Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

• Chemi Peres: Overcoming Personal Challenges to Build Pitango, Israel’s Largest Venture Fund | E98

  Chemi Peres’s journey to success was shaped by both professional challenges and personal loss. After losing his job, he felt humiliated and vowed never to face such a setback again. He pivoted to venture capitalism, co-founding Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture fund. Despite his success, Chemi experienced the profound losses of both his father and son. These tragedies fueled his drive to honor their legacies through innovation. In this episode, Chemi joins Ilana to share how he navigated grief and adversity, transforming these experiences into a force for lasting impact. Chemi Peres is the co-founder and managing partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture fund, which has invested in over 250 startups. He is also the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing peace and technology in the Middle East. In this episode, Ilana and Chemi will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:00) Growing Up in a Political Legacy (05:21) The Challenges in Becoming a Combat Pilot (07:59) Lessons from the Israeli Defense Forces (11:59) Transitioning to Aerospace and Career Setback (20:13) Entering the Venture Capital World (27:01) Building Israel's Venture Ecosystem (31:14) Navigating Challenges in Venture Capital (34:52) Turning Personal Loss into a Legacy of Innovation (41:27) Healing by Honoring a Loved One’s Dreams (49:34) How the Peres Center is Shaping Israel’s Future Chemi Peres is the co-founder and managing partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest venture fund, which has invested in over 250 startups. As the son of former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Chemi continues his father's legacy by promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. He is also the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing peace and technology in the Middle East. Connect with Chemi: Chemi’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chemiperes  Resources Mentioned: Pitango’s Website: pitango.com  Yuka Monsters’ Website: yukamonsters.com  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

  --------  

  57:36
• Guy Kawasaki: The Tech Evangelist Who Built Apple and Canva into Iconic Brands | E97

  Guy Kawasaki’s journey from a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Hawaii to becoming a Silicon Valley icon is clear proof of grit and transformation. After working in the jewelry business, he pivoted to tech and joined Apple as Chief Evangelist. There, he played a key role in launching the Macintosh, shaping Apple’s brand, and transforming how technology is marketed. Today, Guy is a venture capitalist, startup advisor, and Chief Evangelist at Canva. In this episode, Guy shares his battle with hearing loss, why passion is overrated, his top sales strategies, and advice for scaling a business as an entrepreneur. Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, bestselling author, venture capitalist, and speaker. As the former Chief Evangelist for Apple, he played a pivotal role in launching the Macintosh and now serves as Chief Evangelist at Canva. In this episode, Ilana and Guy will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:11) From Humble Beginnings to Studying at Stanford (06:24) Why Sales Is the Key to Business Success (11:01) Knowing When to Pivot vs. Stick with Your Career (17:26) Transitioning from Jewelry Business to Tech (21:48) Key Lessons from Working with Steve Jobs (24:38) How to Evangelize Great Ideas (26:31) The Promotion That Led Guy to Quit Apple (31:58) The Myth of “Finding Your Passion” (38:26) Building Resilience After Hearing Loss (43:15) Strategies to Scale Your Career and Business (49:33) How to Truly Understand Customers’ Needs Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, bestselling author, venture capitalist, and speaker. As the former Chief Evangelist for Apple, he played a pivotal role in launching the Macintosh and now serves as Chief Evangelist at Canva. Despite experiencing hearing loss and receiving a cochlear implant, Guy’s passion for sharing ideas remains unwavering. He hosts the Remarkable People podcast and delivers over fifty keynote speeches annually for clients like Apple, Nike, Google, and Microsoft. Connect with Guy: Guy’s Website: guykawasaki.com  Guy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/guykawasaki Resources Mentioned: Guy’s Podcast,  Remarkable People: bit.ly/RemarkablePeoplePod  Guy’s Book, Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Remarkable-Paths-Transform-Difference/dp/139424522X  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

  --------  

  55:33
• How Shai Reshef Is Empowering Refugees and Underserved Students with Free College Education | E96

  Growing up, Shai Reshef wasn’t the most enthusiastic student, but after earning a master’s degree in Chinese politics, he discovered the transformative power of education. Inspired by a UNESCO report predicting the future lack of access to higher education, Shai decided to act. He sold two businesses, leveraged open-source technology, and partnered with volunteer professors to create University of the People, the world’s first tuition-free, accredited online university. In this episode, Shai joins Ilana to share how the university is empowering over 150,000 students from marginalized communities and offers valuable advice for those seeking to make a meaningful impact. Shai Reshef is the founder and president of University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, accredited online university dedicated to providing accessible higher education to underserved populations across 206 countries. In this episode, Ilana and Shai will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (01:52) The Power of Education in Nation-Building (04:41) Founding the First Online University in Europe (09:08) Creating a Global, Tuition-Free University (16:05) Overcoming Accreditation Challenges (19:34) The Global Impact of the University of the People (26:41) Building a Sustainable Model for Free Education (30:59) How University of the People Screens Students (34:18) Keys to Launching a Meaningful Project (38:18) Balancing Leadership Stress with Team Dynamics (40:33) Success Stories from University of the People (43:41) The Power of Philanthropy and Nonprofits Shai Reshef is the founder and president of University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, accredited online university dedicated to providing accessible higher education to underserved populations across 206 countries. Previously, he led Kidum Group, Israel’s largest for-profit educational services company, and chaired KIT eLearning, the first online university in Europe. Recognized for his impact on education, Shai also serves as an adviser to the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development. Connect with Shai: Shai’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shaireshef  Resources Mentioned: University of the People’s Website: www.uopeople.edu Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

