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, ...
Former Obama Foundation President: How to Lead Through the Toughest Moments | David Simas
David Simas grew up in a Portuguese immigrant family in Massachusetts. His mother, who lost two fingers in a factory accident, instilled in him the power of resilience and the importance of community. These lessons shaped his career, from practicing law to advising President Obama on key national issues and eventually leading the Obama Foundation, where he worked with global leaders to promote democracy and address critical global challenges. In this episode, David joins Ilana to share valuable insights on navigating political crises, leading with empathy, and maintaining personal balance during high-stress moments in public service.
David Simas is a lawyer, political strategist, and former CEO and president of the Obama Foundation. He served as White House Director of Political Strategy and Outreach during the Obama administration and has held key roles in state and federal government.
In this episode, Ilana and David will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:44) Growing Up in a Portuguese Immigrant Family
(04:01) Family Struggles and Community Support
(07:54) How Legal Training Shaped His Perspective
(15:48) Transitioning from Law to Politics
(18:35) The Call That Led Him to the White House
(22:10) Why Obama’s Team Chose David
(26:21) Giving the People a Voice in the Oval Office
(31:02) How Great Leaders Handle Crisis
(35:29) Balancing Humility and Authority in Leadership
(39:19) Navigating Political Pressure and Public Scrutiny
(50:03) The Power of Personal Responsibility
David Simas is a lawyer, political strategist, and former CEO and president of the Obama Foundation. He served as White House Director of Political Strategy and Outreach during the Obama administration and has held key roles in state and federal government, advising on political engagement and policy strategy. He is currently the Managing Director of Research and Impact at Emerson Collective, where he focuses on democracy, immigration, education, and climate initiatives.
Connect with David:
David’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-simas/
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
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55:51
Amy Porterfield: I Quit a Prestigious Job with Tony Robbins and Built a $100M Business
Amy Porterfield had a dream job working with Tony Robbins, one of the world’s top motivational speakers and business strategists. But deep down, she wanted to be her own boss. During a high-level meeting, she realized she was on the wrong side of the table, watching entrepreneurs build wealth instead of becoming one. With no plan, no clients, and no backup, she left corporate life and built a $100 million online business. In this episode, Amy joins Ilana to share how she overcame imposter syndrome, depression, and anxiety to create a balanced life and the mindset shift that took her from employee to multimillion-dollar entrepreneur.
Amy Porterfield is an online marketing expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She has helped thousands of people break free from traditional 9-to-5 jobs and create financial freedom through entrepreneurship.
In this episode, Ilana and Amy will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:44) Entrepreneurial Lessons from Childhood
(03:35) Landing a Dream Job with Tony Robbins
(07:46) The Three Biggest Lessons from Working with Tony
(11:51) The Moment That Made Her Quit Corporate
(14:48) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Depression
(21:24) Finding Strength in Support Systems
(24:24) How to Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur
(27:32) Navigating the First Two Years in Business
(29:21) Redefining Success to Avoid Burnout
(35:20) Handling Hate and Criticism Online
(38:19) Shifting Your Money Mindset to Scale Faster
(43:35) Creating and Selling Profitable Digital Courses
(46:05) Why Mistakes Are the Key to Growth
Amy Porterfield is an online marketing expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She runs a $100 million company teaching entrepreneurs how to create, market, and sell profitable digital courses. As the host of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast and bestselling author of Two Weeks Notice, she has helped thousands of people break free from traditional 9-to-5 jobs and create financial freedom through entrepreneurship.
Connect with Amy:
Amy’s Website: amyporterfield.com
Amy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amyporterfield
Resources Mentioned:
Amy’s Book, Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Weeks-Notice-Courage-Change/dp/1401969879
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/Let-Them-Theory-Life-Changing-Millions/dp/1401971369
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
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51:05
Styling Beyoncé, Cher, and J.Lo: Norma Kamali’s Rise from Losing Her Company to Dressing Icons
Norma Kamali built a business with her then-husband, but he controlled the money and decisions and even rehired the woman she had fired. Realizing the partnership was toxic, she walked away with just $98. No company. No safety net. No guarantees. Most people would have crumbled, but Norma reinvented herself. Within months, her bold designs took off, attracting lifelong, high-profile clients. Five decades later, she is still shaping the industry. In this episode, she joins Ilana to share how she overcame early setbacks, left a toxic partnership, and built lasting success.
Norma Kamali is a fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her bold, timeless designs. Her designs have been worn by stars across generations. Always innovating, she recently explored AI, training a model to create designs in her signature style.
