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 lead

If 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 growth
• How to foster buy-in from high-performing teams
• And why curiosity - not certainty - is what keeps great leaders going

Whether 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” success
• The people-first philosophy that guided Driverseat’s rise
• How to operationalize culture across a diverse franchise network
• The power of leadership during crises like COVID-19
• What it means to be a “Franchise Architect” today
• The future of franchising — including his new mission to revolutionize cancer care

Whether 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.