Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

Dre Baldwin got a late start in basketball, however, he marketed himself tirelessly to stand out from the competition. His strategies worked and he landed an agent. Although initially unintentional, he built a personal brand online as he played professionally. So as basketball prospects waned, he was able to transition into public speaking and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Dre shares his journey from an obscure basketball player to a successful entrepreneur, highlighting key tips and lessons for professionals considering entrepreneurship.Dre Baldwin is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, and business coach with a background as a professional basketball player. He works with businesses and entrepreneurs on branding and marketing their businesses through his company, WOYG Enterprises.In this episode, Ilana and Dre will discuss:- His basketball career- The marketing machine he created to sell himself- Monetizing his knowledge with digital products- The differences between working in sports and business- Why discipline and determination are crucial for success- How building relationships can lead to opportunities- The importance of continuous learning and self-improvement - Personal development for professional growth- Mindset, discipline, and taking initiative for success in any field. - Self-accountability for personal and professional growth- And other topics… Dre Baldwin is a former professional basketball player turned author, entrepreneur, and business coach. He played basketball internationally for nine years after getting a Business Marketing & Management degree from Penn State Altoona. Dre started sharing his basketball workouts and motivational messages on YouTube in 2006, growing to over 100,000 subscribers and 35 million views. He consistently posts daily videos, leading to the development of his "DreAllDay" and "Work On Your Game" brands. Through his company, WOYG Enterprises, Dre assists businesses and entrepreneurs with online branding and marketing. Connect with Dre:Dre’s Website: https://www.dreallday.com/ Dre’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dreallday/  Resources Mentioned:Dre’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHgkC8tsH6r0hQjCw_raYw Dre’s Book, The Third Day: https://www.thirddaybook.com/the-new-book-for-people-who-want-to-be-more-consistent-disciplined-but-can-t-get-started Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki: https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194 The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Richby Timothy Ferriss: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Work-Week-Escape-Anywhere/dp/0091929113 Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Work-Week-Escape-Anywhere/dp/0091929113 Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447 

Show Notes:Saul Blinkoff went from being one of the worst artists in school to achieving his dream of working for the Walt Disney Studios. How did he do it despite several rejections? Through relentless hard work, unwavering determination, and the willingness to learn from his failures. Saul transformed his weaknesses into strengths and never gave up on his dream. In this episode, Saul shares his incredible journey of perseverance, highlighting the beliefs and mindset shifts that allowed him to make the impossible possible.Saul Blinkoff is a Hollywood filmmaker and animator, known for his work on Disney classics like Pocahontas, Mulan, and Tarzan. He is also a sought-after speaker and host of the Life of Awesome podcast, where he shares tools for success and fulfillment.In this episode, Ilana and Saul will discuss:- Clarity in goal-setting- The importance of mentors- A meaningful life vs. a happy life- The movies that changed Saul’s life- How practice converts weakness to strength- Going above and beyond to achieve your goals- The beliefs behind Saul’s resilience- The influence of friends on personal growth- Striving for excellence over settling- How negative comments almost derailed Saul’s dream- Converting weakness to strength with practice- How Saul secured his dream internship at Disney- The potential for greatness in everyone- His pivot to a speaking career- And other topics… Saul Blinkoff is a celebrated Hollywood filmmaker known for his work with major studios such as Disney, DreamWorks, Netflix, and Amazon. He began his career as an animator on Disney classics like Pocahontas, Mulan, and Tarzan. He has also worked on popular children's series like Doc McStuffins, Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, and Llama Llama. In addition to his work in animation, Saul has directed high-profile commercials and consulted for studios worldwide​. Saul is a sought-after speaker and host of the inspirational podcast Life of Awesome, where he shares practical tools for success and fulfillment​.Connect with Saul:Saul’s Website: https://www.saulblinkoff.com/  Saul’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saul.blinkoff/  Resources Mentioned:Saul’s Podcast, Life of Awesome: https://www.saulblinkoff.com/podcast Rudy: imdb.com/title/tt0108002 

At the peak of Dov Baron’s success, the worst happened. While free climbing, he fell on his face from a height of 120 feet. Dov endured several reconstructive surgeries and suffered deep depression. But after a moment of true transformation, Dov pushed the reset button. He found the emotional source code that gave meaning to his life and has been helping others do the same ever since. In this episode, Dov tells the fascinating story behind his transformation and highlights the importance of leaders examining their soulful purpose using their emotional source code.Dov Baron is an international speaker and leadership strategist. Dov has been named a Top 30 global leadership guru five times and listed among Inc. Magazine's top 100 leadership speakers twice. He has delivered presentations to companies and organizations globally, including the United Nations, the Department of State, and the US Air Force.In this episode, Ilana and Dov will discuss:- His childhood interest in art- His early career in the hairdressing industry- His leap from the hairdressing industry to a speaking career- The accident that changed the course of his life- His turning point - Victim mentality- Living in integrity with your soul's purpose- How leaders can check their integrity - Examining your emotional source code- Creating cultures of belonging for better engagement- The importance of staying curious- And other topics…Dov Baron is a leadership and corporate cultural strategist, recognized twice as one of the Top 100 Leadership Speakers by Inc. Magazine. He is a bestselling author of several books and the preeminent expert on Emotional Source Code. Dov has interviewed and worked with leaders featured in various top-rated media platforms, including Oprah, CNN, and Larry King, among many others. He hosts two podcasts, Curiosity Bites, and The Dov Baron Show. He has shared his wisdom and expertise with professional leaders worldwide for over 30 years.Connect with Dov:Dov’s Website: https://dovbaron.com/ Dov’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dovbaron/ 

