
From Apprentice to WorldSkills Competitor: Where the Trades Can Take You with Louise Azzopardi Part 1
Explicit content warning
04/27/23 • 47 min
The trades can take you places you have never been before, including an international skilled trades competition!
Tune in to this episode of Learnings and Missteps with Louise Azzopardi, a heavy vehicle mechanic turned life coach, mentor, and motivational speaker based in Sydney, Australia.
Louise was the first woman to compete in Heavy Vehicle Mechanics at the WorldSkills International Competition. If anyone knows the value of discovering what you don’t know, it’s Louise.
What started as a career in the trades evolved into using her experience to support other tradeswomen in overcoming self-doubt and feeling confident in everything they do.
If you remember one thing from this conversation, remember this bit of wisdom: Every choice can be a good choice and every option can be a good option.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
· Louise’s unique journey into the trades.
· What it’s like to transition from high school to an apprenticeship in heavy vehicle mechanics.
· Tips and advice for apprentices learning a new trade.
· How everything you accomplish (and don’t accomplish) is because of your mindset.
· Did earning potential influence your decision to enter the trades vs. college?
· Louise’s experience competing at the WorldSkills Competition.
· College vs. Trades: Which is the better option?
· Navigating imposter syndrome, sexual harassment, and sexism as a woman in the trades.
· What led Louise to become a life coach.
Louise has two Learnings and Missteps: You’re still worthy despite your “mistakes” & Look before you do something.
“Don’t waste your time pretending to know everything because that’s preventing you from learning everything.” – Louise Azzopardi
This episode’s show notes were written by Kayla MacEachern
To connect, email her at [email protected]
Connect with Louise:
Visit her website: http://louiseazzopardi.com
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-azzopardi-699072126
Read more on the Learnings and Missteps Blog: https://www.depthbuilder.com/blog
Resources Mentioned:
SkillsUSA: https://www.skillsusa.org
WorldSkills Competition: https://worldskills.org
Engage with a community of Industry Professionals focused on expanding their leadership skills: https://www.depthbuilder.com/a/2147560101/25qqpH4D Coupon Code JESSE
Get yourself a sample of the Lean & Love Reflection Guide with journal prompts that help you focus on your most important relationships: https://www.depthbuilder.com/reflection-guide
Check out my NEW book, Lean & Love – 5S Love Letters: A #NoBS Look Into How Your Relationships Create #RipplesOfImpact at https://www.depthbuilder.com/5s
For all other links and resources, check out my Bio Link: http://depthbuilder.bio.link
Make yourself a priority and get more done: https://www.depthbuilder.com/do-the-damn-thing
Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Behttps://www.depthbuilder.com/books
The trades can take you places you have never been before, including an international skilled trades competition!
Tune in to this episode of Learnings and Missteps with Louise Azzopardi, a heavy vehicle mechanic turned life coach, mentor, and motivational speaker based in Sydney, Australia.
Louise was the first woman to compete in Heavy Vehicle Mechanics at the WorldSkills International Competition. If anyone knows the value of discovering what you don’t know, it’s Louise.
What started as a career in the trades evolved into using her experience to support other tradeswomen in overcoming self-doubt and feeling confident in everything they do.
If you remember one thing from this conversation, remember this bit of wisdom: Every choice can be a good choice and every option can be a good option.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
· Louise’s unique journey into the trades.
· What it’s like to transition from high school to an apprenticeship in heavy vehicle mechanics.
· Tips and advice for apprentices learning a new trade.
· How everything you accomplish (and don’t accomplish) is because of your mindset.
· Did earning potential influence your decision to enter the trades vs. college?
· Louise’s experience competing at the WorldSkills Competition.
· College vs. Trades: Which is the better option?
· Navigating imposter syndrome, sexual harassment, and sexism as a woman in the trades.
· What led Louise to become a life coach.
Louise has two Learnings and Missteps: You’re still worthy despite your “mistakes” & Look before you do something.
