S2 E86 - Constructing Success with Women in Home Services

On Beers with Contractors, Will welcomes Kristen Bulza to discuss why having women in leadership is a “cheat code” in construction and home services. Kristen shares her path from running a small construction crew in Los Angeles and working as a police and fire dispatcher—where she learned to avoid micromanaging, embrace learning from mistakes, and lead with empathy—to managing an install office and subcontractors in Arkansas, then leading sales and production at Vesta with seven crews and six salespeople. They discuss earning respect by getting in the trenches, using direct but thoughtful honesty, and building trust through open-door communication and foreman meetings. Now based in St. Pete, Kristen coaches home-service leadership teams nationwide, emphasizing hiring fit, clear expectations, training, accountability (including bonuses tied to performance), explaining the “why,” and not keeping poor fits too long.00:00 Introduction00:40 Kristen Joins The Show01:59 Dispatch Lessons In Leadership03:42 From Roofs To Arkansas04:54 The Crawl Space Snake Story06:24 Women Winning Dirty Work Sales08:49 Active Listening And Empathy11:22 Managing Crews With Directness17:59 Building Trust In Production20:06 Open Door Culture And Chaos20:56 Morale Hits Rock Bottom21:15 Listening Without Ego22:48 Calm Under Pressure24:37 What Great Teams Do27:05 Respect And Buy In30:42 Hold The Line On Bonuses34:01 Train Delegate And Let Go36:47 How To Reach Kristen38:26 Final Thanks And Sign OffContact Kristen Bulza at:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-bulza/ Email: kristen@per4mance.io Booking link: https://per4mance.io/demoCheck Out Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing Group: https://www.greenbaumstiers.com/Foundation Rescue Supply Link:https://www.foundationrescuesupply.com/Contractors Kick Ass!Podcast Store Link:https://williamwalkerblake.com/store-1The Worker Incentive Program that Contractors Love! - Per4mance Software https://per4mance.io - Pay for performance, not hours