From 5 Staff to 96 and $160M: Culture, Vision, and the Leadership Shift That Changes Everything (Part 1) with Ash Dawson

Host Barry Minton sits down with Ash Dawson (founder of Strategy & Scale) to unpack the leadership, culture, and mindset shifts behind scaling a construction business from 5 people to 96 staff and ~$160M turnover.

Ash shares his journey through construction, how people and culture became the real growth lever, and why a clear five-year vision is the foundation for recruiting, retaining, and aligning high-performing teams.

They dive into the dangers of the weekday sprint / weekend drift lifestyle, the leadership wake-up call that forced Ash to change how he dealt with stress, and why consistency beats intensity both in business and at home.

If you’re a construction business owner, trades operator, PM, or service-based founder trying to grow without burning out, losing your family time, or becoming the bottleneck, this episode will give you practical insights and frameworks you can start applying straight away

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Building Strong Teams and Long-Term Subbie Relationships in Remedial Construction with Dan Moore

Dan shares how he moved from the tools to leading a multi-region team, why he hires almost entirely on character, and how trust, accountability and emotional regulation shape the culture on his jobs.

They get into long-term builder–subbie relationships, handling blow-ups without killing communication, and the reality of trying to be a present dad and partner while still pushing hard at work.

If you’re a construction business owner, PM or leading hand trying to grow a team without losing your soul (or your weekends), this conversation will give you frameworks, language and examples you can use straight away.

Culture‑First Leadership, Sustainable Growth & The Melrose Playbook

In this episode, we dive into how a boutique construction firm can scale without losing its soul with guest Henry Olsen, co‑founder of Melrose. Known for a culture‑first approach, Melrose’s rapid rise has been driven by clear values, disciplined execution, and a relentless focus on people - on sites, in the office, and across the client experience.

Drawing on a nine‑year friendship and a shared obsession with personal and professional development, this conversation goes beyond project delivery to the mindset and mechanics behind building a modern construction company. Henry unpacks the decisions that shaped Melrose’s identity, the systems that enable consistent quality, and the leadership habits that keep teams accountable while empowering them to own outcomes.

You’ll hear how culture translates into day‑to‑day behaviours - from hiring and onboarding to site leadership and feedback loops - plus the practical frameworks Melrose uses to protect craftsmanship as they scale.