The People Playbook with Jason Taylor
Better People Decisions. Stronger Teams. Scalable Results.
The People Playbook is your weekly guide to building high-performing teams and cultures that scale. Hosted by leadership coach and executive advisor Jason Taylor, this podcast features raw, insightful conversations with CEOs, founders, and culture builders who know what it really takes to lead in today’s world.
From mindset to execution, every episode unpacks the strategies, missteps, and breakthroughs behind exceptional leadership - and how to align your people, purpose, and performance for lasting impact.
Whether you're a CEO scaling fast, a senior leader navigating change, or a builder at heart - this is your playbook for becoming the leader your team needs.
🎯 New episodes weekly
🔥 Real talk. No fluff.
🧠 Actionable insights you can use today
Because growth doesn’t start with strategy - it starts with people.
Join the People Playbook Circle for exclusive leadership tools & community: jetcoaching.app.clientclub.net
The People Playbook with Jason Taylor
Brad Furtney - Scale-Up Expert & People-First Leader - Building Cultures That Drive Explosive Growth
What does it really take to scale a company from $20M to $300M+ while actually putting people first?
In this powerful episode, scale-up expert and former EVP Brad Furtney pulls back the curtain on the leadership playbook that transformed founder-led software businesses into high-performing, culture-driven powerhouses at Evercommerce.
Brad shares the exact moves he makes on day one when stepping into a growth-stage company, why OKRs became his secret weapon for alignment and accountability, how he built a 5-year leadership development engine that skyrocketed culture scores and profitability, and why most companies talk about “people first” but never actually measure it.
If you’re a leader who believes culture isn’t just a feel-good buzzword - it’s the ultimate growth multiplier - this conversation is pure gold.
Key takeaways:
- The first leadership move that creates instant strategic alignment
- How to turn individual OKRs into real accountability (and what to do when someone doesn’t buy in)
- Why the best performers don’t always make the best leaders (and how to spot the ones who will)
- The unexpected power of investing in first-time managers and “next-gen” talent
- One simple piece of advice Brad wishes he could give his 20-year-old self (and every young leader today)
If you’re ready to stop treating culture as a side project and start building a team that scales with you, hit play now.
[00:00] Introduction & Welcome
Jason welcomes Brad Furtney – scale-up expert and people-first leader
[00:36] Brad joins the show
[01:11] What’s the first leadership move you make when stepping into a growth-stage company?
Brad: Start with strategic alignment, then process (OKRs), then talent
[03:25] How do you create buy-in when someone isn’t drinking the individual OKR Kool-Aid?
Brad on accountable leadership, weekly check-ins, traffic-light reporting, and having the tough conversations
[06:10] Ted Lasso “Be Curious” moment
[06:49] How do you identify and nurture high-potential leaders?
Brad on why we need better leaders in the world, the ROI of leadership development, and why top performers don’t always make great managers
[09:56] Culture = long-term revenue and profitability
[11:08] The real reason people leave (and stay) at companies
[14:43] Do you change your leadership style between startups and global organizations?
Brad: “I treat every territory like it’s my own company”
[17:38] Building a 5-year leadership development program at Evercommerce that took culture scores to the top 5 in a 50-company portfolio
[21:45] Can you share a leadership challenge that taught you an unexpected lesson?
Brad on measuring culture, investing in first-time managers, and why most people get thrown into management with zero support
[24:57] “How many coaches does a pro golfer have?” – The case for investing in your own growth
[28:47] Two-part question: One piece of advice to your 20-year-old self AND to the next generation of leaders?
Brad: Network more. Reach out. Ask for coffee. Come prepared. The CEO will say yes.
[32:27] Closing and gratitude
