Angela Thomas went from learning customer service in her grandparents’ bakery in East Germany to becoming Europe’s number 1 Scaling Expert and founder of Angel Success Consulting: a Dubai-based entrepreneurial family office helping founders, doctors, and service providers scale sustainably and internationally.

With nearly 30 years as a serial entrepreneur, Angela has built and sold businesses across beauty, aviation, healthcare, real estate, and retail. She is the visionary behind programs like Skillionair, Skillionize, and Dubai Docs Fast Track, helping leaders grow without burning out and expand confidently into new markets.

In this episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, Angela shares:

How she scaled multiple businesses from the ground up

What “scaling with soul” really means

Mindset shifts for sustainable business growth

How to lead and build teams across borders

Why Dubai is becoming a hotspot for entrepreneurs and doctors

Her journey is packed with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and selling with integrity making this a must-watch for anyone in the trades, service industries, or entrepreneurial leadership.

Connect with Angela Thomas:

🌐 Website: https://www.angelsuccess.consulting/

📅 Book Your Free Skillionair Strategy Call – https://calendly.com/beautybizz/skillionair-session

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelsuccess_consulting/

Listen & Subscribe to this video, share it with someone who needs to hear Angela’s story, and subscribe for more powerful conversations with hands-on business leaders.

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #ScalingBusiness #Resilience #Tradespeople #AroBenaiahShow

From apprentice carpenter to leading a $150 million construction company, James Kell knows what it takes to build teams, deliver results, and keep workers safe. In this episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, James shares how he’s replacing outdated punishment-based safety systems with a positive recognition approach that’s transforming workplace culture—from construction sites to companies like McDonald’s.

We dive into:

How immediate recognition drives safer, more motivated teams.

Lessons from building Apple’s first Australian stores & managing projects in China.

Why compliance alone won’t improve safety and what works instead.

The leadership habits that helped James go from the tools to the top.

Whether you’re in construction, manufacturing, or any hands-on trade, you’ll get practical insights on leadership, culture, and motivating your crew.

Book a 15-min chat with James: https://calendar.app.google/meHPRxUwjUp4nXxo9

Connect with James Kell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskell

Website: https://www.scratchie.com

Don’t miss new episodes — Subscribe, like, and share this video to help others in the trades.

#ConstructionLeadership #WorkplaceSafety #PositiveReinforcement #BlueCollarSuccess #TheAroBenaiahShow

From student painter to running one of Toronto’s top painting companies, Brian shares his 37+ years of wisdom on building a trade business that lasts. In this interview, you’ll learn:

How to start small with low-cost marketing before investing big

Why focusing on one core skill builds trust and reputation

The power of mentorship, apprenticeships, and learning from experts

How to scale your trade business without sacrificing quality

Why trades are one of the last industries AI will replace

Opportunities in painting and other overlooked trades

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your trade business, Bram’s story is proof that success doesn’t require a flashy start, just skill, consistency, and care for your clients.

Need painting in the Greater Toronto Area?

Visit HomePaintersToronto.com or call 416-494-9095

Join the conversation:

Comment below what trade you’re in and the biggest challenge you face growing it!

Subscribe for more interviews, tips, and real stories from successful tradespeople and entrepreneurs.

#PaintingBusiness #TradesSuccess #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #HomeImprovement

In this episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, we sit down with Tracy Austin, Founder Of Elevation Talent Consulting and a leading voice in HR and leadership development tailored for the construction and skilled trades industries.

With over 20 years of experience helping trade business owners build stronger teams, retain talent, and develop rock-solid leadership from the job site up, Tracy pulls back the curtain on what really works in blue-collar leadership today.

Whether you're:

Struggling to manage your crew

Frustrated by high turnover

Or wondering how to lead without micromanaging

This episode gives you powerful tools to change your outcomes and lead with purpose.

What You'll Learn:

Tracy’s powerful “hatchet woman” story that reshaped her leadership style.

Why most retention problems are communication problems.

The six-step blueprint for having tough talks that don’t backfire.

Why leadership training is non-negotiable (especially before promoting your best tradespeople).

How AI will affect trades and where the human touch still wins.

Why curiosity and clarity are the two most underrated traits in any crew leader.

PLUS: We dive into simple but powerful mindset shifts that every trade entrepreneur and foreman should apply. Learn how to build partnerships with your crew, earn trust, and lead by example without burning out or losing your team.

Tools & Free Downloads: Grab Tracy Austin’s FREE “Tough Talk Blueprint” and more leadership resources here: https://www.elevatedtalentconsulting.com

Join her weekly People Strategy Zoom Club: Every Tuesday at 1pm CST (7pm WAT), Tracy hosts a free virtual learning community for business owners and leaders — no cost, just real support.

Listen to Tracy’s Podcast – People Strategy Podcast: https://www.elevatedtalentconsulting.com/podcast

Follow Tracy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyaustin/

Perfect for:

Painters, electricians, plumbers, welders

General contractors & construction SME owners

HVAC business owners, foremen & crew leads

Anyone delivering hands-on service or running a blue-collar business

If this episode adds value to your leadership, give it a like, and share it with fellow tradespeople, job site managers, or aspiring entrepreneurs.