In this episode, Ilana and Norma will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:49) Finding Her Path as a Child
(04:09) How Her Mother Shaped Her Ambition
(10:33) Discovering a Passion for Drawing
(14:41) Pursuing Fashion Illustration
(16:42) Walking Out of a Humiliating Job Interview
(18:32) How an Airline Job Led Her into Fashion
(23:22) Starting a Fashion Business Accidentally
(30:48) Marriage, Business, and a Toxic Partnership
(36:42) Leaving Her Company with Just $98
(41:50) Rebuilding as Omo Norma Kamali
(46:06) Styling Celebrities Across Generations
(49:52) Mastering Sales and Its Challenges
(54:42) Norma’s Secret to Navigating Fear in Business
(56:32) Embracing AI and Future Plans
(01:00:28) The Mindset That Turns Failure into Fuel
Norma Kamali is a fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her bold, timeless designs. Over the past five decades, she has helped shape fashion, from popularizing shoulder pads in the 1980s to creating iconic pieces like the sleeping bag coat, high-heeled sneakers, and Farrah Fawcett’s red swimsuit. Her designs have been worn by stars across generations. Always innovating, she recently explored AI, training a model to create designs in her signature style.
Connect with Norma:
Norma’s Website: normakamali.com
Norma’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/norma-kamali-inc./
Norma’s Instagram: instagram.com/normakamali
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
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1:05:10
Ilana Golan: 7 Steps to Unlock Your Zone of Genius
Ilana Golan knows what it means to start over. After losing her job, startup, and investment all at once, she faced uncertainty head-on. Instead of settling for what she was merely good at, she uncovered her ‘zone of genius’ and focused on what she truly excelled at. Through this journey, she rebuilt her career and created a system to help others do the same. In this episode, Ilana shares how to identify your strengths, stand out, and take control of your reputation.
Ilana Golan is an entrepreneur, board director, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy, she helps professionals navigate career transitions, leadership, and personal branding.
In this episode, Ilana will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:34) Identifying Your Unique Value
(01:15) The Four Categories of Skills
(03:27) How to Discover Your Strengths
(04:38) Leveraging Feedback to Find Your Genius
(05:44) Creating a 'Brag Bank' to Build Authority
(06:34) How Challenges Reveal Your True Strengths
(07:10) Using Your Strengths to Build Your Brand
Ilana Golan is an entrepreneur, board director, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy, she helps professionals navigate career transitions, leadership, and personal branding. She has been recognized as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, a Top 40 Woman to Watch, and a CEO World Award winner. Ilana is also a sought-after keynote speaker and has been featured on Yahoo Finance, Fox, NBC, and more.
Connect with Ilana:
Ilana’s Website: ilanagolan.com
Ilana’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan
Resources Mentioned:
Free Training: https://training.leapacademy.com/pass
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
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8:58
Dr. Rajiv Shah: Working with Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and More to Tackle Global Crises
At just 36 years old, Rajiv Shah got a call from Hillary Clinton. Days later, he was running USAID. Less than a week into the job, a massive earthquake leveled Haiti. He had no time to prepare. He had to act. That was one of many high-stakes bets in his career. From launching a $5 billion vaccine program with the Gates Foundation to fighting Ebola and leading global humanitarian efforts, he has tackled some of the world’s biggest challenges and won. In this episode, Rajiv joins Ilana to share how he makes big bets, leads through crisis, and asks the right questions to solve impossible challenges.
Dr. Rajiv Shah is a physician, economist, global development leader, author, and President of the Rockefeller Foundation. Known for achieving the impossible to drive global change, he led U.S. responses to crises like the Haiti earthquake and Ebola outbreak as USAID Administrator..
In this episode, Ilana and Rajiv will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:55) From Immigrant Kid to Global Leader
(04:02) A Life-Changing Service Trip to India
(07:00) Leaving Medical School for Politics
(11:22) Joining the Gates Foundation
(13:10) A 'Big Bet' That Saved 20 Million Lives
(15:00) How Strategic Questions Unlock Big Solutions
(19:31) Leading USAID Through Haiti’s Earthquake
(26:38) Earning Obama and Biden’s Trust in a Crisis
(30:22) Fighting the Ebola Outbreak with Military Support
(33:22) Tackling Energy Poverty at the Rockefeller Foundation
(38:54) Why Real Change Requires Big Risks
(44:38) How Great Leaders Balance Change and Stability
(47:08) The Power of Connection and Shared Values
Dr. Rajiv Shah is a physician, economist, global development leader, author, and President of the Rockefeller Foundation. Known for achieving the impossible to drive global change, he led U.S. responses to crises like the Haiti earthquake and Ebola outbreak as USAID Administrator. Previously, at the Gates Foundation, he helped expand childhood vaccinations and led health and agriculture initiatives. His book, Big Bets, explores bold solutions to the world’s toughest challenges.
Connect with Rajiv:
Rajiv’s Website: rockefellerfoundation.org/
Rajiv’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drrajivjshah/
Resources Mentioned:
Rajiv’s Book, Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Bets-Large-Scale-Change-Happens/dp/1668004380
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
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.
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 not only inspire but also teach concrete lessons on how to leap careers: fast-track to leadership, jump to entrepreneurship, build a personal brand, portfolio career, and much more.
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