The People Playbook with Jason Taylor

What does it actually take to build a people-first culture that performs?In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Chris Caldwell, President & CEO of Community National Bank, to break down the leadership principles that don’t change, even as industries evolve.Chris shares why no one is “above the work,” how understanding your team’s “why” drives real performance, and why simple, common-sense leadership often beats overcomplicated strategies.They also dive into: How to build trust as a new CEO  Why culture is contagious (for better or worse)  The difference between managing people and truly leading them  How to maintain human connection in an increasingly digital world If you’re leading a team, scaling a company, or trying to become a better leader, this conversation is a masterclass in keeping people at the center of everything you do.

What separates average teams from high-performing ones?In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Nevil Corbeth, Vice President of Sales at NFI Canada, to unpack what it really takes to build winning cultures, lead top performers, and grow teams that stay motivated under pressure.Nevil shares lessons from leading across Canada and the U.S., why friendly competition can drive results, how to coach A-players without neglecting the rest of the team, and why preparation is one of the most underrated leadership skills.They also dive into leadership lessons from coaching elite baseball talent, creating loyalty without always relying on money, and the importance of honesty, listening, and experience when leading people.If you’re a CEO, sales leader, or people-first executive looking to build stronger teams and better culture, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways. 

What happens when a police officer and military veteran builds a fast-growing coffee company rooted in purpose, culture, and community?In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Shawn Black, Founder of Sheepdog Brew Company, to unpack how frontline leadership lessons from policing and the military shaped the way he builds teams, earns trust, and scales a values-driven business.Shawn shares the transition from public service to entrepreneurship, why culture must be lived and not just preached, and how putting the customer first can become a company’s biggest competitive edge.This is a powerful conversation for founders, leaders, and anyone building something that matters.What You’ll Learn: Why smooth is fast when scaling a business  How trust and clarity drive team performance  The danger of hypocrisy in leadership  Why culture starts with everyday behaviour  How purpose can become a true growth strategy  Advice for founders building something meaningful

Most leaders think they need better ideas.They don’t.They need clarity.In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with German Sanchez De La Cruz, Founder & CEO of Aslanova Group, to break down what actually holds leaders back as they scale - and why growth often creates more confusion, not less.German shares what he sees behind the scenes with founders and CEOs navigating high-stakes decisions that impact people, capital, and long-term control. From losing sight of why you started, to becoming the bottleneck in your own company, this conversation gets real about what it actually takes to lead at the next level.They dive into: Why growth creates “decision fog” for leaders  The real reason teams become misaligned  How to make faster decisions without overthinking  What separates calm, focused leaders from reactive ones  Why listening - not telling - is the most powerful leadership skill Plus, German shares a powerful personal story that redefines what true focus and determination actually look like.If you’re leading a growing business and things feel heavier than they should - this episode will hit.

What does it really take to build and scale multiple successful companies - and more importantly, the people behind them?In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Frank Cianciulli, Chairman & CEO of The Wish Group, to unpack the leadership mindset behind building high-growth businesses across industries.Frank shares how his journey started almost by accident - and evolved into a portfolio of companies driven by one core principle: people first.They dive into: Why ego is the fastest way to destroy potential  The difference between leaders who scale… and those who stall  How to build a culture people actually want to be part of  Why “ignorance on fire” beats “knowledge on ice” every time  The real role of grit, resilience, and taking action This is a raw, practical conversation for founders, CEOs, and leaders who want to build something that lasts - not just something that sells.If you're building a business, leading a team, or stepping into leadership for the first time… this episode is your playbook.

What comes first in leadership: people or performance?In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Peter Kenyon, Vice President, Client Services at Entegra Canada, to unpack what it really takes to build strong teams, protect culture, and drive results that last.Peter brings decades of cross-functional leadership experience across sales, operations, supply chain, and executive leadership roles in both public and private sector organizations. In this conversation, he shares practical lessons on building morale, creating accountability, coaching top performers, handling tough conversations, and leading with humility and integrity.This episode is packed with real-world leadership wisdom for CEOs, executives, and emerging leaders who want to build high-achieving teams without losing the human side of leadership.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Why morale drives sustainable performanceThe leadership power of listening and asking better questionsWhat public vs. private sector leadership teaches about accountabilityHow to build trust before tough conversations happenWhy follow-up is one of the most overlooked leadership skillsThe biggest mistakes leaders make when scaling teamsWhat young leaders need to understand early in their careersIf you care about building winning teams, clear cultures, and better leaders, this is a conversation worth hearing.

