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 performance
• The leadership power of listening and asking better questions
• What public vs. private sector leadership teaches about accountability
• How to build trust before tough conversations happen
• Why follow-up is one of the most overlooked leadership skills
• The biggest mistakes leaders make when scaling teams
• What young leaders need to understand early in their careers

If 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 more

Whether 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 today
• The critical qualities for franchise leaders in an evolving market
• The role of culture in successful brand transformations
• Building stronger franchise relationships through collaboration and feedback

Whether 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.