The People Playbook with Jason Taylor

What does it really take to build a business that grows without depending on you every step of the way?

In this episode of The People Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with George Urvari, Co-Founder and Principal Consultant at Knowledge Tree Consulting, to explore the connection between strong leadership, great people, and sustainable business growth.

With more than 35 years of experience building and leading businesses, George shares the lessons he learned about creating high-performing teams, developing effective systems, and building organizations that can thrive without constant involvement from the owner.

Together, Jason and George discuss why leadership starts with understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, how poor team alignment can hold a business back, and why putting employees first creates better outcomes for customers and shareholders.

They also explore the power of Kaizen, the importance of communication and accountability, and the risks of growing too quickly without the right people and processes in place.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to build a business that runs without you
• Why the right people and roles matter for growth
• How better meetings improve communication and accountability
• Why employee-first leadership creates stronger organizations
• How Kaizen can transform team culture and performance
• The hidden people problems that hold businesses back
• Why growing too quickly can damage your business
• How to develop processes that support long-term success

Whether you're a CEO, business owner, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers practical insights into building stronger teams, making better people decisions, and creating a business designed for lasting success.

Because building a great business isn't just about growth. It's about building the people, culture, and systems that make growth possible.

Learn more about The People Playbook: https://www.peopleplaybookpodcast.com

What does it really take to turn a struggling business into a high-performing team?

It starts with people, not profits.

In this episode of The People Playbook, host Jason Taylor sits down with Don Lindsey, President & CEO of Precision Machine & Manufacturing, to explore how strong leadership, clear expectations, and a people-first culture can transform an organization from the inside out.

With 25 years of experience leading business turnarounds, Don knows what it takes to rebuild struggling companies. He shares how he transformed a toxic workplace into a culture built on trust, accountability, hard work, and shared purpose, while driving significant business growth.

Jason and Don explore why character matters more than talent, why great leaders must be willing to have difficult conversations, and how building strong relationships creates teams that genuinely want to succeed together.

They also discuss the importance of getting comfortable being uncomfortable, recognizing different leadership styles, and why so many executives make the mistake of focusing on financial results before developing their people.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The five principles Don uses to build winning teams.
• Why heart and character matter more than technical skills.
• How clarity, accountability, and trust work together.
• The difference between managing talented individuals and building a true team.
• Why servant leadership requires both compassion and high expectations.
• How to recognize when an employee needs coaching versus a different role.
• The biggest mistake leaders make when trying to change company culture.
• The one question Don asks when stepping into a struggling organization.

Don's message is simple: Your business is only as strong as your people.

Whether you're a CEO, business owner, or emerging leader, this conversation offers practical lessons on building a culture where people feel valued, take ownership, and work toward something bigger than themselves.

Because great businesses aren't built by leaders alone. They're built by the teams those leaders develop.

What does it take to lead a company through crisis, reinvent the business, and come out stronger on the other side?

On this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Andrew Lockhead, CEO & Co-Founder of Stay22, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, trust, and building a company that can adapt when everything changes.

Andrew shares how Stay22 responded after losing 90% of its revenue during the pandemic, why transparency became critical during uncertainty, and how the company tested new ideas and rebuilt its business from the ground up. 

They also explore Andrew’s evolution from a hands-on micromanager to a leader who trusts his team to make decisions, why different perspectives make companies stronger, and how leaders can create cultures focused on outcomes rather than control. 

Andrew also shares his perspective on AI, authenticity, failure, and why leaders facing a crisis should get back into the trenches and involve the people closest to the problem. 

From knowing when to pivot to learning when to let go, this conversation offers practical lessons for founders, CEOs, and leaders trying to build resilient teams and businesses that can grow through change.

What does it take to lead hundreds of entrepreneurs while protecting the culture, standards, and relationships that make a franchise successful?

On this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with David Druker, President-CEO of The UPS Store Canada, for a conversation about leadership, franchising, accountability, and the power of relationships.

David shares lessons from more than 35 years in the franchise industry, including his journey from franchisee to leading a network of more than 400 locations across Canada. He explains why franchise leadership is different from managing traditional employees, why honesty sometimes requires difficult conversations, and why leaders should focus on earning respect rather than trying to be popular.

They also discuss the importance of leading by example, staying visible and accessible, building trust with franchisees, using technology without losing the human connection, and protecting culture as an organization grows.

For David, great leadership comes back to a few fundamentals: be honest, stay accountable, build strong relationships, and do the right thing for the right reasons.

If you lead a team, coach entrepreneurs, operate a franchise, or are responsible for scaling a growing organization, this episode is packed with practical leadership lessons you can put to work.

AI is changing how we work, but great leadership is still about people.

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Jon Cheney, CEO and Chief AI Officer at GenAIPI, to explore what leaders need to understand about AI, culture, and building high-performing teams.

