In Episode 318 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Jemia and Tim Zagiel, Co-Founders of Pacific Ropes, to explore what it truly means to build a business in an environment where courage is not optional. What began as a small operation run from their living room grew into an industry-leading rope access company that helped modernize safety and training standards across Western Canada. Tim shares how his early experiences working on ropes without proper systems sparked a mission to professionalize the industry, while Jemia reveals how her transition from film into entrepreneurship helped shape the culture, operations, and leadership foundation that drives the company today.

This episode goes far beyond rope access and into the mindset required to lead through uncertainty, fear, and constant external change. Jemia and Tim open up about surviving economic downturns, learning not to rely on a single client or industry, and the importance of diversification, relationships, and long-term thinking. At its core, Episode 318 is a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, partnership, and the defining moments every leader faces when standing at the edge of the unknown and choosing to move forward anyway.

Learn more about Tim and Jemia and their work with Pacific Ropes: www.pacificropes.com

Key Takeaways:

1. The moment before you go over the edge is where growth lives, and success often requires committing fully despite fear.
2. Safety, preparation, and mindset are what allow people to operate confidently in environments where mistakes are not survivable.
3. Building an industry does not require inventing everything yourself, it requires learning from others and bringing proven ideas into your market.
4. You cannot build a resilient business with a single client or industry, diversification is what allows you to survive external shocks.
5. Culture is built on trust and shared responsibility, especially when your team’s lives depend on each other every day.
6. Mindset is the foundation of resilience, and the ability to stay calm and find solutions during uncertainty determines long term survival.
7. The best leaders are willing to ask for help and continuously learn, rather than pretending they already have all the answers.
8. Partnership strength comes from respecting differences, where vision and caution work together to create sustainable growth.
9. Fear never fully disappears, but learning to act despite fear is what separates those who build meaningful things.
10. Success in business and life requires intentional boundaries, because achievement means nothing if you lose yourself or your family along the way.

Special thank you to our 2026 Title Sponsors, Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab.

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