Pace & Purpose

• Ep 13. / Mark Busse - Brand Strategist, Leadership Coach & Facilitator

  Mark Busse is a Canadian brand strategist, leadership coach, facilitator, and professional instigator who helps leaders turn purpose into performance. A flâneur at heart, he’s known for designing the conversations that build brands—blending strategy, facilitation, and coaching to align story, culture, and execution. As co-founder of Industrial Brand, Mark led AEC firms to differentiate beyond “prettymaking”; today he partners with founders, creative leads, and civic organisations to sharpen positioning, cultivate healthy team dynamics, and host the brave, useful conversations most groups avoid. A long-time community builder (CreativeMornings, cross-sector roundtables, mentoring), he believes generosity is a growth strategy and that better questions beat louder answers. Rooted in emotional intelligence and participatory leadership, his approach gives teams practical tools to find their pace when the path shifts underfoot. Mark lives in Vancouver and is happiest coaching leaders, facilitating strategy sprints, or—true to form—connecting good people who should know each otherEpisode Highlights:Explore Mark Busse's journey from a creative polymath to a strategic advisor and community builder.Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Mark's career, including his transition from brand design to fostering meaningful conversations.Learn about the importance of human connection and how Mark uses it as a catalyst for creativity and innovation.Gain insights into Mark's leadership philosophy, emphasizing empowerment, authenticity, and the value of saying no.Hear Mark's reflections on purpose, values, and the role of mentorship in personal and professional growth.Website: https://www.pickmybrain.world/profiles/mark-busse/ Creative Mornings: https://creativemornings.com/cities/van Article: https://industrialbrand.com/three-traits-of-successful-managers https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/category/art-of-hosting/Mark Busse Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbusse/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbusse/?hl=en Industrial Brand: https://industrialbrand.com/about 

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• Ep 12. / Drew Dugan - Founder DVLP Academy, Music Producer, Educator

  In this episode of "Pace & Purpose," host Kirstyn DeVries sits down with Drew Dugan, founder of DVLP Music, to explore his transformative journey from addiction to entrepreneurship. Drew shares insights on personal development, the power of music, and the importance of embracing one's true self. Tune in to discover how Drew's experiences have shaped his mission to inspire and educate others.Drew Dugan is a music producer, educator, and founder of DVLP Academy, a cutting-edge music education hub based in Denver, Colorado. His lifelong journey with music began at just three years old when he first picked up the drums - a spark that grew into a career blending technical mastery with creative vision.Driven by the belief that true growth happens when skill is paired with mindset, adaptability, and personal evolution, Drew created DVLP Academy as more than just a music school. It’s a space where artistry and personal development intersect. Through mentor-based training and immersive, real-world environments, students gain hands-on experience across every stage of modern music production - from songwriting and sound design to mixing and mastering - using industry-standard tools like Ableton Live and Pro Tools.Drew’s own life embodies the philosophy of developing yourself: he is over nine years sober, has lost more than 100 pounds, and now runs marathons. For him, “The purpose of life is to develop it” isn’t just a statement - it’s truly a way of living. At DVLP, students and artists are encouraged to embrace that same mindset, using creativity not just to build careers in music, but to fuel personal transformation, resilience, and lifelong growth.I really enjoyed this conversation with Drew, about his journey from addiction to entrepreneurship and personal growth.Instagram: @thedrewduganInstagram: @dvlpmusic Website: https://dvlpacademy.com/

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• Ep 11. / Kathy Butler : 2 x Olympian, 6 x National Team Coach USA, USATF Coaching Instructor, Coach - Run Boulder Athletic Club

  Kathy is a 2 time Olympian, competed at 21 world championships including a team bronze medal and several individual top 10 finishes. Kathy was a 5 x NCAA champion while competing at the University of Wisconsin and multiple time British and Canadian national champion. Kathy had coached for over 25 years starting as a volunteer coach at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and then at Stanford University. She currently coaches post-collegiate athletes with Run Boulder Athletic Club in Boulder, Colorado, athletes all over the world online and high school cross country and track at Nederland High School. In addition to her own coaching practice Kathy has served as a national team staff coach with Team USA six times including the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago Chile, NACAC Track and Field Championships in 2022 and 2025 and the World Cross Country Championships in 2024 and 2023. Kathy is a USATF Coaching Education Instructor having taught all levels of their curriculum from Level 1 through 3 as well as specialist courses in the marathon. She is also a curriculum writer for USATF. Kathy also does public speaking on performance, coaching and elite lifestyle including traveling to China to speak at their National Coaching Convention.  Episode Description:Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of Kathy Butler, a former Olympian who transitioned from a celebrated athlete to a dedicated coach. Discover how her experiences across continents and competitions have shaped her unique coaching philosophy.From Athlete to Coach: Kathy shares her evolution from a high school athlete to a professional runner, and eventually, a coach. International Representation: Learn about Kathy's experiences competing for both Canada and the UK, and how these shaped her perspective. Overcoming Challenges: Hear about the setbacks Kathy faced, including injuries and missed opportunities, and how she bounced back stronger. Coaching Philosophy: Kathy discusses her approach to coaching, emphasizing personal development and athlete well-being. Future Aspirations: Discover Kathy's current projects and her vision for the future, including her passion for coaching education and personal growth.Tune in to hear Kathy's story of resilience, passion, and dedication to the world of athletics.Instagram - Kathy Butler: @chutlerInstagram- Run Boulder: @runboulderacInstagram- Coaching: @kathybutlercoachingWebsite: www.kathy-butler.comRun Boulder Athletic Club: http://www.runboulder.org/meettheteam.html 