“Don’t waste your time pretending to know everything because that’s preventing you from learning everything.” – Louise Azzopardi
This episode’s show notes were written by Kayla MacEachern
To connect, email her at [email protected]
Connect with Louise:
Visit her website: http://louiseazzopardi.com
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-azzopardi-699072126
Read more on the Learnings and Missteps Blog: https://www.depthbuilder.com/blog
Resources Mentioned:
SkillsUSA: https://www.skillsusa.org
WorldSkills Competition: https://worldskills.org
Engage with a community of Industry Professionals focused on expanding their leadership skills: https://www.depthbuilder.com/a/2147560101/25qqpH4D Coupon Code JESSE
Get yourself a sample of the Lean & Love Reflection Guide with journal prompts that help you focus on your most important relationships: https://www.depthbuilder.com/reflection-guide
Check out my NEW book, Lean & Love – 5S Love Letters: A #NoBS Look Into How Your Relationships Create #RipplesOfImpact at https://www.depthbuilder.com/5s
For all other links and resources, check out my Bio Link: http://depthbuilder.bio.link
Make yourself a priority and get more done: https://www.depthbuilder.com/do-the-damn-thing
Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Behttps://www.depthbuilder.com/books
Previous Episode

Lester Young Path to Redemption
We got a special treat for you. I got to interview Lester Young on the OG Spotlight Livestream and his story moved me so I felt the need to share the conversation here. Lester's story is one of perseverance after spending 20 years in prison he is now walking in service to others.
Taking the lessons he learned and paying it forward.
Path 2 Redemption Website:
https://path2redemption.org/about-lester
Connect with Lester on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lester-young-b1b6a0106/
OG Spotlight Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnVikYCgUE4HBlU2XGH3id41VbANSJCD7
Backstage Pass Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnVikYCgUE4GG6fNGuvOOB6koRbGLOdh7
Emotional Bungee Jumpers:
https://www.depthbuilder.com/emotional-bungee-jumpers-Group1
Lean & Love Audio Book:
https://www.depthbuilder.com/lean-love-audio-book
Make yourself a priority and get more done: https://www.depthbuilder.com/do-the-damn-thing
Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Behttps://www.depthbuilder.com/books
Next Episode

Part 2 From Apprentice to WorldSkills Competitor: Where the Trades Can Take You with Louise Azzopardi
The trades can take you places you have never been before, including an international skilled trades competition!
Tune in to this episode of Learnings and Missteps with Louise Azzopardi, a heavy vehicle mechanic turned life coach, mentor, and motivational speaker based in Sydney, Australia.
Louise was the first woman to compete in Heavy Vehicle Mechanics at the WorldSkills International Competition. If anyone knows the value of discovering what you don’t know, it’s Louise.
What started as a career in the trades evolved into using her experience to support other tradeswomen in overcoming self-doubt and feeling confident in everything they do.
If you remember one thing from this conversation, remember this bit of wisdom: Every choice can be a good choice and every option can be a good option.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
· Louise’s unique journey into the trades.
· What it’s like to transition from high school to an apprenticeship in heavy vehicle mechanics.
· Tips and advice for apprentices learning a new trade.
· How everything you accomplish (and don’t accomplish) is because of your mindset.
· Did earning potential influence your decision to enter the trades vs. college?
· Louise’s experience competing at the WorldSkills Competition.
· College vs. Trades: Which is the better option?
· Navigating imposter syndrome, sexual harassment, and sexism as a woman in the trades.
· What led Louise to become a life coach.
Louise has two Learnings and Missteps: You’re still worthy despite your “mistakes” & Look before you do something.
“Don’t waste your time pretending to know everything because that’s preventing you from learning everything.” – Louise Azzopardi
This episode’s show notes were written by Kayla MacEachern
To connect, email her at [email protected]
Connect with Louise:
Visit her website: http://louiseazzopardi.com
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-azzopardi-699072126
Read more on the Learnings and Missteps Blog: https://www.depthbuilder.com/blog
Resources Mentioned:
SkillsUSA: https://www.skillsusa.org
WorldSkills Competition: https://worldskills.org
Engage with a community of Industry Professionals focused on expanding their leadership skills: https://www.depthbuilder.com/a/2147560101/25qqpH4D Coupon Code JESSE
Get yourself a sample of the Lean & Love Reflection Guide with journal prompts that help you focus on your most important relationships: https://www.depthbuilder.com/reflection-guide
Check out my NEW book, Lean & Love – 5S Love Letters: A #NoBS Look Into How Your Relationships Create #RipplesOfImpact at https://www.depthbuilder.com/5s
For all other links and resources, check out my Bio Link: http://depthbuilder.bio.link
Make yourself a priority and get more done: https://www.depthbuilder.com/do-the-damn-thing
Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Behttps://www.depthbuilder.com/books
Learnings and Missteps - From Apprentice to WorldSkills Competitor: Where the Trades Can Take You with Louise Azzopardi Part 1
Transcript
and I was 15, so I went with my parents and I had three conversations that night that I remember so vividly. The first was a lecture about how I couldn't be a mechanic. The second, yeah. So it just lectured me and my dad for about 10 minutes. And at the time I wanted to be a motorcycle mechanic, so he was like, she's too small to push the bikes around. She won't be able to do it. And yeah, like it now, like 12 years later, it's ridiculous. Yeah. Um,
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