Episode Details

In this episode of The Good Builder Podcast, Az sits down with Phil Barrett, former General Manager of Regional Victoria at Metricon, for a rare and deeply insightful conversation on leadership at scale.

Phil spent decades helping grow one of Australia’s largest building businesses, overseeing thousands of homes, hundreds of staff, and multiple regional markets. But this episode isn’t about volume for volume’s sake, it’s about how that growth was achieved.

From succession planning and developing future leaders, to making unpopular decisions for the long-term health of the business, Phil shares the realities of leadership that rarely get spoken about.

At one point, he references a quote from The Sopranos that perfectly captures the role of a leader — smiling on the outside while carrying the weight internally. It’s a moment that sets the tone for a conversation grounded in humility, responsibility, and people-first thinking.

This episode covers:

• What real leadership looks like inside large building organisations
• Why succession planning is critical (and often ignored)
• How to scale without burning out your people or your culture
• The responsibility leaders carry for teams, trades, and customers
• What truly separates good builders and good leaders from the rest

If you’re a builder, business owner, or leader navigating growth, pressure, and legacy....this is a conversation worth your time.