Heavy-vehicle diesel mechanic-turned-founder Ashley Belteky shows how real influence in the trades starts with human skills, not just technical expertise. From Cummins workshops to remote Bowen Basin mine sites, she’s seen that new starters don’t need to “know everything”—they need to feel included, valued, and safe to learn. Through her company, Blue Leader, and the “Tradies Who Lead” podcast, Ashley helps trade teams build trust, improve communication, and foster psychological safety without corporate jargon. She shares honest lessons from mentoring apprentices, a leadership scholarship, and 360-degree feedback that taught her leadership is a mindset and daily practice long before it’s a job title. Her mission is to empower trade teams to work better together so the industry becomes not just more productive, but genuinely healthier and more human.
𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧
This episode is proudly brought to you by Troy Sawdy, a leader who lives and breathes the mission of building better futures for our industry.
As the Owner and Founder of Titan IND, a Board Director for Reboot Mindset Academy, and a driving force behind the Titans of Coal, Troy is dedicated to the same principles of investment and legacy discussed in today’s show.
Check out the incredible work Troy and his teams are doing here:
https://titanind.com.au/
https://www.rebootmindsetacademy.org/
https://www.yourtitansofcoal.com/