How AI, Bold Leadership, and No-Excuse Execution Are Transforming Home Services

Are you finding it tough to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the trades? New tech, new competition, rising customer expectations—a lot is coming at you fast. If you’re searching for real-world solutions (not just talk), this episode of Catalyst for the Trades is one you can’t afford to skip.

This week, Jennifer Bagley and Chuck Staszkiewicz sit down with Stephanie Allen, CEO of Airworks Solutions and a true catalyst for innovation in HVAC. From leveraging advanced AI in daily operations to building a fearless, adaptable culture, Stephanie shares practical, no-nonsense insights on how owners can break out of excuse cycles, empower their teams, and set the pace for the entire industry.

Stephanie’s journey (including balancing four kids under ten, relentless self-development, and leading her team through tech adoption) shows what’s really possible when you commit to both high-touch and high-tech.

Why You Should Listen

Stephanie isn’t just talking about the future; she’s living it. If you want to learn from someone actively scaling, innovating, and overcoming the same obstacles you face (with humor and hustle to spare), this episode delivers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Why “Bold” Is More Than a Buzzword
   Hear how immersive leadership experiences like Driven Leadership’s BOLD program helped Stephanie and Jennifer completely rewire their mindsets, break through personal and business ceilings, and then bring their teams along for the ride.
2. How to Integrate AI Without Losing Heart
   Get a blueprint for weaving AI into your business, from training chatbots to automating reviews and market research. Stephanie explains how to balance efficiency with experience so your business stays both fast and deeply human.
3. Crushing the Excuse Cycle
   Stephanie shares how she’s used ChatGPT to eliminate “I can’t” thinking, professionally and personally. Learn specific ways she gets past bottlenecks, makes faster decisions, and gets more done (even with a packed family schedule).
4. Speed, Agility, and Execution
   Discover how making small, quick pivots and modeling vulnerability and experimentation drives organizational change. Stephanie reveals her secrets for getting buy-in from her team, avoiding tech paralysis, and learning from (not stalling out after) mistakes.
5. High-Touch Always Wins, But Only if You Do the Work
   From handwritten notes to baking cookies for the whole neighborhood, Stephanie and Chuck explain why human touches matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. Learn how to engineer these moments for maximum loyalty and referral value.
6. No More Long-Term Tech Contracts
   Find out why Stephanie refuses to lock her business into year-long tech agreements and how staying flexible lets her stay miles ahead of competitors who are stuck with yesterday’s tools.

The New Rules for Coaches, Vendors, and AdvisorsJennifer lands a strong message for so-called “gurus” who downplay AI or fail to invest in client outcomes: your duty is to lead, not mislead. Owners, hear what questions to ask before you trust your future to anyone else.