The number is 44,000: businesses that closed in a single year, most of them not sold, just shuttered. Manja Horner, leadership strategist and founder of Boost Learning Design, joins Wendy and Kelsey to unpack why so many trades owners are walking away with no successor and no plan for the knowledge they spent decades building. The conversation looks at the hidden costs of skipping training, the brain drain hitting the trades, and what it takes to build a business that actually holds its value.

In This Episode

Why "figure it out as you go" can quietly cost owners up to 8 percent on every project
What goes wrong when a strong tradesperson is promoted into management without training
How to think about training and HR as core business functions rather than overhead
Why a quarter of the trades workforce is heading for retirement, and what that means for owners
What a knowledge capture system looks like, and why it matters before key people leave
How leadership and skills training tie directly to business value and exit readiness

Featured Quote

"Yes, we have the bodies leaving. We haven't talked about the brain drain that's happening." — Manja Horner

About the Hosts

Wendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.

Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. She works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.

About Our Guest

Manja Horner is a third-generation tradesperson, leadership strategist, and founder of Boost Learning Design. She helps trades businesses fix the leadership training and accountability breakdowns that drive turnover and crush margins. She is the author of Pass the Torch: A Call to Rescue the Future of Trades.

Resources & Links

Pass the Torch by Manja Horner: passthetorchbook.com
Boost Learning Design (Manja's company)

Connect With Black Star Wealth

Website: blackstarwealth.com
LinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulay
Podcast: The Number, available on all major platforms

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