Leading with Grit and Grace: Holly Kattenhorn on Women, Work, and Building a Modern Construction Culture

💬 Episode SummaryIn this heartfelt and refreshingly honest episode of The Heald Approach Podcast, Rebecca sits down (again) with the unstoppable Holly Kattenhorn, who’s leading her family’s road surfacing business into a new era, one built on inclusion, honesty, and human leadership.From balancing motherhood and leadership to challenging old-school mindsets in construction, Holly opens up about what it really takes to run a business, raise kids, and stay true to yourself without burning out.This isn’t your polished “women in construction” story. It’s the unfiltered reality...juggling painkillers and spreadsheets, chasing health goals while fighting self-pressure, and finding pride in doing things differently.👉 This episode is proudly sponsored by the Highways Construction Training Association (HCTA): driving skills, standards, and leadership excellence across the highways and infrastructure industry.🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways1. The Pressure to ‘Have It All’Holly and Rebecca unpack the hidden expectations on women, to look perfect, lead perfectly, and parent perfectly, and how that pressure shows up in everyday life.2. Redefining Leadership in Family BusinessesHolly shares her journey leading her multigenerational company alongside her father and grandfather’s legacy, bringing modern values into traditional construction culture.3. Mental Health, Fitness, and Self-WorthThe two get real about how physical fitness and mental health are intertwined and how societal beauty standards still weigh heavily on women in leadership.4. The Reality of Working MothersFrom cooking three different dinners to managing teenage moods, Holly and Rebecca talk about guilt, grace, and the importance of slowing down to reconnect.5. The Apprenticeship GapThey explore how employers can better support apprentices — and why the future of construction depends on building workplaces that are flexible, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent.6. Culture, Connection, and Emotional IntelligenceHolly reflects on introducing emotional intelligence training in a male-heavy environment and how it reshaped team dynamics, trust, and communication.💡 Memorable Quotes“You’ve got to be that role model for yourself before you can lead others.”, Holly Kattenhorn“You can’t fix burnout with yoga classes, and you can’t fix culture with biscuits and away days.”, Rebecca Heald“The construction industry will only thrive when we stop blaming people and start fixing the systems that hold them back.” , Rebecca Heald🎧 Why You Should ListenIf you’ve ever felt torn between your ambition and your personal life, or questioned whether you’re doing enough, this episode will hit home. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.🤝 Sponsored byHighways Construction Training Association (HCTA)Championing excellence, inclusion, and the future of UK highways and infrastructure.🔗 Connect with HollyLinkedIn: Holly KattenhornCompany: Kattenhorn Road Surfacing🔗 Connect with RebeccaLinkedIn: Rebecca HealdWebsite: www.rebeccaheald.comPodcast: The Heald Approach