Whitney Johnson believed she could increase her earnings tenfold. So, she pursued business courses at night and eventually made an unusual transition from secretary to investment banker. This marked the first major disruption of her career path and set the stage for her future successes as an entrepreneur, author, and thought leader on disruption. In this episode, Whitney shares her journey of self-disruption through her major career leaps. She provides insights and strategies for professionals struggling to transition into new career phases.Whitney Johnson is a leading expert in business innovation and personal disruption. She is the bestselling author of Disrupt Yourself and is a sought-after speaker and advisor.In this episode, Ilana and Whitney will discuss:- Whitney’s inspiring journey from secretary to investment banker- Her brave leap from business analyst to entrepreneur- The impact of personal disruption on career growth- Strategies for leaders to harness disruption for success- The role of mentorship and support in achieving growth- How to identify opportunities for self-disruption- Balancing personal life with professional ambitions- The importance of a safety net while purpose-searching- The ‘S-curve’ framework for understanding professional growth- And other topics…Whitney Johnson is the founder of Disruption Advisors, a consultancy that specializes in organizational growth and innovation. Recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the top management thinkers, she is a leading expert in innovation and personal disruption. Whitney hosts the popular Disrupt Yourself podcast and is the author of the bestselling book by the same name. She has also written Build an A-Team, another bestseller. She frequently speaks at prestigious venues such as the United Nations and the US Air Force, empowering individuals and organizations to effectively navigate career growth and organizational change.Connect with Whitney:Whitney’s Website: https://whitneyjohnson.com/ Whitney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyjohnson/ Resources Mentioned:Whitey’s Books:Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work: https://www.amazon.com/Disrupt-Yourself-Putting-Disruptive-Innovation/dp/1629560529 Build an A Team: Play to Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Team-Play-Strengths-Learning/dp/1633693643 Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream: https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Dream-Do-Remarkable-Things/dp/1937134121 Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company: https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Growth-Grow-People-Company/dp/1647821150   

The Leap Academy Podcast with Ilana Golan is all about honest and inspiring conversations about what it really takes to leap to bigger things, amazing careers, and craft the life you want.Here you will listen to stories and tips you won't find anywhere else. Ilana speaks with some of the world's most influential people, experts, and thinkers who created incredible careers, massive impact, built a reputation, and an extraordinary life.Together we discover the untold truths, the emotions, and important lessons that enabled them to reinvent themselves & leap. We take our audience on a journey that will inspire you and teach concrete lessons on how to leap careers: fast-track to leadership, jump to entrepreneurship, build a personal brand, portfolio career, and much more. 

What happens when you give up on your dreams and you realize you were 3 feet from gold? This is a story about perseverance, aiming higher and believing in yourself despite rejection.Saul Blinkoff, Hollywood filmmaker and animator shares with Ilana about how he gave himself a second chance and went on to work with companies such as Disney, Dreamworks,Netflix, Amazon, animating for films like Pocahontas Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan Tarzan and so many more!Listen to this inspiring and engaging story and share it with someone who needs inspiration today.Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/COinzs7Qd_MMore about Saul:Website: http://www.saulblinkoff.com/SPEAKING — SAUL BLINKOFFVideo Promo: https://youtu.be/j4i9yYJsvyoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/saul.blinkoff/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/saulblinkoff23/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saul-blinkoff-a702563TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@saul.blinkoff?_t=8dEBvS74TD4&_r=1Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-of-awesome/id1546988218Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1D8YQe0kvyLJ6bP6jO5jJQ?si=deRPgWkaS8aJp4OonPcXewAbout Ilana Golan & Leap Academy:Website - https://www.leapacademy.com/Follow Ilana on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ilanagolan-leap-academy

Ignore the naysayers. trust your gut. Take risks, make quick decisions and stay true to your mission. Many times the best entrepreneurs are people that don’t play by the rules. In this fascinating episode Ilana speaks with Gary Beasley, CEO & co-founder of Roofstock about his journey starting and growing a successful company. Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/21ARHuLLiNoMore about Garyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-beasley-956647/About Ilana Golan & Leap Academy:Website - https://www.leapacademy.com/Follow Ilana on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ilanagolan-leap-academy

How do top leaders turn challenges into drive? Is it really lonely at the top? Athena Manley, Chief of Strategy & Staff at Aon and Founder & CEO of @theflexibleceo, who's collaborated with top 10 ASX, Fortune 500 firms, and start-ups, shares with Ilana her passion for impact and gives insight into the mindset that keeps her driven to lead and inspire in the corporate world. More about Athena:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athena-manley/Instagram: @theflexibleceoAbout Ilana Golan & Leap Academy:Website - https://www.leapacademy.com/Follow Ilana on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ilanagolan-leap-academy

How do you maintain relevance in your career and stay excited about the work you do when the world changes around you? Gary Arndt reveals how he successfully adapted his career in a changing economy. He went on to become an award-winning travel photographer and the host of the 'Everything Everywhere Daily' podcast, which boasts one million monthly downloadsMore about Gary:https://everything-everywhere.com/About Ilana Golan & Leap Academy:Website - https://www.leapacademy.com/Follow Ilana on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ilanagolan-leap-academy

Why is building your portfolio career mandatory for the future of work?This is a MUST listen.Would you like to learn the 4 steps our clients use to make huge leaps in their careers? Check out my FREE training https://training.leapacademy.com/registerNeed some guidance ASAP? Grab a FREE career coaching session with our team:https://www.leapacademy.com/applyAbout Ilana Golan & Leap Academy:Website - https://www.leapacademy.com/Follow Ilana on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ilanagolan-leap-academy