The People Playbook with Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor
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Better People Decisions. Stronger Teams. Scalable Results. The People Playbook is your weekly guide to building high-performing teams and cultures that scale. Hosted by leadership coach and executive advisor Jason Taylor, this podcast features raw, insightful conversations with CEOs, founders, and culture builders who know what it really takes to lead in today’s world. From mindset to execution, every episode unpacks the strategies, missteps, and breakthroughs behind exceptional leadership - and how to align your people, purpose, and performance for lasting impact. Whether you're a CEO scaling fast, a senior leader navigating change, or a builder at heart - this is your playbook for becoming the leader your team needs. 🎯 New episodes weekly 🔥 Real talk. No fluff. 🧠 Actionable insights you can use today Because growth doesn’t start with strategy - it starts with people. Join the People Playbook Circle for exclusive leadership tools & community: jetcoaching.app.clientclub.net

  1. Mark Evans - CEO at Markham Fertility Centre

    JAN 13

    Mark Evans - CEO at Markham Fertility Centre

    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.

    33 min
  2. Ryan Dymond, President & COO of FIKA Company - Building Trust, Hospitality-Led Cannabis Retail, and Leading Through Hyper-Growth

    12/09/2025

    Ryan Dymond, President & COO of FIKA Company - Building Trust, Hospitality-Led Cannabis Retail, and Leading Through Hyper-Growth

    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.

    32 min
  3. Brad Furtney - Scale-Up Expert & People-First Leader - Building Cultures That Drive Explosive Growth

    12/02/2025

    Brad Furtney - Scale-Up Expert & People-First Leader - Building Cultures That Drive Explosive Growth

    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.

    33 min
  4. Matt Bell, CEO of Shelmerdine Garden Centre & Geller's Design - Leading with Perspective and Purpose

    11/04/2025

    Matt Bell, CEO of Shelmerdine Garden Centre & Geller's Design - Leading with Perspective and Purpose

    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.

    31 min
  5. Kellie Lefaive, CEO of Go Direct Solutions - Leading Through Chaos and Building Future Leaders

    10/28/2025

    Kellie Lefaive, CEO of Go Direct Solutions - Leading Through Chaos and Building Future Leaders

    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.

    34 min
  6. Lindsay Wilson, GM of Sales Ontario at Molson Coors - Building Authentic Leadership and High-Performing Teams

    10/21/2025

    Lindsay Wilson, GM of Sales Ontario at Molson Coors - Building Authentic Leadership and High-Performing Teams

    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.

    31 min
  7. Tim Banick, President, Entegra Canada - Vulnerability, Culture, and Leading with Candor

    10/07/2025

    Tim Banick, President, Entegra Canada - Vulnerability, Culture, and Leading with Candor

    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 learn Building 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)

    33 min
  8. Jason Wentzell, Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist & Founder, Extend Pharmacy - Empowering Community-Based Cancer Care

    09/23/2025

    Jason Wentzell, Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist & Founder, Extend Pharmacy - Empowering Community-Based Cancer Care

    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

    32 min
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About

Better People Decisions. Stronger Teams. Scalable Results. The People Playbook is your weekly guide to building high-performing teams and cultures that scale. Hosted by leadership coach and executive advisor Jason Taylor, this podcast features raw, insightful conversations with CEOs, founders, and culture builders who know what it really takes to lead in today’s world. From mindset to execution, every episode unpacks the strategies, missteps, and breakthroughs behind exceptional leadership - and how to align your people, purpose, and performance for lasting impact. Whether you're a CEO scaling fast, a senior leader navigating change, or a builder at heart - this is your playbook for becoming the leader your team needs. 🎯 New episodes weekly 🔥 Real talk. No fluff. 🧠 Actionable insights you can use today Because growth doesn’t start with strategy - it starts with people. Join the People Playbook Circle for exclusive leadership tools & community: jetcoaching.app.clientclub.net

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