069. Kirby Brown - General Manager, Sea to Sky Gondola

It’s not about the bike this week. From time to time, I branch out to have a conversation with someone who inspires me.

Kirby Brown is an old friend who I met in Whistler B.C. back in the 90’s. At the time we were both working for Whistler Mountain, now Whistler Blackcomb. Kirby worked in guest services, while I worked at McKonkey’s Sports Shop across the hall as a rental “technician”. We’ve always kept in touch.

Kirby would constantly challenge himself in roles he felt he was under qualified for but would allow him to make change in impactful ways. Along the way he discovered his passion for community building, which became his primary focus and he has found great personal meaning working at making the world a better place.

In 2015, Kirby became the GM of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish BC. His goal was to create an experience for guests to showcase the beauty of the region, and the community responded with their full support. But that support wasn’t universally felt. Some disagreed with the project, and worked to undermine this vision. On Aug. 10, 2019, someone climbed up one of the towers and cut the haul rope, bringing the entire dream down. This not only devastated the business but also affected the community deeply. Kirby stepped up to not only help breath life back into the project, but also to focus on taking care of all the employees and families that were affected. Then, just months after the gondola’s resurrection, it was cut down a second time.

Kirby is also on the board for Playground Builders, a wonderful organization that he joined in 2007.

“We build playgrounds for children in war-torn areas. In Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine, there are no safe places for children to play. Most kids have never experienced the joy of a swing or the thrill of a slide. We are dedicated to building hope and peace through the gift of play.”

In this episode we cover a lot of ground. We talk about Playground Builders as well as the tragic story of the Sea to Sky Gondola. We chat about the importance and meaning behind altruism and how helping others can bring more joy to our own lives.

Kirby is a good dude and someone that I look up to as a mentor and I’m grateful for our friendship. I hope you enjoy this conversation.