A Story of Survival, Healing, and Purpose with Kris Marks

In Episode 324 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Kris Marks, CEO of VIV Mental Health, keynote speaker, and psychological health and safety advisor, for one of the most powerful conversations on the show to date. Kris shares his deeply personal journey from trauma, homelessness, and a suicide attempt to becoming a national voice for mental health leadership and psychological safety in workplaces and communities. His story is raw, honest, and deeply human, revealing how years of quiet healing and self-reflection ultimately led him to transform pain into purpose.

Throughout the episode, Kris and Kelly explore the growing importance of mental health in leadership, the cultural shift toward human-centered workplaces, and the reality that authenticity and psychological safety must be intentionally built within organizations. Kris also shares how he transitioned from a Red Seal machinist and musician into an entrepreneur and founder, building VIV Mental Health into a fast-growing organization focused on helping leaders support their people in meaningful ways.

Key Takeaways:

1. Your past does not define your future. Even the darkest experiences can become the foundation for a life of purpose and impact.
2. Healing is rarely instant. Kris spent years doing quiet, difficult internal work before he was ready to speak openly about his experiences and help others.
3. Authentic leadership starts with vulnerability. When leaders are willing to go first and model honesty, it creates the psychological safety others need to speak up.
4. Mental health is one of the defining leadership challenges of this decade. Organizations that ignore it will struggle to attract, retain, and support great people.
5. Psychological safety is not created by policy alone. It requires trust, consistent behavior from leaders, and environments where people feel safe being human.
6. People often carry invisible struggles. Many individuals who appear confident and successful are privately dealing with experiences others never see.
7. Your story has power. Sharing lived experiences, when done thoughtfully, can create connection, healing, and understanding for others facing similar struggles.
8. Career pivots are possible at any stage. Kris transitioned from the trades into entrepreneurship and mental health leadership by leaning into his experiences and strengths.
9. Leadership is about people first. The most effective leaders focus on empathy, communication, and understanding the human side of performance.
10. Trying matters more than perfection. Growth often begins with the simple willingness to take the first step, even when the path forward is uncertain.

Sponsor Highlights

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies. Hypervac designs and manufactures industry-leading hydro excavation equipment used across North America to help contractors excavate safer, faster, and more efficiently. Alongside Hypervac, Hyperfab delivers custom-built fabrication solutions designed for performance, durability, and real-world industrial application.

🌐 www.hypervac.com

🌐 www.hyperfab.ca

This episode is also proudly supported by our 2026 Roadblock Sponsor, Thunder Bay Hydraulics. Thunder Bay Hydraulics specializes in hydraulic manufacturing, repair, and systems integration supporting industries across Canada. Alongside Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lift solutions for high-end homes, luxury condos, dealerships, and elite garage spaces, with lift systems so cool they are Bat Cave Ready.

🌐 www.thunderbayhydraulics.com

🌐 www.atlaselitelifts.com

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to give these incredible companies some love. Their support helps make powerful conversations like this possible and allows us to continue bringing valuable insights to the business community.

Join The Catalyst Club

If you enjoy conversations like this and want to connect with other entrepreneurs, leaders, and business builders who are focused on real growth, I invite you to join us inside The Catalyst Club.

The Catalyst Club is a private leadership community where we host live workshops, expert sessions, and real conversations about business development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and growth. It’s a room built for people who want to move forward, share ideas, and support one another along the journey of building great businesses and meaningful careers.

We are now 80+ members strong and growing, filled with entrepreneurs and leaders who are serious about improving their craft and helping others succeed along the way.

If that sounds like the kind of room you want to be in, come join us.

🌐 www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

Mentioned in this episode:

Hyperfab Midroll