences and insights on the i...
Episode 74: Beyond the Promotion: Secrets to Mentoring New Managers
In this conversation, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane discuss the complexities and challenges of promoting employees from within an organization. They explore the importance of communication, curiosity, and mentorship in ensuring that newl...
Episode 73: When Dispatch and Field Collide: Resolving Conflict For a Stronger Operation
In this conversation, Melanie Sloane and Dana Staszkiewicz discuss the challenges between the field and office. They explore strategies for resolution, the importance of understanding roles, and the necessity of collaboration. The conversation ...
Episode 72: Revenue Rising, Profits Stalling: The Business Balancing Act
In this conversation, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane discuss the challenges business owners face when experiencing revenue growth without corresponding increases in profitability. They explore the importance of understanding financial met...
Episode 71: How To Adapt When Your Business Expands Beyond Your Expertise
In this conversation, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane discuss the challenges faced by business owners when their companies outgrow them. They share personal experiences and insights on recognizing the signs of growth, the importance of str...
Episode 70: Leading With Compassion: Understanding Employee Emotions During Transitions
In this episode, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane dive into the emotional aspects of leadership and employee support, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing the feelings of employees during times of change. They highligh...
Episode 69: Why Working With Family Isn't Just 'Business Casual'
In this conversation, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane discuss the complexities of family dynamics in business. They emphasize the importance of clear expectations, open communication, and understanding career paths for family members in...
Episode 68: Why Raising Your Rates Is a Psychological Game
In this episode, Dana Staszkiewicz and Melanie Sloane dive into an open and real conversation about pricing, worth, and the psychology of knowing your value, from both the employee and business owner point of view. They explore how each role ap...
Episode 67: Empowering Leadership With Solutions Not Problems
In this episode, we dive into the real importance of bringing solutions, not just problems, to leadership. We're talking about why it’s absolutely okay to raise issues, leaders need to know what’s going on, but how powerful it is when you al...
Episode 66: The Pivot Point: When to Double Down vs. When to Change Direction
In this conversation, Melanie Sloane and Dana Staszkiewicz discuss the critical moments when businesses need to pivot or make significant changes. They explore various aspects such as operational adjustments, employee feedback, and the balan...
Episode 65: Growing Your Confidence: What Happens When You Push Yourself
In this episode, we sit down and talk openly about confidence and what it really takes to build it. Confidence doesn’t show up on its own. It grows when you step into something new, try it for the first time, and learn as you go. We share ou...
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Episode 64: When Words Match Actions: How Accountability Builds Trust
In this episode, we talk honestly about accountability and why it’s one of the biggest struggles inside trades companies. Many owners and managers avoid holding their team to clear expectations, and that hesitation slowly wears down performa...
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Episode 63: Why Every Business Needs an On-Site: Getting Unfiltered Insight
In this episode, we talk about what really happens during an on-site visit and why it’s one of the most eye-opening things you can do for your business. We walk through how we prepare, what we look for, and how each visit is completely diffe...
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Episode 62: Inside the Grind: How We Kept a 24/7 Trades Business Moving
In this episode, we open up about what our days actually looked like when we were running a 24/7 trades business. From early mornings spent reviewing reports to late-night Slack check-ins, the pace was steady and nonstop. We talk about how h...
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Episode 61: The Magic After the Event: Turning Ideas Into Action
In this episode, we talk about what it takes to get value out of masterminds and events. It's easy to show up, take notes, and get inspired, but the hard work starts when you go home. We share stories from our own experiences, including an i...
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Episode 60: The Importance of the 4th Quarter: How You Finish Determines How You Start
In this episode, we talk about why the 4th quarter is one of the most important times for any business. As the year winds down and the holidays approach, it’s easy to lose focus—but Q4 is where real leaders double down. We share how using th...
Episode 59: You Got the Promotion—Now What?: Making the Shift from Peer to Boss
In this episode, we talk about one of the hardest transitions at work—going from being part of the crew to leading it. Getting promoted is exciting, but it can also feel awkward when you’re suddenly managing the same people you used to grab ...
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Episode 58: Spotting High Potential: How to Identify Future Leaders on Your Team
In this episode, we talk about how to spot employees who could grow into strong leaders—even the ones who might seem like a challenge at first. We share examples of finding people who are open to feedback and willing to grow, and why the lou...
Episode 57: From Installer to Industry Leader: How Ergun Aral Built a $3M Window Treatment Business
In this episode, we sit down with Ergun Aral, owner of Best Buy Window Treatments in Florida, to hear his remarkable journey from immigrating to the U.S. to running a successful trades business. Ergun shares how long days of hard work led hi...
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Episode 56: Stop Spinning, Start Scaling: The Operator’s Role
We know visionaries create the big ideas, and doers make them happen—but without someone in between, businesses often stall. That’s where we believe operators step in. In this episode, we share our experience of how operators bring order to ...
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