Show Information

Episode Number: 127

Date: January 12, 2026

Duration: 35:37

Host Contact Information

Host: Justin Deese

Website: JustinDeese.com

Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com

Guest Contact Information

Guest: Jane Sidebottom

Company: Women in HVACR

Guest Website: https://www.womeninhvacr.org

Summary

In this episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, host Justin Deese sits down with Jane Sidebottom, incoming President of Women in HVACR, to discuss her journey through the trades, her leadership path, and the future of women in the HVACR industry.

Jane shares how early exposure to facilities management shaped her career, her experience working with industry giants like Trane and Carrier, and how she and her husband built a successful consulting firm impacting nearly $1 billion in industry revenue.

The conversation dives deep into the mission and growth of Women in HVACR, including mentorship, leadership development, scholarships, and how the organization is helping contractors and companies attract, develop, and retain women across all roles — from technicians to executives.

Jane also outlines the organization’s five-year vision, leadership strategy, and why creating clear career pathways is essential for the future of the skilled trades.

Key Takeaways

Why Women in HVACR has seen explosive growth over the last five years
The real challenges companies face when recruiting and retaining women in the trades
How mentorship is accelerating confidence, leadership, and career growth
Why leadership vision matters more than ever in industry associations
How contractors can better support women technicians and leaders
The massive opportunity for women entering HVACR today

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Jane Sidebottom

01:10 – Jane’s Early Exposure to the Trades

03:50 – Building a Consulting Business in HVACR

06:00 – What Is Women in HVACR?

09:00 – Why the Organization Has Grown So Rapidly

12:20 – Jane’s Path to Becoming President

13:45 – Leadership Vision & Five-Year Strategy

16:30 – Retaining Women in the Trades

19:00 – The Power of Mentorship

22:15 – Real Stories from Scholarship Recipients

26:30 – Opportunities for Women in HVACR Careers

28:10 – How to Get Involved with Women in HVACR

30:00 – Events, Conferences & What’s Next

Keywords

#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #JaneSidebottom #WomenInHVACR #HVACLeadership #WomenInTheTrades #HVACIndustry #TradeCareers #HVACMentorship #SkilledTrades #ContractorLeadership #HVACR #IndustryLeadership #TradesEducation #WomenInBusiness

Mentioned in this episode:

SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026