Caren Leotta, along with her business partner & husband Peter, are approaching 10 years as franchise owners of G.J. Gardner Homes Tweed Heads & Ballina. Caren has a 10 year old son Nicolas and yes that’s right…she had a child and bought a business all within 18 months!

Their business has grown from just 12 homes per year to almost 60 homes built annually. The business has also  won numerous award during this time including: Master Builders NSW Northern Region Builder of the Year, G.J. Gardner Homes NSW Franchise of the Year and most recently, Caren was recognised as the recipient of the Master Builders NSW Northern Region Women in Business 2019.

In a male dominated industry, Caren has really made her mark and is an advocate for women in business. We caught up with her recently for a chat…

Caren, you have recently been awarded the Women in Building Award by the Master Builders Association which is fantastic! How difficult it is for women to make headway in a career that is traditionally male dominated?

Having come from a non-construction background myself, I am very much aware of both the challenges and rewards for women who wish to commence a career in the building industry.

As part of the G.J. Gardner Franchise network I have been very fortunate to benefit from the experiences of some of the most successful women in residential building, in addition to on-the-job training and franchisor support.

I think a good network is a key factor to success in the industry for women. Local industry reps such as Master Builders Association host regular women in construction events and this could be an opportunity for those women who are interested in taking the step toward a career in building.

What traits do you feel are important to be a successful leader?

Be prepared to serve others. Self awareness, recognise your own personal style, what you excel at and where you can be best supported by others. Be dynamic, adapt to suit the individual and the situation. Practice humility and learn to suck it up. Business & leadership is a bit like motherhood, you’re it. When you get that call…a team member has resigned without notice/a client is unhappy/every deadline you can possibly imagine is up today…it’s all down to you. Take a breath, put a bit of steel in your backbone and get on with it. That is what being a leader is about in our business, day-to-day leading by example.

What do you do in your spare time?

I love to read, eat and drink wine, preferably all at the same time! International travel is top of my wish list but due to business commitments it doesn’t happen too frequently. The next best thing to a holiday which can be squeezed into a short period of time…an hour in the egg chair with a good book, a glass of wine and some munchies.

Do you have any advice for women who are thinking about a career in building?

My best advice for women who are thinking about a career in building…don’t be put off by a perceived lack of experience, put yourself forward, sell the skills you have which could be transferable to a new role/industry and actively pursue opportunities to upskill/train or gain on-the-job experience.

There are so many varied roles within the construction industry that women absolutely excel at and our success stories at G.J. Gardner Homes have come not from experience but from having the right attitude and drive to succeed.

The amazing women on our team have come from a diverse range of backgrounds including finance, real estate & hospitality and each & every one is now a skilled, passionate advocate for the construction industry in their own right.

And what’s next on the agenda for Caren Leotta?

We have spent the last few years growing and developing our team and our presence in the community/industry. Although this is ongoing I feel we are very well positioned currently, with an experienced and enthusiastic team of people in place, to excel at what we do. So what’s next on the agenda in the immediate future? Focus on one thing and do it better & harder than anyone else, blitz our competition and our clients expectations.

Favourite book and why?

Masters of Rome Series by Colleen McCullough – she’s a genius and the research behind the books is staggering…If you like history or plan on visiting Rome, these books are a must read.

What’s one thing that you do for yourself every day?

Stretch. I don’t always have time to exercise so a quick 10 min stretch each night helps to relieve stress & wind down.

Coast or city?

Both! My ideal year would include a holiday in Italy and one in Bora Bora.

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