What happens when the very experience that built your success starts blinding you to better choices today?
JP Hamel didn’t become CEO overnight. After 17+ years at N2—rising from franchisee to CRO, President, and now CEO—he’s seen the full loop: trying, failing, trying again, and learning when to let go of what used to work. In this candid conversation, JP shares how long-tenured leaders can use history as a guide without becoming attached to it—and why isolating tests (instead of hard left turns) protects the company’s “soul” while raising performance.
We delve into the double-edged nature of servant leadership (support vs. over-involvement), the importance of telling the truth even when it’s unpopular, and the unusual yet useful metric a mentor shared with him: Would your team choose you over their share of your salary? JP also reveals what a cover band taught him about energy, introversion, and leading from the front without needing the spotlight—plus why parenting and leadership are the same job in different rooms.
Why it matters: If you’ve led long enough to have “greatest hits,” you also carry old defaults. JP’s playbook—test in small lanes, keep the culture’s heartbeat, and tell the truth—helps you evolve without breaking what makes your organization special.
About JP:
JP Hamel is the CEO of N2, where he’s spent more than 17 years across multiple roles, from franchisee to CRO, President, and CEO. N2 operates a franchise model supported by an internal team (approx. 350 employees) and hundreds of franchisees. JP also fronts a cover band, “Two Fifths Crazy,” which—surprisingly—shaped his views on energy management and leadership presence.
About Dave Osh
Dave Osh is the CEO of Varlinx and a transformation catalyst dedicated to evolving leadership potential, creating a ripple effect of unity in our divided world. He leads large-scale leadership transformation programs that drive meaningful change for individuals, teams, organizations, and society.
Dave is the author of CEO Potential: Transcent Self, Team, and Organization for Lasting Success in the New Age of AI
His recent TEDx talk was titled ‘Overcoming Bias to Unite Our Divided World‘
