The People-Driven CEO Podcast

Episode 19: Building Beauty & Belonging: How Lisa Marie Blair Grew The Skin Girls into a Vancouver Staple

In this inspiring episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Lisa Marie Blair, founder of The Skin Girls, one of Vancouver’s top medical aesthetics clinics. Lisa shares how she transitioned from a one-room setup in Chinatown to a thriving six-room clinic that caters to celebrities and locals alike. With warmth and honesty, she delves into the challenges of leadership, building a culture of trust, and staying grounded as she scales a beauty business. Lisa also discusses launching her skincare line, Skin Edition, a vegan, cruelty-free brand that gives back to women’s charities.
Beyond the beauty treatments, Lisa’s story is about creating a space where people feel welcome, seen, and confident. She opens up about navigating friendships in leadership, trusting her instincts in hiring, and what it takes to build a company that reflects both passion and purpose. Whether you're in business or just love skincare, Lisa’s journey will leave you inspired.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/XyQbfKmKrEo 
🌐The Skin Girls: http://www.theskingirls.ca/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 18: Bleeding-Edge Innovation: How Linda Biggs and Joni Are Disrupting Period Care with Purpose

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Linda Biggs, co-founder and CEO of Joni, a modern period care company that’s redefining a stagnant industry with innovation, impact, and integrity. Linda shares how Joni built a devoted community, scaled through word-of-mouth and social purpose, and became B Corp certified—all while staying bootstrapped and values-driven. From building team culture to reshaping workplace norms, this is a masterclass in modern entrepreneurship and human-centred leadership.
This episode is packed with insight for purpose-driven entrepreneurs, people-first leaders, and anyone redefining what it means to build a better business.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/cqeuYjf9aZU 
🌐 Joni: https://getjoni.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 17: Engineering Impact: How Leigh Christie is Building the Future Through Radical Culture and Deep Tech

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Leigh Christie, co-founder of MistyWest, a Vancouver-based engineering firm that designs intelligent and connected devices, ranging from rugged IoT sensors to AI-powered vision systems, for companies like Meta, Google, and Intel.
With a background in fuel cells and electric vehicles, Leigh shares how his passion for invention and systems thinking evolved into building a purpose-driven engineering studio. He opens up about the early challenges of convincing companies to work with outside consultants, the painful transition from startup vibes to structured leadership, and how distributed authority, values-driven culture, and constant feedback have become the foundation of MistyWest’s growth.
This conversation delves into the realities of leadership, the emotional challenges of scaling a team, and the future of entrepreneurship in a city like Vancouver. Leigh also reflects on mental health, meditation, and the mindset shifts that help him lead through chaos with clarity.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/9O8EHfNyBZM 
🌐 MistyWest Energy and Transport: https://www.mistywest.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 16: Rviita’s Rise: How Karly Jacobsen Built a Better Energy Drink and a Purpose-Driven Team

In this energizing episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Karly Jacobsen, co-founder of Rviita, the first non-carbonated, better-for-you energy drink delivered in innovative pouch packaging. Inspired by a close friend’s energy drink-related heart scare, Karly and her brother, Mitch, set out to create a healthier, more mindful alternative and ended up building one of Canada’s most exciting beverage startups.
Karly shares her journey from night-shift nurse to entrepreneur, how they overcame early manufacturing nightmares, and the lessons learned in building a team-first culture. She opens up about raising capital, scaling through Sobeys and Costco, and why relationships, not just great products, are the foundation of long-term success.
Whether you're in CPG, a founder just starting, or someone passionate about brand building with heart, this episode is packed with real talk, practical advice, and entrepreneurial inspiration.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/w1YhYwXF6RI 
🌐 Rviita: https://rviitalize.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 15: From Banana Brownies to a National Brand: Joao Ribeiro’s Journey with Elements Brazil

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Joao (John) Ribeiro, founder of Elements Brazil, to hear the remarkable story of how he went from importing a failed shipment of banana-based snacks to building a thriving food distribution company with four businesses under his belt. Joao shares how his early struggles, including a disastrous first container, quitting his job at HSBC, and knocking on doors at Safeway stores, laid the foundation for his success.
He opens up about the importance of resilience, faith, and relationships in business, and how his people-first leadership approach has helped him build not only a company but also a loyal and motivated team. Whether you’re a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or love a great comeback story, Joao’s journey will inspire and energize you.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/ThHccnDNxiQ 
🌐 Elements Brazil: https://www.elementsbrazil.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James
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Episode 14: Beyond Elon: Jerry Kroll on Electric Cars, Longevity, and Changing the Future

