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From Corporate to COO: Scaling Fast & Leading Fearlessly with Jessica Passmore

⏱️ 21:06 🎀 Cassie Pound, Kaylee, Jessica Passmore
AUDIO EPISODE
From Corporate to COO: Scaling Fast & Leading Fearlessly with Jessica Passmore
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  • 0:00
    Sponsor: Forest Perry Digital Marketing
    This episode is brought to you by Forest Perry Digital Marketing, offering lead generation and online brand protection for service businesses.
  • 0:19
    Sponsor: Keyheart Marketing
    Keyheart Marketing helps businesses transform their online presence from boring to brilliant, especially on social media, by building customer trust.
  • 0:59
    Sponsor: Rival Digital
    Rival Digital, a full-service digital marketing agency for home services, announces its sponsorship of Power Women of the Trades Podcast, offering web design, SEO, and more.
  • 3:20
    Jessica Passmore: From Corporate to COO
    Jessica Passmore, COO of Hearts, a multi-trade company in Tacoma, Washington, shares her journey from corporate to the trades, emphasizing the transition's positive impact.
  • 5:27
    Hearts' Rapid Growth & Nexstar
    Hearts grew from 35 to 130 employees in six years, attributing success to amazing people, partnership with Nexstar, and a 'try fast, fail fast' strategy.
  • 17:10
    Trades are Recession-Proof
    Jessica and Cassie discuss how the trades, particularly residential services, remain resilient even during economic downturns, debunking common excuses for slow periods.
  • 20:18
    Female Leadership in Trades
    Hearts has a significant number of women in leadership roles, which Jessica believes has positively impacted company culture and fostered a more inclusive environment.
  • 31:30
    Changing Company Culture
    Jessica explains how increasing female leadership at Hearts has led to a more inclusive and authentic culture, moving away from a 'boys club' mentality.
  • 36:45
    Hearts' Plumbing Academy
    Hearts developed a successful eight-week plumbing academy from 2002-2004 to train new plumbers, helping to address the shortage of licensed professionals in Washington state.

Speakers

C
Cassie Pound
Host
K
Kaylee
Host
J
Jessica Passmore
COO of Hearts in Tacoma, Washington

Key Takeaways

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Embrace 'try fast, fail fast' to adapt quickly and drive growth in your business, even if it means taking calculated risks.

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Invest in networking and peer groups like Nexstar to learn best practices and gain insights from other successful contractors.

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Actively recruit and promote talented individuals, regardless of gender, to build a diverse and strong leadership team.

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Cultivate an inclusive company culture where all employees feel valued and empowered, moving beyond traditional gender roles in the trades.

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Consider developing internal training programs or academies to build your own skilled workforce, especially in areas with licensing challenges, ensuring a pipeline of qualified technicians.

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Recognize that residential trades are often recession-proof; focus on consistent customer service and efficient operations rather than economic anxieties.

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Prioritize building strong back-office systems and processes early on to support rapid scaling and efficient operations as your company grows.

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