What if the little things you do today are what create your biggest opportunities tomorrow?

In this episode of Building Confidence, I'm joined by Hannah, founder of HER Engineering, Machining and Maintenance, to talk about her incredible journey from apprentice fitter and machinist to multi-skilled tradeswoman, business owner and specialist working on some seriously massive mining equipment.

Hannah's journey hasn't been without challenges. After struggling to secure an apprenticeship, she eventually became the first woman to qualify as a tradesperson at King's Engineering in 93 years. During her apprenticeship, she also experienced a life-changing motorbike accident that left her having to relearn everyday skills, including walking and speaking.

But with determination, encouragement and the support of people who believed in her, Hannah continued building her career.

We talk about her love of learning, gaining additional qualifications, discovering her passion for hydraulics and heavy mining equipment, and eventually taking the leap into running her own business.

Throughout the conversation, one message keeps coming up: the little things matter.

Whether it's asking another question, taking pride in sweeping the workshop floor, building relationships with experienced tradespeople or simply checking in on someone who's having a tough day, those little actions can have a huge impact.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Hannah's journey into fitting and machining and becoming the first qualified tradeswoman at her workplace in 93 years

• Recovering from a life-changing motorbike accident during her apprenticeship

• The impact of mentors, family and coworkers who believe in you

• Why you should never stop learning after completing your apprenticeship

• Building additional skills in hydraulics, plant mechanics and auto electrical work

• Learning to ask for help instead of trying to do everything yourself

• Taking the leap from employee to business owner

• Building a professional reputation through consistency, initiative and quality work

• Why the little jobs, including sweeping floors, can demonstrate your work ethic

• Asking why instead of simply doing what you're told

• Building relationships with tradespeople who might initially seem difficult to approach

• Why small gestures of kindness can make a massive difference to someone's life

Whether you're just starting your apprenticeship, looking to grow your skills or dreaming of starting your own business, Hannah's story is a reminder that you don't have to have everything figured out from the beginning.

Keep learning, ask questions, take opportunities and don't underestimate the little things. They might just be what gets you where you want to go.

Want to follow along Hannah's journey? Here is her website - https://herengineering.com.au/

What if the people in your new workplace aren't rejecting you—they're just figuring out how to work with you?

In this episode of Building Confidence, we're talking about something that doesn't get discussed very often: teaching men how to work with women.

When you enter a male-dominated workplace as a tradeswoman, there's a lot of newness for you. New people, new systems, new expectations and a new workplace culture. But sometimes there's also newness on the other side—because you may genuinely be the first woman some of your coworkers have ever worked alongside.

That uncertainty can sometimes look like people being distant, awkward or standoffish. And while sexism and unconscious bias absolutely exist, sometimes there may be something else happening too.

Drawing on my own experience entering a workshop where the team had previously had a difficult experience with another woman, I talk about why I often give a new workplace a little time before deciding exactly what's happening.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why joining a new workplace can feel uncomfortable for everyone involved

• What can happen when your coworkers have never worked with a woman before

• Why being standoffish doesn't automatically mean someone doesn't want you there

• How previous workplace experiences can influence the way people respond to you

• Giving relationships time to develop before putting a label on what's happening

• Making the first move when coworkers are nervous about approaching you

• Staying true to your values and maintaining your boundaries

• Keeping sight of why you're there in the first place

• Recognising when the adjustment period has gone on long enough

• Why one woman's behaviour should never be used to represent all women

This isn't about accepting poor behaviour, changing who you are, or taking responsibility for fixing workplace culture.

It's about recognising what you can control: how you show up, how you communicate, the boundaries you set and the relationships you choose to build.

Sometimes people need a little time to get used to each other. And some of the people who initially have their walls up may eventually become the people you learn the most from.

If you would like help and support to implement this process you can book a coaching consultation here

If you are business wanting to give your employees more tools to succeed you can book a business chat here

Zadie proudly sponsors this episode.

Zadie is a workwear brand made by tradeswomen for tradeswomen and is made to fit your hips, thighs and butt; check them out at https://www.zadieworkwear.com.au/

What if choosing a trade could open more doors than you ever realised?

In this episode of Building Confidence, I sit down with fitter by trade and Women in Trades Project Officer Abbie to talk about the incredible variety a trade career can offer—and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Abbie takes us from discovering automotive at school and applying for almost every apprenticeship she could find, through her fitting and turning apprenticeship at BlueScope Steel, working in manufacturing and underground mining, and eventually stepping into a role where she now helps other women find their own pathway into the trades.