What do electric cars and human longevity have in common? Jerry Kroll, founder of Jevity Life Science and pioneer in electric vehicles, explains how both are part of a bold mission to create a cleaner, healthier future. In this inspiring episode, Jerry shares how his one-person EV, the Solo, is helping reshape urban transportation, and how advances in AI, gene therapy, and personalized medicine are making it possible to live well past 100.
He delves into the parallels between the early skepticism surrounding electric cars and today’s doubts about longevity science, offering powerful insights into belief, innovation, and the importance of purpose. Whether you're interested in sustainability, health, or forward-thinking, this conversation will challenge how you view what’s possible.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/aPgOmpQWofs 
🌐 Jevitty Life Science Corp.: https://jevitty.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 13: Rewiring the Mind: Doron Meir on Mental Wellness, Focus, and the Future of VR with Float

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Doron Meir, CEO and founder of FloatVR, a mental wellness platform using generative virtual reality to help users reset, refocus, and recharge. Inspired by his challenges with ADHD and emotional regulation, Doron created FloatVR to make the benefits of meditation more accessible, especially for those who struggle with overstimulation or anxiety.
We explore the science of attention restoration, the role of emotional regulation in work and life, and how FloatVR is helping companies support their teams. Doron also shares insights on leadership, trust, and building a culture that prioritizes people.
Whether you're a founder, team leader, or someone seeking better focus and calm, this episode offers practical tools at the intersection of tech and mental wellness.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/FnP8jRqCgRE 
🌐FloatVR: https://floatvr.io
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 12: Compassion Is Always in Style: Building a Luxury Vegan Brand with Desiree Dupuis

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Desiree Dupuis, founder of Voes & Co., a pioneering vegan luxury footwear brand that redefines fashion with compassion and sustainability. Desiree shares how a personal need for stylish, animal-free, and plastic-free footwear inspired her to create Voes & Co. She discusses the development of her high-end designer shoes made from next-generation plant-based materials like cactus and corn leather, and why creating a brand rooted in values was non-negotiable.
We dive into the realities of bootstrapping a mission-driven business in an oversaturated digital market, the struggle to build brand awareness without investors, and how technology, including AI, is helping her scale with integrity. This is a conversation about much more than fashion, about leadership, innovation, and building a brand that reflects a commitment to the planet, people, and purpose.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/VbPuGOHczWk 
🌐Voes & Co: https://voesandcompany.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James
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Episode 11: From Blender to Empire: Dan Crosby on Scaling Canadian Protein, Leadership & Relentless Execution

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Dan Crosby, founder of CanadianProtein.com and BioSteel! Dan shares his no-BS journey from blending supplements in his kitchen to running two large-scale manufacturing facilities and managing a 250-person operation. He dives into the lessons learned from real estate investing during the 2008 crash, scaling through e-commerce, and the relentless work ethic required to build a powerhouse health brand. This conversation is packed with raw insights on leadership, focus, team building, and making fast and fearless decisions in business.
Dan also shares why every day still feels like “the night before an exam,” and how relentless focus, health, and resourcefulness fuel his edge. A must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone building in the trenches.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/__aAqfpj5K0 
🌐BioSteel: https://biosteel.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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Episode 10: Innovating Women's Health: Claire Dixon on PCOS, Impactful Leadership & Startup

In this episode, Claire Dixon, co-founder of Neuraura, shares her journey from brain-machine interface tech to launching an innovative biowearable solution for PCOS. Claire delves into the challenges of building a mission-driven health tech company, covering everything from navigating funding and team-building to tackling one of the most overlooked chronic conditions affecting one in five women. 
This episode is filled with honest insights and practical wisdom for anyone building a company at the intersection of tech, health, and impact.
Mobile viewers: tap the link to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/LlND2WxHXlA 
🌐 Neuraura: https://www.neuraura.com/
#ThePeopleDrivenPodcast | Hosted by Shane Jeremy James 
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