What really happens when your business starts to grow — and your people have to grow with it? In this roundtable episode of Unlocking Your People, Jess is joined by Atlantic Canada entrepreneurs Mike Randall (Portfolio) and Stephanie Harvey (Allied Therapy) for a candid chat about leading through change, managing emotion at work, and finding the right cultural fit when hiring. From the hidden costs of moving too fast to why the “people part” matters as much as the business plan, this panel gets real about what it takes to build healthy, thriving teams.

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Contracts, corporations, and co-founders — oh my! In this episode, Jess sits down with Anna Cook, Partner at Cox & Palmer, for a practical, plain-language look at the legal side of running a business. From when to incorporate, to why every partnership needs a “business prenup,” Anna breaks down what small business owners really need to know — including how to avoid common legal pitfalls as you grow.

Plus, Jess tackles a viral workplace scandal in the Just Ask Jess segment: when the CEO and HR lead make headlines for all the wrong reasons, what can small organizations learn about managing relationships at work?

✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca

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HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/

Giving feedback doesn’t have to spark defensiveness — if you know how to do it right. Jess walks through her NICER framework: Notice the behavior, validate intent, and explain consequences in a way that matters. It’s a simple, powerful way to turn tough conversations into growth conversations — minus the friction.

• (00:00:03) - How to Coach a Terrible Co-worker
• (00:04:34) - How to Give Feedback to a Boss

When we talk about safety at work, we usually think hard hats and handrails — but what about the safety to speak up, struggle, or be honest about your mental health? In this episode, Jess sits down with Sean Kennedy to unpack what psychological safety really means. Sean shares his own mental health journey and how stigma shaped his leadership perspective, while Jess explores how organizations can move beyond surface-level wellness to build cultures where people actually feel safe — not just physically, but emotionally too.

In this Just Ask Jess episode, Jess tackles real questions from listeners — from how to manage performance in small teams to what to do when your leadership group isn’t aligned. She shares straight-up advice on giving better feedback, getting your people involved, and creating a culture that actually works (not just looks good on paper).

✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca

Follow us:

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Website: https://www.ethree.ca

HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/

• (00:00:00) - So much.

When leaders speak, their words carry weight — whether they’re grounded in fact or not. In this Just Ask Jess episode, Jess reflects on Trump’s presidency through a leadership lens, unpacking what it reveals about power, responsibility, and influence. From the impact of a leader’s words, to the role of trusted advisors and diverse perspectives, to the dangers of “yes men” and top-down cultures, Jess explores how leaders can either build trust or erode it — and what that means for anyone guiding a team, an organization, or a nation.

✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca

Follow us:

Instagram - @ethreeconsulting

LinkedIn - ethree-consulting

Website: https://www.ethree.ca

HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/

• (00:00:01) - Trump on Tylenol, and His Leadership
• (00:02:27) - The Importance of Diversity in Your Enourage
• (00:06:21) - Top-Down Management Under Trump
• (00:09:07) - Government employees' attachment to the work
• (00:10:34) - In the Elevator With a CEO

The world of work is shifting fast — and leaders are being challenged to keep up. In this Hot Topics episode of Unlocking Your People, Jess welcomes back Tom Hickey to unpack the themes showing up everywhere right now: diversity, equity, and inclusion (or DIB, as we call it), the rise of AI and its impact on jobs, the complexity of employee expectations, and the uncertainty that comes with constant change.

With two voices, different perspectives, and candid conversation, Jess and Tom break down what’s really happening inside organizations today — and what leaders can do to navigate it.

• (00:00:03) - Unlock Your People Today
• (00:00:37) - Tom Back on the Podcast
• (00:01:11) - What Did I Do?
• (00:02:31) - The Need for Strategic Plans
• (00:08:19) - Ontario Business Executive on the US vs. Canada divide
• (00:13:48) - Do We Need More Jobs in the AI Space?
• (00:21:10) - Can You Replace Your Boss With AI?
• (00:26:21) - Does AI Social Media Help You Build Relationships?
• (00:33:22) - How to Win at Cold Calling
• (00:34:58) - DW: Diversity and Inclusion
• (00:42:46) - The role of diversity in the workplace
• (00:48:54) - The Scarf Model
• (00:50:29) - Just Ask Jess

In this bonus Q&A segment, Jess unpacks three real-world scenarios—an RFP gone sideways, a hiring process with hidden ties, and a client relationship kept quiet—all pointing to one root issue: undisclosed conflicts of interest. She explains why most conflicts aren’t intentional, the reputational risks they pose, and how leaders can build awareness, motivation, and clear processes to prevent them.

• (00:00:00) - Conflict of Interest: The Issues