We also have an honest conversation about what happens after you finish your apprenticeship. Abbie shares the unexpected challenge of finding work as a newly qualified tradeswoman, why employers need to rethink their expectations around experience, and why sometimes a rejection from the wrong workplace can be a blessing in disguise.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Discovering the trades while still at school

• Applying for apprenticeships when you're not completely sure which trade you want

• What it's really like completing an apprenticeship with a large employer

• Learning to think for yourself when support isn't always available

• The huge variety of work available as a fitter

• Working in manufacturing and underground mining

• The challenge of finding work as a newly qualified tradesperson

• Why employers need to give inexperienced workers an opportunity

• Moving from working on the tools to supporting other women entering trades

• Taking advantage of training, licences and every opportunity offered during your apprenticeship

Whether you're considering a trade, currently completing an apprenticeship, or wondering where your qualification could take you next, Abbie's story is a reminder that your trade doesn't lock you into one pathway. Stay curious, take the opportunities in front of you, and build as many skills as you can along the way.

What do you do when someone is shocked to discover that you're a tradeswoman… again?

In this episode of Building Confidence, I'm sharing one of the more unusual reframes I've created with a coaching client: popping people's tradeswoman virginity.

When women still make up such a small percentage of tradespeople, there's a good chance you'll be the first tradeswoman someone has worked with, hired, met on site, or had turn up at their house. Most of the time, the surprise might not bother you—but on a bad day, another "Wow, a girl!" can be the tiny thing that drains the last bit of energy you have.

So instead of letting those moments chip away at your confidence, what if we made them a little lighter?

In this episode, I talk about reframing—a simple coaching tool that can help us change the way we look at those low-level problems we can't necessarily control. This isn't about pretending something doesn't bother you or ignoring bigger workplace issues. It's about deciding where you want to spend your energy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What reframing is and how you can use it

• The small, repetitive experiences that can drain tradeswomen over time

• Why people may still be surprised to meet a tradeswoman

• Separating low-level frustrations from problems that actually need action

• Using humour to take some of the heaviness out of frustrating situations

• Protecting your energy on the days when your confidence is already low

• Creating your own reframes for everyday annoyances

We have trades to learn, houses to build, engines to fix and careers to grow. We don't need to give all our energy away every time somebody is surprised that we exist.

We're here—and we're here to stay.

This podcast episode is supported by the Go Company

The GO Company is dedicated to supporting women in underserved industries by providing essential sanitary solutions. We are kicking off this partnership with a Instagram giveaway – link to enter - https://www.instagram.com/p/DUHZgMbjCsY/

Check out there range of practical period products - https://www.thegocompany.com.au/go-shop

What if the career you really want takes two years of hearing "no" before you finally get your "yes"?

In this episode of Building Confidence, I sit down with electrician and protection technician Kasey to talk about her journey from graphic designer to mature-age electrical apprentice, high-voltage field service technician, and now into the specialised world of protection testing.

Kasey shares what it was like starting an apprenticeship at 30, staying determined through two years of unsuccessful applications, navigating significant health challenges during her apprenticeship, and eventually discovering just how valuable the skills she'd spent four years building had become.

We also explore what happens after you qualify—the confidence shift from apprentice to tradesperson, choosing to leave the workplace where you completed your apprenticeship to continue growing, specialising within your trade, and why continuing to learn can open doors you didn't even know existed.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Changing careers and starting an electrical apprenticeship at 30

• Staying motivated through two years of apprenticeship applications

• Completing an apprenticeship while navigating major personal challenges

• The transition from apprentice to qualified tradeswoman

• Moving into high-voltage field service and protection testing

• Finding specialised career paths you didn't know existed

• Being the only woman in a field service team

• Some of the hidden realities of working underground

• Why your trade qualification doesn't limit you to one type of work

• Continuing to learn after you're qualified

• Saying yes to opportunities and seeing where they take you

Whether you're trying to get your first apprenticeship, considering a career change, or wondering what comes next after qualifying, Kasey's story is a reminder that there isn't one correct pathway through the trades. Keep learning, stay curious, and don't be afraid to say yes to an opportunity—you never know which door it might open.

What if changing one tiny word could change the way you talk to yourself?

In this episode of Building Confidence, we're talking about the surprisingly powerful difference between "and" and "but"—and how a small shift in language can help us recognise how far we've come without ignoring where we still want to grow.