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, host Jason Taylor sits down with Drew Gillett, VP of Retail Marketing at Guild Mortgage. Drew leads a high-performance marketing team supporting thousands of loan officers in the highly regulated mortgage industry, where he focuses on building trust, driving culture, developing leaders at scale, and helping people show up with clarity and confidence.Drew shares practical leadership insights drawn from years of scaling teams and influencing large organizations. Key topics include:Hiring for ownership mentality and emotional intelligence over pure results Balancing autonomy with accountability through clear ownership, dates, and communication Letting go of the "how" without lowering standards in fast-moving environments Diagnosing underperformance: clarity, capability, or care? The critical role of steady emotional mindset during high-tension moments Giving direct, timely feedback instead of delaying hard conversations Helping leaders build authentic personal brands with consistency (not constancy) Unlearning bottlenecks as you scale, coaching the next generation, and moreWhether you're leading teams, navigating rapid growth, or developing your own leadership style, Drew's emphasis on people-first decisions, curiosity, and high standards offers actionable plays to build stronger teams and better results.

In this episode of The People’s Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Sherry McNeil, CFE, President & CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA), to explore leadership, franchising, and the art of building resilient organizations. From her early days working at the store level to leading one of Canada’s largest franchise networks, Sherry shares the lessons, stories, and strategies that have shaped her career.We dive into:How early hands-on experience informs leadership todayThe critical qualities for franchise leaders in an evolving marketThe role of culture in successful brand transformationsBuilding stronger franchise relationships through collaboration and feedbackWhether you’re a franchisee, franchisor, or aspiring leader, Sherry’s insights offer actionable strategies and inspiration for leading with purpose, connecting with people, and driving growth.

In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Chloe McKenzie, SVP of People and Culture at SaltXC and founder of ChloLeads, a leadership platform supporting ambitious women and women of color.Chloe shares her journey building the People function from the ground up at SaltXC, creating one of Canada’s top workplaces, and leading with authenticity, identity, and emotional intelligence. She dives into how leaders can cultivate psychologically safe teams, navigate being the “only in the room,” and leverage curiosity and humility to drive high-performing cultures.Whether you’re a CEO, people leader, or aspiring leader, Chloe’s insights will inspire you to create workplaces where people thrive - and lead with impact.Key Takeaways:Building a culture from the ground upLeading as the “only in the room”Emotional intelligence and self-awareness in leadershipFostering psychological safety and authentic connectionsThe difference between being kind and being nice

How do you lead a fertility clinic while keeping patient care, staff culture, and innovation at the forefront? In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Mark Evans, CEO of Markham Fertility Centre, to explore his journey from young MBA to healthcare leader, the emotional challenges of fertility care, and how he’s transforming access to reproductive health across Canada.Mark shares stories of patients traveling hundreds of kilometers for care, lessons learned from leadership, and how innovation - like AI and smart medical records - can make fertility treatment more efficient, accessible, and patient-centered. If you’re curious about leadership, healthcare, and the future of fertility care, this episode is a must-listen.

In this powerful episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Ryan Dymond, President & COO of FIKA Company – one of Canada’s fastest-growing cannabis retail organizations with over 237 locations.Ryan brings 25+ years of hospitality experience into the cannabis space and reveals how he’s flipped the traditional retail script: leading with genuine human connection instead of transactions, treating every guest interaction like a hospitality experience, and building a decentralized, trust-first culture that scales.You’ll hear raw insights on:Why hospitality principles create deeper loyalty than discounts ever could How to shift from “manager” to “coach” with young frontline leaders The biggest mistakes leaders make during acquisitions (and how empathy prevents cultural disasters) Staying grounded and humble when everything is moving at lightning speed Why trust deposits/withdrawals and radical authenticity are non-negotiableIf you’re leading (or building) a high-growth team and believe culture eats strategy for breakfast, this conversation is pure gold. Ryan proves that people-first leadership isn’t just nice-to-have – it’s the ultimate competitive advantage.