#TradeBusiness #BlueCollarLeadership #ConstructionHR #PeopleStrategy #RetentionTraining #AroBenaiahShow #LeadershipInTrades

On this episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, Aro sits down with Nick Partington; a contractor who built a restoration business from scratch, took it to 60 employees, and now leads Dazzle, a smart tech platform streamlining heavy equipment rentals for trades. Nick breaks down the real challenges of starting out with just a pickup and some grit, and how he faced the cash flow struggles many in the trades know too well. He shares hard-won lessons about hiring for work ethic, creating systems that actually help your crew, and building a culture that lasts, plus what he learned selling his business. If you’re a builder, fixer, or trades-entrepreneur striving for more than just “putting out fires,” Nick’s story will push you to think, plan, and grow.

You can know more and connect with Nick Partington on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-partington/

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone in the trades.

On this episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, meet Sonny Grappone, a true blue-collar entrepreneur who rose from bagging groceries and running an auto body shop to co-founding Precision Accounting and Consulting. Sonny shares how the lessons learned from long hours, humble beginnings, and constant side hustles shaped his approach to business and money.

We dig into why every tradesperson needs to master basic accounting, how to stay resilient through setbacks, and why your real advantage comes from outworking, not outsmarting, the competition. Sonny also drops practical advice for anyone looking to move from hands-on work to building a business with lasting impact.

If you’re hustling in the trades or dreaming of something bigger, this conversation is packed with real-world strategies and hard-won wisdom.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone in the trades.

Book Sonny Grappone as a guest or learn more about his work: https://www.precisionacctg.com

On this episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, Aro sits down with Brenda Maxx Cumby Mcgee, a trailblazer who broke barriers on the show floors and job sites of America. From her roots as a tomboy with a Tonka truck to becoming a professional model, union carpenter, and now the founder of God Street Blue—a workwear brand designed by and for tradeswomen—Breda’s story is a masterclass in resilience and vision.

Breda reveals how she navigated decades in male-dominated construction, rose to become a union steward, and finally tackled the overlooked problem of poorly fitting workwear for women. Discover why the right clothing isn’t just about safety—it’s about confidence, belonging, and performance. Breda shares her playbook on learning every facet of your trade, the importance of apprenticeships, and the power of sticking it out when the culture feels stacked against you.

Whether you’re a young professional, aspiring entrepreneur, or hands-on worker looking for practical steps and lived experience, this inspiring episode will fuel your next bold move.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone in the trades.

Discover more about Maxx and pre-order “The Pant” at 👉 https://gottstreetblues.com

In this inspiring episode of The Aro Benaiah Show, we sit down with Gladys Margarita Diaz—Cuban-American architect, developer, and founder of Urbaniza Realty. Gladys shares her incredible journey from fleeing communist Cuba at age 5 to becoming a force in real estate development and urban design.

She breaks down how her early immigrant experience shaped her resilience, why tradespeople need to master both soft skills and hard data, and how AI and financial literacy are game-changers for blue-collar professionals.

Whether you're in construction, real estate, or just looking to take control of your career—this conversation is packed with real-world advice you can apply today.

Chapters Include:

Immigrant grit & childhood responsibility

Learning construction from veteran engineers

Rehab projects & choosing the right materials

Business finance for the trades

Using AI and social media to grow your business

Books that changed Gladys’s mindset

Get your free Blueprint Checklist to define your ideal space & legacy: https://urbanizarealty.com/free-checklist

Connect with Gladys:

Website: https://urbanizarealty.com

Instagram: @urbanizarealty

Facebook: @urbaniza realty

Follow The Aro Benaiah Show:

All links & socials: https://linktr.ee/arobenaiah

Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who's ready to build their future.

Welcome to The Aro Benaiah Show, where we explore the raw, unfiltered journeys of blue-collar entrepreneurs and the mindset that fuels success from the ground up.

In this episode, we're joined by West Towers, founder of Uplift 360. A digital marketing agency helping construction and service-based businesses grow through smart websites, SEO, and proven strategies. West has built his company from the trenches and now shares hard-earned lessons to help others avoid the same costly mistakes.

We dive into:

His childhood curiosity and how it shaped his entrepreneurial journey

How construction pros, painters, cleaners, and other hands-on service providers can win online

Common digital marketing traps and how to avoid them

Why being "good at what you do" isn't enough in today’s market and what to do about it

If you're a boots-on-the-ground business owner looking to stand out in a crowded digital world, this conversation is packed with real talk and actionable insights.

🔗 Learn more about West and his work at https://uplift360.com.au/

Welcome to The Aro Benaiah Show: the podcast where we bring the real stories, struggles, and wins of blue collar entrepreneurs to light. I’m Aro Benaiah Kehinde and I started this show to give a voice to those who work with their hands and often get overlooked in the business world.

If you’ve ever felt unsure, stuck, or wondered if your skill has a future, this show is for you. You’ll hear from painters, technicians, farmers, artisans, mechanics, and others who started small but stayed consistent. They’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and the steps that helped them grow.

Whether you’re just starting or trying to scale, this podcast brings you practical ideas, encouragement, and real-life strategies. One job, one connection, one day at a time.

Subscribe and join us on this blue collar journey. Let’s build together.