The People-Driven CEO Podcast

In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, Shane sits down with Jessica Cheng, Co-Founder and Physiotherapist at Therapy X, to talk about entrepreneurship, healthcare, leadership and building a more connected approach to patient care.
Jessica shares how her experience working in fast-paced clinic environments left her questioning the traditional model of healthcare. She wanted more time with patients, stronger collaboration between practitioners and a system where people didn’t feel responsible for piecing together their own care.
That vision eventually became Therapy X, a multidisciplinary clinic built around collaboration, education and helping people better understand their bodies. Jessica shares what she has learned about building a team, creating a strong culture and growing a healthcare business without losing the relationships and human connection at the centre of it.
The conversation also explores the realities of entrepreneurship, learning as you grow, balancing leadership and motherhood, the importance of community and Jessica’s belief that great healthcare should ultimately empower people to become more confident and independent in their own health.
Learn more about Jessica Cheng and Therapy X:🌐 Website: www.therapyx.ca📱 Instagram: @therapyx_clinic💼  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/therapy-x-clinic/?viewAsMember=true
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapyxclinic/

 
In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, Shane sits down with Justin Chipperfield, Founder of Chipperfield Mobile Physio & Wellness, to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, healthcare and what it takes to grow a people-first business.
Justin shares how his career in physiotherapy and public healthcare eventually led him to start offering one-on-one home visits. What began as a small mobile physio practice has grown into a team of 40 practitioners across eight healthcare disciplines, serving clients throughout the Lower Mainland and now Calgary.
The conversation explores the realities of building a business over more than a decade, including learning when to let go, trusting strong people, improving hiring, navigating difficult conversations and avoiding becoming the bottleneck in your own company. Justin also shares how important communication, support and understanding individual team members have become as Chipperfield continues to grow. 
They also discuss the future of Chipperfield Mobile Physio & Wellness, including expansion into new cities and the challenge of scaling while maintaining the quality of care and human connection that shaped the business from the beginning. For Justin, growth ultimately comes back to creating more time for people, serving others well and leaving the world better than he found it. 
Learn more about Justin Chipperfield and Chipperfield Mobile Physio & Wellness:
🌐 Website: www.chipperfieldphysio.ca📱 Instagram & Facebook: @chipperfieldphysio💼 LinkedIn: Justin Chipperfield
 
 

 
On this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, Shane sits down with Drew Hamilton, founder of Topia Water North America, to talk about entrepreneurship, sustainability and building a business that challenges the way we think about water.
After spending nearly two decades building businesses in the water industry, Drew shares why he decided to start again with Topia Water. His mission is to help eliminate single-use plastic bottles by bringing innovative water systems into homes, hotels and commercial spaces across North America.
Drew and Shane explore what it takes to build a company differently in the age of AI. From using technology to shape Topia's launch strategy to building a lean team and developing meaningful partnerships, Drew shares how he's creating a business that allows him to pursue ambitious goals without sacrificing the things that matter most.
The conversation also explores the power of relationships, taking action on your ideas and why success often comes from patiently building connections. Drew shares how a strategic relationship eventually led to his previous company working with the White House and why he believes human judgment and connection remain essential as technology continues to evolve.
Ultimately, Drew's vision is about more than building a successful water company. It's about changing everyday habits, reducing our environmental impact and creating something that makes a meaningful difference for people and the planet.
Learn more about Drew Hamilton and Topia Water:
🌐 Website: topiawater.com📱 Social Media: Drew Hamilton H2O

In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, Shane sits down with Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, founder of Birch Bark Coffee Company, to talk about Indigenous entrepreneurship, business reconciliation and building a company rooted in purpose.
Mark shares how Birch Bark began after he became increasingly aware of the water challenges facing Indigenous communities across Canada. What started as a way to raise awareness through coffee has grown into a national brand with a much bigger mission: creating opportunity, supporting Indigenous communities and opening doors for other Indigenous businesses.
They also get into the realities of entrepreneurship, from capital and scaling to building a strong brand and staying grounded in your values. Mark shares why relationships, storytelling and helping others succeed have been so central to his journey and the legacy he wants to leave behind.
The conversation also explores how Mark is using AI in his business and why he sees technology as a major opportunity for small companies to work smarter and compete at a higher level. Ultimately, his vision is clear: make Birch Bark Coffee Company a household name while creating more visibility and opportunity for Indigenous businesses across Canada.
Birch Bark Coffee
 
 

In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, Jen Harper returns to share what’s changed at Cheekbone Beauty as the Indigenous-owned cosmetics brand approaches 10 years in business. She talks about expanding into skincare, building products around sustainability and Indigenous values, and why protecting people and the planet continues to shape the brand.
Jen also gets candid about one of her biggest lessons as a founder: realizing she doesn’t have to be the right person for every role. She and Shane discuss hiring the right people, learning the parts of the business you may not enjoy, and why strong teams and relationships are critical to building something that lasts.
The conversation also explores how Cheekbone is using AI and data to better understand its customers, improve operations and compete with much larger companies. Jen shares her concerns about misinformation and bad actors in AI, the importance of Indigenous perspectives in technology, and why human awareness and impact still matter as business becomes increasingly automated.
Learn more about Jen Harper and Cheekbone Beauty:💄 Cheekbone Beauty: cheekbonebeauty.com📱 Jen: @cheekbonejen💼 LinkedIn: Jen Harper
 

