CSTG 252: AI, Accountability, and the Year Growth Hit Back with Stephanie Allen

Chad introduces Stephanie Allen, co-founder of AirWorks, to discuss her journey and insights on growth and leadership.

Stephanie shares the story of how she and her husband, Kevin, started AirWorks and grew their business together in the HVAC trade.

Stephanie opens up about AirWorks' difficult 2025, a year of revenue decline, leadership structure changes, and personal investment to keep the company afloat.

Stephanie explains their shift from static budgets to percentage-based targets and a renewed focus on customer relationships and '5-mile famous' community involvement.

Stephanie discusses using AI as a 'superhero cape' to boost efficiency and capture data, while simultaneously emphasizing human development and soft skills training for technicians.

Stephanie and Chad discuss the challenges of accountability in leadership, the effectiveness of different styles, and the importance of clear communication.

Stephanie talks about her 'words of the year,' her evolving leadership style, and the increasing importance of repeatable systems for achieving sustainable growth.

Stephanie and Chad discuss the difficulties of balancing business ownership with family life and the importance of being a relatable leader.

Stephanie highlights the significance of self-awareness for leaders, even using tools like human design and ChatGPT to understand communication styles and team dynamics.

Stephanie concludes by recommending 'The Science of Scaling' and its powerful lesson: professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.