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• Ep 10. / Nicholas Turco ~ Elite Mountain Runner, UN Consultant

  Nicholas Turco is a professional mountain runner and international human rights advocate whose career bridges athletics, law, and social impact. Ranked among the top 30 mountain runners in the world, Nicholas has competed on the Golden Trail World Series and represented brands like Salomon and INOV8. But his influence extends beyond the trails.As a Savit Scholar at the University of Colorado Boulder, Nicholas envisioned and spearheaded the university’s first NCAA scholarship program to harness the voices of Division I athletes for LGBTQ+ advocacy. Known as the Colorado Athletics Visibility Award, the initiative empowers athletes to design and lead social impact projects, with recipients awarded $20,000 scholarships. Nicholas partnered with CU’s advancement team to secure $80,000 in seed funding, laying the foundation for a program that continues to drive visibility, inclusion, and well-being in athletics.His professional journey also includes legal research for the Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, work with the United Nations and the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, and contributions to groundbreaking research at the intersection of sport, neuroscience, and peacebuilding. Nicholas’s academic achievements span from a summa cum laude degree at CU Boulder to a Master of Laws in Geneva, where his thesis explored how sports can transform discrimination into peacebuilding capital.Episode Highlights: Nicholas Turco shares his journey from a school sports enthusiast to a professional trail runner and consultant at the United Nations, blending his passion for athleticism with advocacy work.Nicholas discusses the challenges and rewards of mountain running, highlighting the dynamic and exciting nature of the sport that connects people with nature.He opens up about his personal struggles with race day anxiety and how working with a sports psychologist helped him overcome these challenges through biofeedback techniques.Nicholas talks about his advocacy work as an openly LGBT athlete, emphasizing the importance of belonging and representation in sports.He introduces his current project with the International Olympic Committee, aiming to create Olympic Athlete Ambassadors to support UN mandates for peace, human rights, and humanitarian affairs.

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• Ep 9. / Alex Kolodkin - Founder, Operator & Builder ~ CEO, Set Scouter

  Alex Kolodkin is the founder and CEO of Set Scouter, a film locations marketplace that simplifies commercial and film production scouting across North America. Founded in Toronto, the company is backed by investors from Silicon Valley and Canada - and continues to set the industry standard for sourcing sets of all kinds, from small indie films, TV series, and cinematic blockbusters.Set Scouter serves thousands of major brands and agencies, including Google, Walmart, Disney, and McDonald’s. During the pandemic, he started Safe Sets International, which grew into the largest film-focused COVID-19 advocacy group in the world. Before founding Set Scouter, Alex produced corporate videos and worked as a broadcaster. He holds a BA and MA from Toronto Metropolitan University and completed additional studies at UCLA. Outside of work, Alex serves as a National Director for the Kidney Foundation of Canada, invests in great founders, and races triathlons (including two Ironman 70.3s).It was really energising re-connecting with Alex, and I am motivated by his driving force in leadership in the global media, film and production landscape. We also connected on the theme of movement. He and I hold a passion for endurance sport, and his passion comes out in today’s interview.Highlights:Early Career and DMZ Experience: Alex Kolodkin reflects on his early career, highlighting his time at the DMZ, a technology business incubator at Toronto Metropolitan University, which played a crucial role in shaping his entrepreneurial journey.Building Set Scouter: Alex shares insights into founding Set Scouter, a film locations marketplace, discussing the challenges of overbuilding and the importance of iterating based on customer feedback.Impact of COVID-19: The conversation delves into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry and Set Scouter, highlighting the creation of Safe Sets International, a COVID education platform for the film industry.Leadership and Empathy: Alex emphasizes the importance of leading with empathy, structuring one-on-ones to focus on team members' feelings and insights, and fostering a supportive team culture.Personal Growth and Athletic Pursuits: Alex discusses his personal growth through endurance sports, drawing parallels between athletic training and business resilience, and sharing his journey from a non-athlete to a triathlete.

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