In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, Dr. Mona Garha shares the story behind building Nova Skin and Wellness and the mindset that carried her from medicine into entrepreneurship. She opens up about launching the clinic without co-founders or investors, building its systems from scratch while pregnant, and learning one of her biggest business lessons: you do not have to do everything yourself.
Mona and Shane explore why vision and people have been at the centre of Nova from the beginning. For Mona, hiring is less about credentials and more about character, openness, warmth, the willingness to learn, and finding people who genuinely care about the clients they serve. She also explains the thinking behind Nova’s integrated approach to aesthetics, wellness, hormones and preventative health, shaped by the real challenges she was seeing in her patients.
The conversation also turns to AI, healthcare and the future of business. While Mona sees enormous potential for AI, she believes businesses need to be careful not to automate away the emotion, humanity and quality of care that make people trust them in the first place. She and Shane discuss where AI can create real value, where humans still need to lead, and why thoughtful policies, ethics and regulation will matter as adoption grows.
Later, Mona shares the personal story behind her work ethic, from immigrating to Canada as a child to building a life and career through persistence, gratitude and a strong sense of purpose. The episode closes on the values she now passes on to her own children: empathy, kindness, treating people well and using what you have to make a difference in the lives of others.
Learn more about Dr. Mona Garha and Nova Skin & Wellness:📲 @drmona.garha📲 @novaskinwellness.yvr🌐 Nova Skin and Wellness

In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, host Shane Jeremy James sits down with Desiree Dupuis, founder of VOES & Co, a premium vegan fashion brand with a vision to become a globally recognized name in conscious fashion.
Desiree shares how she is building VOES & Co around veganism, environmental responsibility and accessible luxury, including the growing innovation happening in plant-based materials and the opportunity she sees to create something much bigger than a footwear company. She also talks about her upcoming crowd equity campaign and her vision of building a community of people who can actually participate in the growth of the brand.
The conversation then moves into one of the biggest questions facing business owners today: how to actually use AI well.
Desiree and Shane discuss the difference between simply using AI tools and transforming the way a company operates. From marketing agents and automation to data security, workflows and human judgment, they explore why businesses need to understand what they are trying to improve before adding more technology. Desiree also shares where she sees the greatest opportunity for AI inside VOES & Co, particularly in building a smarter marketing engine that can help a smaller team operate at a much larger scale.
They also talk about what businesses risk losing when efficiency becomes the only goal, why human capability still matters, and the growing importance of real-world connection as more of life becomes digital.
The episode closes with the question Shane asks every guest: What does it mean to be human? For Desiree, the answer comes down to feeling, being alive, expressing ourselves and, most importantly, connecting with one another.
🌐 VOES & Co: VOES & C0📱 Follow Desiree and VOES & Co: @voes_and_co
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James

In this episode of the podcast, host Shane Jeremy James, known as S1H, sits down with Jill De Chavez, the dynamic owner of Briteweb. This digital agency manages the online presence of mission-driven organizations, such as the David Suzuki Foundation. After years of overseeing large corporate projects, Jill took the bold step of becoming an owner by purchasing the very agency where she once worked. Now leading a 15-person team, she quickly realized that running a company presents its unique challenges. From making difficult decisions, such as letting go of underperforming employees, to fostering a culture of psychological safety, Jill’s journey is raw, honest, and full of valuable insights.
We discuss what it takes to maintain strong values while staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Jill emphasizes that emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and open conversations with your team are not just "nice to have" but essential for business success. We also explore how technology is transforming the creative industry and why listening to your team might be your greatest competitive advantage.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: Jill De Chavez Interview
🌐 BRITEWEB: Briteweb
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James
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In this episode of The People-Driven CEO Podcast, host Shane Jeremy James, also known as S1H, speaks with Nik Vassev, the founder of NovoBeing. This VR therapeutics company integrates meditation, breathwork, and mental wellness into the healthcare system through the use of immersive technology.
Nik discusses how he raised over $1 million in funding, overcame more than 300 investor rejections, and built a company supported by clinical trials that demonstrate real results, including a reduction in pain by over 50% with just 10 minutes of daily practice.
Shane and Nik explore what it takes to lead a people-first startup in an environment that often promotes burnout. They cover important topics such as learning to delegate and trust your team, avoiding hustle culture, and safeguarding your health as a founder. If you are serious about building a purpose-driven business that can scale without compromising the well-being of your team or your sanity, this conversation is for you.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: Nik Vassev Interview
🌐 NICK VASSEV WEBSITE: https://www.nikvassev.com/ 🌐 NOVO BEING WEBSITE: novobeing.com
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James🎧 Listen on:   
 

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James, known simply as S1H, sits down with Zahir Rajani, the brilliant mind behind The Sartorial Shop, one of Vancouver’s most refined custom suit boutiques. Zahir didn't start in fashion; he originally came from the world of commercial real estate, where he held a stable job focused on buildings and contracts. However, he felt a deep desire to revive something more meaningful: his family’s legacy.
His parents opened their tailoring shop back in 1984, following in the footsteps of Zahir’s grandfather, a master clothier in East Africa. Trading predictability for passion, Zahir took the leap into entrepreneurship, modernizing the family business and embracing the challenges that come with it.
During their conversation, Zahir and Shane discuss the thrilling journey of being a founder—the steep learning curve, the pressure of leadership, and the continuous decisions regarding what to delegate and what to handle personally. They also explore the intersection of tradition and innovation, as Zahir integrates cutting-edge technology into the centuries-old craft of tailoring. His ambition? To make The Sartorial Shop the premier destination for luxury custom suits in Canada, and eventually, to expand that vision globally.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/quF8LfyDLe4 
🌐 THE SARTORIAL SHOP: www.thesartorialshop.com
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy
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