Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

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...

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 Poca...

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/21ARHuLLiNo More ab...

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: L...

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 downloads More about Gary: https://everything-ev...

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/register Need some guidance ASAP? Grab a FREE career coaching session with our team:https://www.leapacademy.com/apply About Ilana Golan & Leap Academy: Webs...

Depression. Suicide. Are these more common than we think?  Are we talking about it enough?  Award winning actor and filmmaker Mark Elias is shining the light on these topics with his film Exitus.  In this episode Ilana and Mark take a deep dive into the experience of Depression, acceptance and navigating challenges while on the path to success. Mark has worked on series such as on 911: Lone Star a...

What makes someone go to the most dangerous places on earth? Itai Anghel is a very different correspondent who has to be on the ground. In this episode of the Leap Show Ilana and Itai discuss how to become unstoppable in the face of fear in order to create an impact and align with your calling. Highly recommend to view this specific episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/5J8MYRKWTlM More...

When is it too soon to quit on your dreams?  For Chris Dutton only death could stand in the way of him and his success. This interview will have you on the edge of your seat as Ilana speaks with Chris Dutton (Founder of The CEO Magazine a Global publication) about true resilience and staying the course even when it seems like everything is lost.  Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/0r...

How do entrepreneurs and leaders survive the inevitable near-death experiences of their companies, in order to thrive?  Ilana speaks with Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit Nano (ASX: WBT) about his career journey and what it takes to grow companies, especially a public company like Weebit. Watch This Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2d49Zpw7FHE ---- About Ilana Golan & Leap Academy: Website - https:...

From leadership roles in big investment firms to a coach, author and speaker. An incredible personal story with clear takeaways for anyone looking to leap to become the best version of themselves. In this inspiring conversation, Ilana and Chuck Garcia discuss how to lean into life's difficult moments as opportunities for growth and transformation.  More about Chuck Garcia: Chuck is a motivational...

Having the right mindset is critical for success. We can't avoid obstacles and challenges, but how we handle them makes all the difference. In this episode Ilana speaks with Garry Crossland, President & CEO of GM Quartz about how he set an intention to run a company and used the power of mindset to help him stay the course despite setbacks. Watch This Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/zcz5Fduf...

Let's dive deep into the ugly truth about ageism. It exists and it's not going away. This doesn't mean you have to sit back helplessly as you watch your relevance decrease. Join me as I share some tactics, mindsets, and strategies you can use to rewrite the narrative and turn your age into an advantage, regardless of age-related biases.   For more strategies on maintaining relevance and desirabili...

How can you be intentional and strategic about your career? How to experiment and find the  career direction that is right for you? In this episode Ilana explores these questions with Doron Simon experienced board member, advisor and expert in Mergers & Acquisitions.  Watch This Episode On YouTube - https://youtu.be/-2HG7mA-cZo Check out the free training that inspired Doron's leap to EVP: https:/...

What does it take to start your own agency and bring it to success and acquisition? The wrong strategy can lead to disaster. Lior Klisman Co-Founder of Sentant built his agency to 20+ employees with countless clients including famous VCs. His agency was named one of the fastest growing companies in America by Inc. 5000 and he sold it for 8 figures! In this episode Ilana and Lior discuss what it ta...

From personal trauma to a world-renowned photographer! Ilana sits with Amos Nachoum explorer, wildlife photographer and TEDx speaker in this super inspiring conversation, as they explore: His true career story. Something you will not hear anywhere!  The stories behind his many accolades – his book, TEDx, a featured film, and numerous groundbreaking records. Dive in for a tale of resilience, passio...

What is the antidote to burnout? Is it doing less work? According to Jen, Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation, burnout develops from a lack of purpose and fulfillment. Join us as we delve deep into Jen's inspiring story of transformation and massive mindset shifts in her career. You'll hear about how she found Ilana and Leap Academy at her lowest point and how through listening to Ilana's back...

Is it possible to run a global company and change people's lives at the same time?  Why is aligning with your mission is so critical? For Yasser Zaki, Global CEO  at Tender Loving Care, he knew making a difference and changing lives was critical for him. In this episode, Ilana and Yasser discuss what it takes to run a global company while staying true to your mission to help others live a quality...

Warning: you may shed a tear! Listen to Glenda who ticked many of the boxes of success in an organization but she needed more. What could that look like? Whats even on the "menu"? Listen to this inspiring story and how this is already impacting her family within a few short months! Ready to take the first step to fast-tracking your career? Get access to my free training here: https://training.leap...

The classic chicken & egg... Most will never break free from that: "You never proved yourself in leadership so why would we give you a chance". Neelay was committed and wanted to change. He knew he wanted the impact and believed he could be a good leader - but needed the proven formula to make it happen and fast-track the journey. In this episode Ilana chats with Neelay to find out how he was able...

Yuying Chen-Wynn leaped from VP in a startup to CPO of a public company in 4 months!! What does it really take to get to C-Suite? Dabbling and trying solo doesn't work. What does? In this episode, Ilana chats with Yuying about the limitations of trying to reach success on your own and taking career advice that doesn't support your personal goals.  If you are wondering how some executives zoom up t...

What would you do if nothing else mattered? If you weren't afraid? These are the questions Cherie Reed had to grapple with before realizing she was living a life of complacency.  How did Cherie Reed move from tech to become the owner of Mashup Market, a vegan business franchising now?  In this episode Ilana and Cherie discuss the challenges of navigating corporate politics as an individual who wan...

What else is possible? What do I really want to do next? Tim O’brien had already accomplished a lot but wondered what else is possible. In a very short time, he leaped to found Eighty 20 Partners. Listen to this inspiring story, as Ilana sits down with Tim to discuss how he found the clarity to pivot his career trajectory and make the leap to start his own company.  Watch This Episode on YouTube -...

What creates the pull to start your own company? When do you decide to follow your passion and when do you play safe? In this episode, Ilana chats with Lisa Litherland, author, speaker and CEO of Social Optics a social communication program that helps teens create a toolkit to elevate their social and emotional well-being.  Lisa talks about what led her to leave a high-paying job, with a great cul...