Jon shares why embracing AI has to start at the top, how leaders can move their teams from fear to curiosity, and why actually experimenting with new technology is the fastest way to understand what’s possible. They also dig into hiring mistakes, setting clear performance standards, giving managers real autonomy, and knowing when it’s time to make a difficult people decision.

Most importantly, Jon explains why the biggest competitive advantage in an AI-driven world may be something technology can’t replace: understanding how people feel.

This conversation is about using technology to move faster without losing the human side of leadership.

What does it take to lead effectively when the environment around you is constantly changing?

In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Vladlen Xavier Stark, CFO at Remuda Building and Founder and Chairman of Luxara, to explore the leadership principles behind building high-performing teams, scaling organizations, and making better decisions.

Drawing on more than 15 years of experience across finance, technology, manufacturing, and real estate, Vladlen shares why trust must be built before a crisis, why great leaders learn to speak last, and how shifting from "decision maker" to "context provider" can empower teams to move faster.

They also explore the difference between delegating tasks and delegating accountability, why alignment must come before performance, and the growing risk of allowing AI to replace human judgment and critical thinking.

Vladlen also shares how becoming a father changed his approach to leadership, why he focuses on creating environments where people can succeed, and the values he refuses to compromise regardless of the opportunity.

This conversation is packed with practical lessons for CEOs, founders, executives, and anyone looking to build stronger teams and lead with greater trust, clarity, and authenticity.

What does it take to lead a family business for more than 30 years while continuing to grow, innovate, and build a thriving culture?

In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Stephen Emmerson, President & CEO of Emmerson Packaging, to explore the leadership principles that have guided one of Canada's longstanding family businesses.

Stephen shares why great leaders learn to delegate early, how "fingertip management" limits growth, and why hiring people who complement - not copy your strengths is essential. He also offers a refreshing perspective on succession planning in family businesses, explaining why the best leader isn't always a family member.

The conversation dives into creating a culture that lasts, building trust through accountability, developing future leaders, and why clarity is one of the most important responsibilities of leadership.

Whether you're leading a family business, scaling a growing company, or developing the next generation of leaders, this episode is packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately.

In this episode you'll learn:

•  Why delegation is essential for sustainable growth 
•  The danger of "fingertip management" 
•  How to build a culture that employees genuinely believe in 
•  The role of governance and independent boards in family businesses 
•  What separates emerging leaders from great leaders 
•  Why clarity, accountability, and perseverance drive long-term success 

Great leadership isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters most.

In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Matt Rolfe to explore why so many leaders overcommit, how burnout starts long before people notice it, and why trust, self-awareness, and human connection are the foundation of high-performing teams.

They discuss the difference between managing people and developing leaders, the role AI should play in leadership, how to build cultures that retain great people, and why the best leaders know when to step back instead of stepping in.

If you're leading a team, scaling a business, or looking to become a better leader, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply immediately.

What if your biggest leadership problem isn't a lack of time, but how you're using it?

In this episode of The People Playbook, Jason Taylor sits down with Michael Cupps, Vice President of Data Intelligence Practice at Rulesware, author of The Time Bandit, and host of The Habit Architect Podcast.

Together they unpack why most organizations don't have a data problem — they have an intelligence problem. Michael shares why leaders are drowning in dashboards but starving for clarity, how unnecessary complexity quietly slows teams down, and why asking "why?" might be the most important question in business.

They also dive into:

• Why leaders lose time by saying yes to everything
• The difference between urgent work and important work
• How AI should eliminate friction instead of creating more noise
• Why consistency matters more than intensity in leadership
• The surprising habit top-performing leaders protect above all else

If you're a CEO, executive, or people leader looking to build a more focused team and reclaim your time, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.

What does it take to build high-performing teams, create cultures that thrive, and lead organizations through change?

In this episode of The People Playbook Podcast, Jason Taylor sits down with Ron Cecillon, President & CEO of Denny's Canada, Bar One, and the Northland UK & Ireland Restaurant Group at Northland Properties. With more than 30 years of leadership experience, Ron shares the lessons he's learned leading brands through growth, acquisitions, and transformation. 

Jason and Ron discuss why culture truly eats strategy for breakfast, how leaders can navigate change without creating uncertainty, the importance of curiosity and accountability, and why great leaders focus more on asking questions than having all the answers. They also explore the powerful connection between employee experience and customer experience, and what separates great teams from the rest.

If you're a CEO, people leader, or aspiring leader looking to build stronger teams and a better culture, this conversation is packed with practical leadership insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  Why culture is the ultimate business multiplier 
•  How to lead teams through change with clarity and trust 
•  The leadership traits Ron looks for in future leaders 
•  Why accountability is essential for long-term success 
•  How great leaders create environments where people thrive