How Dr. John Demartini Crushed Life's Toughest Challenges to Unlock His Full Potential | E100
Dr. John Demartini’s childhood was marked by major obstacles, from a severe speech impediment and dyslexia to a rough start in school. Told that he would never read, write, or communicate, he defied the odds. At age 13, he left home and embarked on a journey that would take him from street life to a global career as a human behavior specialist and entrepreneur. In this episode, John joins Ilana to share how he turned adversity into fuel for success, the mindset that led him to create the Demartini Institute, and how he overcame his learning disabilities to become one of the world’s most influential speakers.
Dr. John Demartini is a human behavior expert, researcher, author, and founder of the Demartini Institute. He has studied over 30,000 books, written more than 40, and shared his knowledge in 161 countries.
In this episode, Ilana and John will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:48) Early Life Struggles and Dyslexia
(04:47) Surviving on the Streets as a Teenager
(08:26) Finding Purpose After a Near-Death Experience
(12:10) Overcoming Learning Challenges
(18:28) Discovering His Passion for Teaching
(31:34) Leveraging Personal Values for Success
(34:01) Turning Fear into a Business Ally
(38:00) Adapting to Market Shifts
(41:30) The Key to Charging What You’re Worth
(49:56) Living Life by Design, Not Duty
Dr. John Demartini is a human behavior expert, researcher, author, and founder of the Demartini Institute. With over 40 years of research, he has developed methodologies to help individuals unlock their potential by understanding their values. Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age, John overcame this challenge, turning it into a driving force. He has studied over 30,000 books, written more than 40, and shared his knowledge in 161 countries.
Connect with John:
John’s Website: https://drdemartini.com
John’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjohndemartini
Resources Mentioned:
The Time Trap: The Classic Book on Time Management by Alec Mackenzie: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Classic-Book-Management/dp/0814413382
Leap Academy:
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54:42
Alex Carter: Negotiate Like a Pro, Powerful Techniques to Unlock Career and Business Growth | E99
As a shy kid, Alex Carter struggled to speak up for herself. Her parents’ divorce sparked her interest in advocacy and mediation, which led her to pursue a law degree. Despite facing self-doubt early in her career, Alex bet on herself and built a career as a Columbia Law professor and renowned negotiation expert. Now, she helps others find their voice, advocate for themselves, and unlock career success. In this episode, Alex joins Ilana to share actionable strategies for negotiating with confidence, landing promotions, charging your worth, and scaling a business.
Alex Carter is a negotiation expert, Columbia Law professor, and bestselling author. She specializes in helping professionals and entrepreneurs build the confidence to negotiate effectively in high-stakes situations.
In this episode, Ilana and Alex will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:49) Finding Her Voice and Building Confidence
(06:56) Pursuing a Career in Law and Mediation
(10:52) Betting on Yourself Despite Self-Doubt
(14:25) The Power of Negotiating for Yourself
(19:48) How to Secure Your First Big Client
(24:39) Negotiating Your Way to Career Success
(30:41) Key Steps in Preparing for a Negotiation
(39:36) Face-to-Face vs. Email Negotiations
(41:44) Negotiating Across Cultures
(43:06) Practical Solutions to Business Challenges
(45:52) How to Scale by Leveraging Your Time
Alex Carter is a negotiation expert, Columbia Law professor, and bestselling author. She specializes in helping professionals and entrepreneurs build the confidence to negotiate effectively in high-stakes situations. With a background in law and mediation, Alex teaches practical strategies for securing promotions, landing clients, and navigating complex negotiations. Her work empowers individuals to advocate for themselves and achieve career success.
Connect with Alex:
Alex’s Website: alexcarterasks.com
Alex’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandrabcarter
Resources Mentioned:
Alex’s Book, Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything: https://www.amazon.com/Ask-More-Questions-Negotiate-Anything/dp/1982130482
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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53:58
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
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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
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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
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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