  --------  

  48:01
• How Rosanna Pansino Overcame Dyslexia, Risked Everything, and Built a YouTube Empire | E95

  Growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, Rosanna Pansino struggled to find her career path. After being fired from every job, she found her calling on YouTube, combining her love for baking with nerdy pop culture. Despite financial struggles, she invested her life savings into building her channel, Nerdy Nummies, which quickly became a sensation. With over 14 million subscribers, bestselling cookbooks, and her own product line, Rosanna turned content creation into a thriving business. In this episode, Rosanna joins Ilana to share how she sustains a long-lasting digital career, navigates platform algorithms, and diversifies her entrepreneurial ventures. Rosanna Pansino is a YouTuber, actress, author, entrepreneur, and baker, best known for her channel Nerdy Nummies, where she creates visually stunning baked goods inspired by pop culture. In this episode, Ilana and Rosanna will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:24) Growing up with Dyslexia and ADHD (05:07) Discovering a Passion for Baking (06:51) Lessons from Random Jobs and Failure (10:13) Transitioning from Acting Career to Nerdy Nummies (14:09) Investing Her Savings in YouTube Growth (17:04) How Getting Fired Sparked YouTube Success (25:44) Grief and Mentorship from Susan Wojcicki (31:40) Expanding Beyond YouTube (34:03) Sustaining a Long-Term Digital Career (36:52) Adapting Content to Platform Algorithms (41:24) Balancing Family and Business Partnerships (47:03) How Your Inner Circle Drives Success Rosanna Pansino is a YouTuber, actress, author, entrepreneur, and baker, best known for her channel Nerdy Nummies, where she creates visually stunning baked goods inspired by pop culture. With over 14 million subscribers, she has become one of the most influential figures in the baking and YouTube communities. Rosanna is the author of two cookbooks, The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook and Baking All Year Round, and hosted the HBO Max series Baketopia. Connect with Rosanna: Rosanna’s Website: rosannapansino.com  Rosanna’s YouTube: youtube.com/@RosannaPansino  Resources Mentioned: Star Trek: Phoenix - Cloak & Dagger Part I: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1704271/  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

  --------  

  53:32
• Breaking Limits: How John Hennessey Turned a Dream into the World’s Fastest Cars | E94

  John Hennessey’s passion for cars began as a child, sitting on his father’s lap as he drove and feeling the thrill of shifting gears. What started as a love for fast cars grew into a pursuit of speed and performance. Despite limited finances, John’s entrepreneurial drive led him to start a car modification business with no formal training. Through trial and error, he founded Hennessey Performance Engineering, known for the Venom F5, the world’s fastest car. In this episode, John shares how passion fueled his success, how he navigates criticism and competition, the role of branding in building a powerful business, and his mission to mentor future engineers through Tuner School. John Hennessy is the founder and CEO of Hennessey Special Vehicles and Hennessey Performance Engineering, known for high-performance, custom-built vehicles. Under his leadership, Hennessey Performance has become a recognized leader in automotive innovation, specializing in speed, power, and precision. In this episode, Ilana and John will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (01:30) Falling in Love With Cars as a Kid (04:51) Lessons from Early Jobs and Entrepreneurship (09:38) Racing Adventures and Early Successes (17:37) Turning His Passion for Cars into a Business (20:09) Leveraging Media Relationships to Build a Brand (29:15) How YouTube Helped Scale His Business (32:58) Overcoming Challenges to Build the Venom F5 (38:09) Financial Management and Business Growth (40:46) Embracing Haters as a Sign of Relevance (42:44) Building a Brand on Authenticity and Value (45:13) Training the Next Generation with Tuner School (49:00) Lessons From 35 Years of Entrepreneurship John Hennessy is the founder and CEO of Hennessey Special Vehicles and Hennessey Performance Engineering, known for high-performance, custom-built vehicles. An engineer with a passion for speed, John created the Hennessey Venom F5, a hypercar designed to exceed 300 mph. He also founded Tuner School to train future vehicle engineers and tuners. Under his leadership, Hennessey Performance has become a recognized leader in automotive innovation, specializing in speed, power, and precision. Connect with John: John’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-hennessey-9645a0b John’s Instagram: instagram.com/john_hennessey_texas Resources Mentioned: Hennessey Performance: hennesseyperformance.com  Tuner School: https://tunerschool.com  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

  --------  

  53:24

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Leap Academy with Ilana Golan