Meet Stephen Podetti, M.AIRAH

Responsibilities  

I wear many hats. I am very hands-on in day-to-day operations, in particular accounts/HR, Group marketing, sales, inventory, import/export, Group IT, and new products.  

Overseeing many areas of the business keeps my job interesting and enjoyable while working with a great group of people. 

Passions 

In business, I am passionate about excelling in everything we do as an organization to provide the best possible outcome for our clients. 

I am passionate about developing our people, guiding, and supporting them to deliver sustainable, quality results while reaching their full potential. 

On a personal note, I love my sports such as tennis, and rugby league – I am a Dragons supporter – of soccer, and cricket and enjoy spending time with family and friends. 

Finest professional hour 

My highest professional achievement is being a founder of Quality Air Equipment and growing it into a well-regarded business – an industry leader in our space. 

We have manufactured and supplied our products on some of the most iconic and prestigious projects in Australia, which is very rewarding.

What important lessons have you learned? 

We have faced a lot of adversity in business over the years, but the one thing I have learned is to never give up, do the right thing, be honest, back yourself and you will come out the other side gaining so much more. 

My mother tells a story of when I got my first bike as a toddler which had training wheels. I told her I didn’t want the training wheels, so she took them off. I went all day falling off that bike until I succeeded without the training wheels by the end of that day. 

“We have faced a lot of adversity in business over the years, but the one thing I have learned is to never give up, do the right thing, be honest, and back yourself and you will come out the other side gaining so much more”

What do you most like about your job? 

I enjoy the diversity of my role and collaborating with our amazing team to work towards a common goal.  

 I love helping my team members develop, grow, and succeed, as they are an integral part of the success of our organization. 

What do you most like about your job? 

I enjoy the diversity of my role and collaborating with our amazing team to work towards a common goal.  

 I love helping my team members develop, grow, and succeed, as they are an integral part of the success of our organization.

Challenges 

I try to prioritize my day but at times the day just seems to get away from me, so I would have to say finding time can be challenging. 

Whom do you most admire and why? 

I would have to say I admire my parents the most, they have sacrificed so much. 

They have been there unconditionally and taught us through their actions. They have truly been the foundation of our success. 

Dream sabbatical 

Travelling with my family to Europe to experience the heritage of where our parents/grandparents came from and learn about new cultures and traditions; understanding the history and events that shaped their families from past generations. 

Being a tennis lover, I would love to watch Wimbledon live.  

Another bucket list item is to write a book that is worth sharing, that can inspire others through my trials and tribulations. 

What is your motto? 

Love your family, work hard, and live your dream. 

Greatest personal achievement 

Raising a wonderful family and experiencing our three children growing up. This brings me joy, happiness, and memories forever. 

Describe yourself 

For those that know me best, I am easy going, hardworking and I value honesty, integrity, accountability, and loyalty. 

I am a positive person and am driven to achieve success in everything I do.

Define success 

Success for me is knowing you have given your best and learning from your failures along the journey. 

Coming from humble beginnings, starting from our parent’s garage, the blood, sweat, and tears we went through to where we are today, being industry leaders to me is a success. 

What does AIRAH membership mean to you? 

I have been a member of AIRAH for over a decade. It has always been a professional organization that offers support and a comprehensive source of information to the HVAC&R industry, providing the latest industry news. 

I look forward to continuing my membership for many years to come and developing new network opportunities. 

If I wasn’t managing director of Quality Air Equipment, I would be… 

A career tennis player or I would be working as a draftsman.