In this episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree sits down with Shamir Duverseau, Managing Director of Smart Panda Labs, to explore how a people-first approach can fuel business growth and resilience. Shamir shares the hard pivots his agency made—from letting go of mismatched hires to niching down on the post-click experience—and why those decisions ultimately strengthened their culture and client relationships. He also opens up about the challenges of competing for talent as a small business, what it means to truly lead with “life first,” and how continuous learning has shaped his leadership philosophy. Whether you’re a founder navigating tough choices or a leader seeking smarter ways to scale, Shamir’s story offers practical wisdom and a reminder that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of what matters most.

Connect with Shamir:

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamirduverseau/

Or the company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-panda-labs/

Their website: www.smartpandalabs.com

Book Recommendation:

Great by Choice by Jim Collins

In this Bright Bite episode of Bright Ideas, our host Desiree B. Sharpe shares a candid look at what’s happening in both her business and personal life. She talks about the tough challenges small businesses are facing in today’s economy, the lessons she learned while traveling solo with her daughter, and her excitement about joining the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative to launch her first fintech startup. She also invites business owners to share their experiences with vendor relationships and recurring expenses as part of her research. This episode blends small business insights, personal growth, and the founder journey—perfect for anyone navigating entrepreneurship while balancing real life.

Sign up for a feedback session: https://calendly.com/colorvizionlabllc/vendormanagementdiscovery

Connect with Desiree: desiree@colorvizionlab.com

In this episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree Booker-Sharpe talks with Juliette Dupre, Chief People Officer at OtherSide Entertainment, about how to scale a business while keeping people and culture at the center. Juliette shares her path from law to HR leadership and explains why employee experience, mental health programs, and wellness stipends matter in a remote workplace. She also opens up about the challenges of growth, the resilience leaders need during change, and the importance of clear communication and meaningful metrics like quality of hire and employee sentiment. This conversation offers practical insights for anyone focused on building strong teams and people-first workplaces.