What does it really take to scale a company from $20M to $300M+ while actually putting people first?In this powerful episode, scale-up expert and former EVP Brad Furtney pulls back the curtain on the leadership playbook that transformed founder-led software businesses into high-performing, culture-driven powerhouses at Evercommerce.Brad shares the exact moves he makes on day one when stepping into a growth-stage company, why OKRs became his secret weapon for alignment and accountability, how he built a 5-year leadership development engine that skyrocketed culture scores and profitability, and why most companies talk about “people first” but never actually measure it.If you’re a leader who believes culture isn’t just a feel-good buzzword - it’s the ultimate growth multiplier - this conversation is pure gold.Key takeaways:The first leadership move that creates instant strategic alignmentHow to turn individual OKRs into real accountability (and what to do when someone doesn’t buy in)Why the best performers don’t always make the best leaders (and how to spot the ones who will)The unexpected power of investing in first-time managers and “next-gen” talentOne simple piece of advice Brad wishes he could give his 20-year-old self (and every young leader today)If you’re ready to stop treating culture as a side project and start building a team that scales with you, hit play now.

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Matt Bell, CEO of Shelmerdine Garden Centre and founder of Geller's Design, to discuss what it takes to scale multiple businesses while keeping culture, leadership, and people at the heart of it all.Matt shares his journey from growing Gellers into Winnipeg’s largest residential landscape company to acquiring Shelmerdine Garden Centre, revealing how thoughtful delegation, profit-sharing, and clear career paths drive engagement and retention. He also opens up about his personal experiences with cancer and how vulnerability and perspective have shaped his leadership style.If you’re a CEO, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on culture-building, leading with empathy, and staying grounded while scaling your business.

In this episode of The People’s Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Kellie Lefaive, CEO of Go Direct Solutions, to explore what it takes to lead effectively in fast-paced and ever-changing industries. Kellie shares her insights on staying calm amid chaos, aligning teams across multiple departments, and nurturing future leaders. She also opens up about her personal leadership journey, the lessons she’s learned, and the principles she stands by to create a culture of accountability, communication, and engagement.Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or aspiring leader, this conversation is packed with actionable advice on how to show up, stay grounded, and build a thriving organization.

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Lindsay Wilson, GM of Sales Ontario at Molson Coors, to dive into authentic leadership, building culture through momentum, and nurturing high-performing teams. Lindsay shares her journey through significant organizational change, how she fosters inclusion and cross-functional collaboration, and her framework for spotting future leaders.Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your career, Lindsay’s insights on vulnerability, authenticity, and saying “yes” to opportunities will inspire you to elevate your leadership style and drive your team’s success.

How do you scale culture, lead through chaos, and keep people at the center? Tim Banick, President of Entegra Procurement Services Canada, joins Jason to share the leadership principles behind his 30+ year career across PepsiCo, Entegra, and beyond. We dig into self-awareness, creating psychological safety (“tops & flops”), leading large teams without silos, staying available to your people, and why diversity + candor beats consensus every time.What you’ll learnBuilding culture with transparency, cadence, and follow-throughWhy patience (and bringing people along) accelerates resultsHow to create a safe room for real talk and learningLeading through crises (COVID, tariffs) without losing your peopleSpotting future leaders: passion, attitude, and influence (title ≠ leadership)

On this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, host Jason Taylor sits down with Jason Wentzell - a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist, past president of CAPhO, and founder of Extend Pharmacy - to explore how oncology expertise can be brought closer to home. Jason shares why community-based cancer care matters, how the Extend Cancer Pharmacy Network (ECPN) trains and supports independent pharmacies, and what leaders should look for when building mission-driven healthcare teams.You’ll learn:Burnout safeguards for high-empathy oncology teamsHow Extend Pharmacy grew from a hospital insight to a community modelCollaboration > competition: empowering local pharmacists with specialty oncology careTraits Jason hires for as he scales beyond OntarioPractical hurdles with take-home cancer drugs—and how to solve themThe future of oncology: immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and care at home

