Difficult Leadership Lessons as an Elevator Company VP | Jeff Pugh Artwork

Elevator Careers

Elevator Careers is a podcast dedicated to the people who spend their lives and careers working in the vertical transportation industry. It is produced for the benefit of both elevator companies who are looking to hire great talent and for those who want to continue to grow professionally within the industry. This is an opportunity to create a dialogue with all of these stakeholders, learning from them and hearing the gems they have gleaned in their professions. The "Elevator Careers" podcast” is an opportunity to pay it forward" by sharing knowledge learned in the business and in the trade and helping others who are on similar journeys.

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Elevator Careers

Difficult Leadership Lessons as an Elevator Company VP | Jeff Pugh

March 31, 2026 • Matt Allred • Season 5 • Episode 12

0:00 | 36:01

In this episode, I interviewed Jeff Pugh about his journey from an apprentice in the elevator industry to becoming a Vice President. We dove into his mindset transition from a worker to a leader, including many difficult lessons learned along the way. Jeff discusses some of the tough decisions necessary for preserving a positive work culture, stepping out of one’s comfort zone for personal and team growth, and his experience with turning around struggling branches.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:43 From Apprentice to VP: A Journey in the Elevator Trade

3:44 The Role of Mentorship in Professional Growth

8:13 Transitioning from Worker to Leader

15:23 Assessing and Addressing Toxic Employees

20:35 Building a Positive Culture Across a Large Organization

23:45 Pushing Beyond Comfort Zones

26:07 Turning Around Struggling Branches

32:53 Lessons for Future Leaders

Resources:

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/

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