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