Think about the difference between "I've learnt so much, BUT I still don't know how to do this" and "I've learnt so much, AND I still have more to learn."

Both can be true, but they feel very different.

Drawing on conversations from my coaching work and my own experiences with friendships, skills and personal growth, I explore how using "but" can sometimes unintentionally minimise everything that came before it. By replacing it with "and", we can make space for gratitude, disappointment, confidence, growth and ambition to exist alongside each other.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The subtle difference between using "and" and "but"

• How our language can unintentionally minimise our achievements

• Recognising the skills you already have while acknowledging what you still need to learn

• Why two seemingly conflicting feelings can exist at the same time

• Using this tool when setting goals and thinking about your future

• Appreciating the relationships and community you have while still wanting more

• Moving from a surviving mindset towards thriving

• Making small shifts in your self-talk that create forward momentum

You can be proud of how far you've come and want more for yourself. You can be an amazing apprentice and still have a lot to learn. You can be a capable tradesperson and find your next role challenging.

Those things don't cancel each other out—and sometimes changing one little word is enough to remind yourself of that.

Shewear proudly supports this episode.

She Wear safety work boots that women have designed to fit and look good on women. Not only do they have specially designed work boots for women, but they also have a wide range of women's work wear from various brands in one spot!

Get shopping at http://www.shewear.com.au

Can you build a successful trade career while raising a family? Absolutely.

In this episode of Building Confidence, I sit down with award-winning boilermaker Samantha Hall to talk about her journey from being a stay-at-home mum to becoming a qualified tradeswoman, industry award winner, and mentor for young women entering manufacturing.

Sam shares the realities of juggling motherhood with an apprenticeship, overcoming self-doubt, navigating a male-dominated workplace, and why backing yourself—even when others don't—is one of the most important skills you can develop.

Today, she's not only building truck trailers but also helping build the confidence of the next generation of tradeswomen through mentoring programs across Queensland.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Starting an apprenticeship as a mum
• Balancing family life, childcare, and a trade career
• Overcoming stereotypes in a male-dominated industry
• Why supportive teammates and mentors make a difference
• Transitioning from apprentice to qualified tradeswoman
• Winning industry awards and recognising your own achievements
• Mentoring young women entering manufacturing
• Why confidence grows through action—not perfection
• The importance of staying curious and never pretending to know everything

Whether you're thinking about starting a trade, returning to work after having children, or wondering if it's "too late" to chase a different career, Sam's story is proof that your circumstances don't have to define your future. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply take the first step and keep going.

What if a little bit of self-doubt is actually a good thing?

In this episode of Building Confidence, we're talking about something I call appropriate self-doubt—that little voice that makes you stop, double-check, ask a question or recognise when you might need some help.

We often think becoming confident means getting rid of self-doubt completely. But especially in the trades, having no self-doubt isn't necessarily the goal. Sometimes that second thought of "Hang on, have I missed something?" is exactly what keeps us learning, improving and, most importantly, safe.

In this episode, I explore the difference between self-doubt that keeps you stuck and self-doubt that helps you grow. I also share practical ways to respond to that doubt rather than allowing it to spiral into "I can't do this."

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between crippling and appropriate self-doubt
• Why having zero self-doubt isn't necessarily the goal
• How a little uncertainty can help keep you safe
• Asking for help when you're doing something for the first time
• Moving from being a question asker to a problem solver
• Why being inexperienced isn't something to be ashamed of
• The importance of double-checking—even when you're experienced
• Learning from mistakes instead of allowing them to destroy your confidence
• Asking yourself where your self-doubt is actually coming from

You don't need to know everything to be confident. Sometimes confidence looks like trusting what you know and being willing to stop, check, ask questions and keep learning.

The goal isn't necessarily no self-doubt. It's making sure your self-doubt is working for you instead of stopping you from moving forward.

That distinction is really clear when you talk about someone attempting a task they've never done before: the doubt itself isn't the problem—it can prompt them to check the manual, ask an experienced tradesperson or make sure they haven't missed a safety risk.

If you would like help and support to implement this process you can book a coaching consultation here

If you are business wanting to give your employees more tools to succeed you can book a business chat here

Zadie proudly sponsors this episode.

Zadie is a workwear brand made by tradeswomen for tradeswomen and is made to fit your hips, thighs and butt; check them out at https://www.zadieworkwear.com.au/