In this episode, the 100th installment of the Site Visit Podcast, James and Christian are joined by Ellisha Mott from Mott Electric.
James starts with stories of his family's electrical business in England, emphasizing their determination to elevate the company's success. Similarly, Ellisha reflects on her family's business journey, with its earliest roots in San Francisco, before forging north as an electrical motor repair company and into a prominent union contractor in Vancouver, Canada. Ellisha adds depth to the discussion by sharing her experiences and how they align with her family's rich 90-year history in the construction industry.
The conversation then shifts towards education in Europe, a once-in-a-lifetime Olympic experience and then into the meat of the conversation, family business succession. Family business succession becomes a central theme, with James and Christian delving into the challenges and successes within their family legacies. Ellisha adds her perspective, emphasizing the importance of navigating entitlement, work ethic and any potential sale event when managing a family business.
As the episode progresses, the focus shifts to electrical contracting and industry trends. Ellisha commends Mott Electric's dedication to its employees and the community, singling out electrician Kyle Steel for his outstanding skills. The hosts stress their selective and disciplined approach to adopting new technologies in the ever-evolving construction industry. The discussion then leads to family business longevity and culture. The importance of sustainability and employee empowerment within family businesses is again underscored, with Ellisha proudly mentioning Ron Helmer, a dedicated employee celebrating an impressive 40 years of service.
The conversation proceeds to address the issue of gender roles in the construction industry, with personal experiences and the pressure to follow family traditions discussed in depth. The different paths family members take in pursuing or diverging from family businesses are explored. The episode closes, focusing on strategies to incentivize women to enter the trades and promote diversity through initiatives like bursaries and scholarships.
Overall, this milestone 100th episode of the podcast offers a captivating exploration of leadership, family business legacies, and the challenges and triumphs of managing multi-generational enterprises in the construction industry. The hosts and their guest, Ellisha Mott, provide valuable insights and engaging stories that shed light on the unique dynamics and opportunities within family-owned construction businesses.
EPISODE LINKS:
Ellisha Mott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellisha-mott-a72b0346/
Mott Electric Website: https://www.mottelectric.com/
PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH
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