After an 18-year rise through corporate HR—from recruiter to group president across Canada and the U.S.—Dom walked away from a “safe” executive career to build something on his own terms. In this conversation, we unpack why large organizations quietly trade momentum for bureaucracy, how technology and automation empower lean founders, and why “stability” often comes at the cost of creativity, speed, and meaning.
We explore intrapreneurship vs. entrepreneurship, the hidden traps of bloated systems, and how founders can use data, automation, and open APIs to move faster without burning capital. The throughline isn’t rebellion—it’s agency. Building work that’s fun, aligned, and alive again.
No anti-corporate rant. Just lived experience, hard trade-offs, and a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to step off the stable path—and thrive.
TL;DR
Stability is conditional: Corporate safety disappears the moment priorities shift.
Intrapreneur vs. founder: Big-company success doesn’t equal personal leverage.
Tech as leverage: Automation and BI (not hype AI) unlock speed for lean teams.
Systems can trap you: CRMs and ERPs either enable growth—or become prisons.
Innovation dies slowly: Bureaucracy rewards optics over outcomes.
Work-life blend > balance: Fun, purpose-driven work creates sustainability.
Momentum matters: Small teams with clarity outperform slow giants.
Memorable lines
“Stability often costs more than risk—you just don’t see the bill right away.”
“Big systems don’t fail fast. They fail quietly.”
“AI isn’t magic—it’s leverage if you know what problem you’re solving.”
“Careers don’t collapse overnight; they stall one approval layer at a time.”
“Fun isn’t a perk—it’s fuel.”
Guest
Dominic Levesque — HR executive turned founder; CEO of NextWave; author and advisor on leadership, technology, and organizational transformation.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiclevesquecria/
🌐 Website: https://nextwav.com
Why it matters
Most people chase stability without realizing it’s borrowed—not owned. This episode is for founders, operators, and executives who feel boxed in by success and sense there’s another way to work, build, and live.
If you’re questioning whether the “safe path” is actually costing you momentum, creativity, and agency—this conversation gives you the framework to rethink what security really means, and how to design a career that doesn’t slowly drain the life out of you.
Call to Action
If this conversation lit something up for you, don’t just let it fade. Come join me inside the Second Life Leader community on Skool. That’s where I share the frameworks, field reports, and real stories of reinvention that don’t make it into the podcast. You’ll connect with other professionals who are actively rebuilding and leading with clarity. The link is in the show notes—step inside and start building your Second Life today.
