Aletha Walters is the co-owner of Stroud Homes Wide Bay, the biggest individual franchise in Queensland across any home builder brand. Alongside her husband Slade, she’s built a powerhouse business that now sells over 40 homes a month across a vast regional footprint from Gympie to Bundaberg.

But Aletha’s story isn’t just about numbers it’s about grit, credibility, and leadership in an industry still finding its feet when it comes to gender equality.

We recently sat down with Aletha and Slade for an in-depth conversation about their journey, their business philosophy, and what it really takes to build at scale without losing your values. Keep an eye out for the full episode dropping soon on The Good Builder Podcast.

In the meantime, here are some of the insights Aletha shared on what it’s like to be a woman in construction and how she’s helping change the game from the inside out.

Learning the Language of Building

Aletha didn’t want to just manage from the sidelines; she wanted to understand the work inside out. With a background in hotel and business management, she brought essential systems and service skills to the table. But to lead in a building company, she knew she had to speak the same language as the team on site.

“Slade’s mum was on the tools and ran the business side too. Watching them gave me the belief that I could do it. But I also wanted to know what I was talking about. When Slade says he needs a T2 H3 treated post, I wanted to understand exactly what that meant.”

That commitment to practical knowledge gave Aletha the confidence and credibility to lead across all parts of the business, from customer experience to site operations.

Culture First, Always

For Aletha, building a great business isn’t just about volume; it’s about the people behind it. Her approach to recruitment and management puts culture at the centre, valuing fit over flash and consistency over ego.

“I think the best staff aren’t necessarily the most competent. They’re the ones your clients connect with.”

“If you’re liked, clients are more forgiving, and the whole build runs smoother.”

“We focus on team members who will take direction from both Slade and I. That’s really important. We make sure everyone can work with both of us — regardless of gender.”

Aletha and Slade have created a high-trust, low-micromanagement environment where team members are empowered to perform, but only if they’re the right fit for the business.

Pushing for Progress

While Aletha has carved out a leadership role through hard work and knowledge, she’s also clear-eyed about the gender bias that still lingers in parts of the industry.

“I’ve had people say, ‘Get your husband to call me. I can’t deal with you.’ You just have to keep going. The industry’s changing, but slowly.”

That said, Aletha sees real progress among the next generation.

“The younger generation of tradies, guys in their 20s and 30s, they’re already working with more female project managers and trades. It’s shifting. The more they see us, the more normal it becomes.”

She’s also active in supporting industry change through events and advocacy.

“We need more women in construction and more visible support.”

“I always back Master Builders or HIA events that highlight women in the industry. We’re taking our whole team to the Bundaberg event on legal and contract issues.”

TGB Takeaway

Aletha isn’t looking for shortcuts or handouts.

She’s building credibility one slab, one contract, one conversation at a time. Her leadership style blends empathy with accountability, systems with service, and ambition with consistency… and it’s working.

At The Good Builder, we believe sharing stories like Aletha’s matter not just for women in construction but for everyone who wants to build better, fairer, and smarter. You will hear more from Aletha and Slade on an upcoming The Good Builder Podcast, including how they’ve scaled responsibly, the systems they swear by, and what they’ve learned leading one of Queensland’s top-performing home building businesses.

Author: Aaron Ng

Aaron has worked for some of the nation’s largest developers and home builders in the marketing arena, before founding one of QLD’s largest construction focused marketing agencies. He is passionate about all elements of marketing and customer experience across the industry.