What makes a culture durable - and a team unstoppable? Jason sits down with Jeff Clark (ex-President, Kitchen Partners; now President & CEO, Jeff Clark Consulting) to unpack four decades of building high-performing teams in food manufacturing and multi-unit restaurant supply. Jeff shares the “get the best people” play, how to coach A-players and strugglers, leading through COVID, and why purpose, values, and clear metrics turn “people-first” into performance.You’ll learn:Hiring to a bar, not a vacancyCoaching the top 10% to move the middleCommunicating under pressure (even when you don’t have all the answers)Embedding purpose/values so growth strengthens cultureKeeping innovation alive with “always improving” habits

Maple Ridge Living’s president, Tim Sieders, joins Jason to unpack 20+ years of building a client-first construction company across landscaping, hardscape, and renovations in Southern Ontario. Tim shares the leadership plays behind scaling from a one-man operation to a 21-person team: hiring for character, creating real career paths, giving people ownership, open financials, and building trust through communication and vulnerability. He also walks through their client experience (why they start with design), team-building rituals, and the biggest lessons he wishes he’d learned a decade earlier. If you lead people - or plan to - this one’s loaded with practical nuggets.

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Todd Belliveau, President of Primexecutive Inc. and former CEO of 214 Carson Company, to unpack over 40 years of leadership experience across the beverage, retail, and manufacturing sectors.Todd shares his 3P Leadership Model – Purpose, Passion, and Persistence, and explains how leaders can inspire belief, fuel intrinsic motivation, and keep culture intact through mergers, transformations, and challenging times.From avoiding the trap of accountability without empowerment, to balancing entrepreneurial thinking with disciplined execution, Todd offers practical, battle-tested advice for leaders at every stage.Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this conversation will leave you with a sharper playbook for building trust, developing your people, and leading with clarity.

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Tony Gareri, CEO of Roma Moulding and self-proclaimed “Chief of WOW.” Tony shares how he built a culture where workplace happiness is a right, not a privilege - and why the true differentiator in today’s commoditized world is how you make people feel.From his lessons at Zappos to creating global all-hands meetings and mission trips that inspire teams, Tony reveals practical insights on leadership, culture, and why success leaves clues. Whether you’re leading a fast-growing company or building a small but mighty team, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with purpose.

In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with veteran entrepreneur, leadership coach, and President of Landscape Ontario, Ed Hansen. From humble beginnings cutting neighbors’ lawns to leading a multimillion-dollar business and coaching CEOs across the country, Ed shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, resilience, and empowering people.You’ll hear stories about breaking the “right” rules, learning from failure, and why the best leaders sometimes lead from behind. Ed also dives into building a strong team culture, embracing innovation without losing tradition, and creating a work-life rhythm that lasts.Whether you’re a seasoned CEO or an entrepreneur just starting out, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership - and inspire you to lead with care, curiosity, and courage.

In this episode of The People Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with Neil Nicholson, CEO of Powerhouse Controls, to talk about leading through trust, building teams that thrive under pressure, and creating a culture that scales with growth. With nearly three decades at Powerhouse and a career that took him from employee #5 to CEO of a global automation leader, Neil shares hard-earned lessons on transparency, succession planning, leadership empathy, and what it really takes to empower people to lead.Whether you're a CEO, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to build teams that run with integrity - even when you're not in the room.

What does it take to invent not just a product, but an entirely new category?In this episode of The People’s Playbook, Jason sits down with Carmelo Marsala, Founder and CEO of Spray-Net - a home-improvement franchise that’s flipping the script on traditional painting. From student painter to quadruple patent holder, Carmelo shares how a scratched front door sparked a revolutionary idea, how he scaled his startup into a 120+ territory franchise, and why marketing, mindset, and just starting matter more than perfection.Whether you're a founder, franchisee, or future innovator, Carmelo’s story will challenge how you think about execution, growth, and leadership in today’s competitive landscape.

