EP. 51: Kate Muldoon and Adam Hopwood: From Doing It All to Leading a High-Performing Team

Today’s episode is a powerful look at what really happens when a tradie finally decides enough is enough and steps into actual leadership.Meet Adam Hopwood, owner of Hopwoods Repairs — a family-run appliance repair business that’s grown from a three-person crew to a full team with technicians, admin support, and an operations manager. But the real story isn’t the growth… it’s the mindset shift that made it possible.When Adam first joined Ladies With Tradies with coach Donna Brown, he was stuck in the classic tradie trap:👉 doing everything himself👉 no time to think or plan👉 stressed, burnt out, and never present at home👉 always putting out fires👉 terrified to delegate because “no one does it as well as I do”Fast-forward to today?Adam leads with confidence, runs consistent team meetings, has built an incredible culture, and has finally stepped out of the day-to-day. His team feels safe to speak up, his systems actually work, and his family gets the best of him — not the burnt-out leftovers.In this conversation, we dive into:✨ The turning point that pushed Adam to reach out✨ What delegation really looks like for a technician-turned-owner✨ How DISC profiling changed his team dynamic✨ Why weekly meetings became the backbone of his business✨ The emotional cost of “survival mode” on tradie families✨ How Adam learned to lead without controlling everything✨ What Penny and the kids have noticed since these changesThis is an inspiring, honest chat about growth, discomfort, and what’s possible when you stop white-knuckling your business and finally let people help.Key TakeawayTrue growth happens when you stop trying to be the hero tradie who does everything — and start becoming the leader your business actually needs. THE MONEY JUNKET: A TRADIE COUPLES RETREAT21st to 23rd AUGUST 2026 - BRISBANE QLDGet on the Same Page. Fix the Numbers. Feel Like a Couple Again.Join us at southbankClick here to register.Limited spots, because we keep these events intimate and interactive. 🎧 Ready to take your tradie business to the next level?🚀 Money Junket 2026 Join us for our biggest event of the year—helping tradie couples build profitable, sustainable businesses (without burning out or breaking their relationship). 👉 https://ghl.ladieswithtradies.com/the-money-junket-bne-2026💡 The Empowered Tradie Business Program (FREE) Get clarity, structure, and direction in your business—without the overwhelm. 👉 https://ghl.ladieswithtradies.com/empowered-tradie-program📞 Book a ‘What To Fix First’ Call Not sure what’s holding your business back? Let’s figure it out together. 👉 https://links.ladieswithtradies.com/widget/bookings/30min_chatdirect