What does it really take to build a company from scratch in a new country during a global crisis?In this episode of The People’s Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with Moatassem Moatez - TEDx speaker, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Founder & CEO of MyCourier Inc. - to unpack a story of hustle, empathy, and execution.Moatassem shares how he:Went from Uber-canceling job pitches to building a 100+ person teamBuilt culture through empathy and hands-on leadershipNavigated pandemic chaos with zero vision—just survival instinctsUnlocked passion by taking action, not waiting for “the right idea”Learned how to balance ambition, family, and community impactThis is more than a founder story - it's a playbook for resilience, reinvention, and leading with purpose.

In this episode of The People Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with Joe Salemi, Executive Director of Landscape Ontario, to explore what it really takes to lead with empathy, build high-performing teams, and create a culture that thrives -even when you're not in the room.Joe shares his personal journey from software to association leadership, what it means to step into the shoes of a legend, and why the best leaders empower others to lead too. We also dive into the leadership gap facing many landscape businesses, the power of peer-to-peer vulnerability, and how one green tie became a symbol of trust and transformation.If you're a leader, culture builder, or entrepreneur navigating people challenges -this one is a must-listen.

In this powerful and candid conversation, George Croft- Senior Advisor at First Key Consulting and Non-Executive Board Member at BrewDog - joins Jason Taylor to reflect on a leadership journey that spans decades in the beverage industry. From his humble beginnings at Labatt to transforming Waterloo Brewing into a national player, George shares how persistence, people-first leadership, and radical candor shaped his approach and legacy.This episode is a masterclass in leading with values, building resilient teams, and making the tough calls when it counts. Whether you’re scaling a company or growing your career, George’s wisdom will challenge and inspire you.

In this episode of The People Playbook, I sit down with Steven Wright, President and CEO of Focus, to unpack one of the most common - and costly - misconceptions in sales: the belief that success comes from hiring the elusive sales “rockstar.”Steven shares how his team helps growth-minded business owners scale by installing systems, structure, and leadership that empower average performers to become great - and great performers to thrive without the business owner micromanaging every deal.We talk about: ✔ The dangers of chasing unicorn salespeople ✔ Building a sales engine that’s scalable and predictable ✔ How to balance structure with human flexibility ✔ Real-world stories of sales teams transformed ✔ What business owners must let go of to truly leadIf you're tired of being stuck in sales management mode and want to build a self-sustaining growth machine - this conversation is for you.

In this episode of The People Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with John Evans - award-winning entrepreneur, proud millennial franchisor, and founder of EverLine Coatings. What started as a small pavement marking business in Calgary is now a $51M franchise network spanning North America.John shares how he scaled EverLine by mastering people leadership, building systems, and disrupting an overlooked industry. From battling self-doubt to expanding into the U.S. market during a pandemic, this candid conversation unpacks lessons in leadership, trust, and how to stay authentic in a world increasingly driven by AI.If you want to hear how bold leadership and people-first culture can turn the “unsexy” into unstoppable success, this episode is for you.

What holds most leaders back isn’t strategy - it’s trust.In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Jeremy Harvey - strategist, leadership coach, and former Unilever exec - to talk about how leaders can unlock momentum through better people decisions. From Oxford to the Middle East, from billion-dollar brands to peer groups in Canada, Jeremy’s leadership lens has been shaped by decades of global insight.They discuss:The underrated skill leaders avoid (but desperately need)Why “balance” is overrated - and how discomfort drives growthHow to foster buy-in from high-performing teamsAnd why curiosity - not certainty - is what keeps great leaders goingWhether you're scaling a business or just trying to stop doing your team's job for them, this episode is a must-listen.Follow for more unfiltered conversations from The People Playbook Podcast - where leadership meets real life.

In this deeply insightful episode of The People Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with franchise veteran and culture-first leader, Brian Bazely. As the former CEO and co-founder of Driverseat, Brian shares the honest, behind-the-scenes story of leaving a high-paying executive role to chase the bold dream of building one of Canada’s most respected franchise brands.Together, they unpack:The emotional and financial fear of stepping away from “safe” successThe people-first philosophy that guided Driverseat’s riseHow to operationalize culture across a diverse franchise networkThe power of leadership during crises like COVID-19What it means to be a “Franchise Architect” todayThe future of franchising — including his new mission to revolutionize cancer careWhether you're a franchisor, franchisee, or simply a leader building something bigger than yourself, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom you won’t want to miss.