141 | Ilana Golan: Turning Setbacks into Success with Strategic Career Leaps

Summary

Becoming UnDone, Episode 141
Ilana Golan: Turning Setbacks Into Success With Strategic Career Leaps
Host: Dr. Toby Brooks
Date: November 9, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode features Ilana Golan—Air Force veteran, tech executive, serial entrepreneur, and founder of Leap Academy—who shares her powerful journey of resilience after facing major professional setbacks, including being ousted from her own startup. Dr. Toby Brooks and Ilana discuss how high achievers can transform painful endings into new beginnings by embracing intentional, strategic career leaps, building portfolio careers, and redefining success through every phase of life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ilana's First Major Leap: From Israeli Air Force to Tech Leader

• At age 18, Ilana became the first woman commander in an F16 pilot training squad, making life-and-death decisions far beyond her years ([08:48]).
  • Quote: “I got to be the first woman to become a commander in the squad... it gives you a lot of confidence, but also a lot of teaching moments.” —Ilana ([08:48])
• Early experience in breaking through barriers instilled resilience, grit, and the ability to act despite feeling unready—skills foundational to entrepreneurship and leadership ([09:53]).

2. The Ousting: Peak to Crash in a Day

• After a successful career in tech (Intel, startups, executive roles), Ilana co-founded a Silicon Valley startup with a long-time friend. They raised three times more than their goal, valued at $5 million ([12:23]).
• On the very day she celebrated with friends and family, her co-founder told her she was out. Suddenly: “No job, no startup, no investment, and my ego deeply crushed.” ([17:26])
  • Quote: “My identity, Toby, was always attached to my title... suddenly I was a nobody.” —Ilana ([17:26])
• The emotional fallout included shame, regret, and complete loss of direction ([18:31]).

3. Navigating the 'Purpose Storm'

• Ilana describes the aftermath as overwhelming, lost, and sleep-deprived, physically and mentally unwell ([19:49]).
• She tried to muscle through by overdoing: “throwing spaghetti on the wall,” but nothing was strategic or intentional.
• Regret was a necessary, galvanizing emotion—solidified during a personal cancer scare:
  • Quote: “I needed to feel that regret. That regret was something I never want to feel ever again.” —Ilana ([24:01])

4. Redirection Versus Failure

• Ilana reframes all failures as redirections, not endings:
  • Quote: "All the failures should be redirected... they’re teaching us something.” —Ilana ([25:23])
• Her setback led directly to the founding of Leap Academy, a business helping others leap successfully.
• Entrepreneurship is not always the answer for everyone—having intentionality and a personal strategy is more important than blindly chasing “success” ([25:23]).

5. Strategic Leaping & Portfolio Careers

• Ilana warns that today, staying in a single corporate path is riskier than ever—everyone should be “leap ready,” building personal brands and multiple streams of income ([31:31]).
  • 62% of top performers have more than three streams of income.
  • “Even if you’re staying [in your job], you always want to know what’s next.” —Ilana ([31:31])
• Importance of strategic, not reactive, choices—deliberately designing one’s next leap rather than just “throwing darts.”

6. Recognizing When to Leap

• Ilana emphasizes always being prepared to transition—even if you aren’t planning to leave yet ([31:31]).
• Key signs include misalignment with your values, desire for broader impact, or finding yourself on autopilot instead of being intentional about growth.
• High achievers should cultivate advisory, board, speaking, and mentorship opportunities as “insurance” for inevitable change ([31:31]).

7. Helping the Driven, Not the Unmotivated

• Leap Academy’s process isn’t for the complacent; it’s designed for high achievers who know they’re capable of more but need guidance and community ([36:09], [38:42]).
  • “They all know there’s more they can achieve... they don’t want to feel regret. They want to create something incredible.” —Ilana ([38:42])

8. Redefining Success in Life's Phases

• Success is not a static checklist; it evolves with life phases (financial goals, growth, impact, balance) ([42:17]).
• Quote: “No career will give you all of them…you can have all of them, just not at the same time.” —Ilana ([42:17])
• Allow yourself to focus on different ‘must-haves’ in different seasons—give yourself permission and grace to pivot, pause, or re-prioritize ([44:18]).

9. The Power of Community and Asking for Help

• High achievers often struggle to ask for help or admit vulnerability after big wins, but community is critical for rediscovery and next steps ([40:51], [41:21]).
• Finding peers in similar situations at Leap Academy was liberating for many, including Ilana herself.

10. Saying No & Working Smarter

• Success isn’t just working harder, but being intentional about what aligns with your purpose. If it doesn't "feed and fuel" your purpose, it's a distraction ([48:05]).
  • Prioritize what’s truly impactful and learn to say no.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I needed to feel that regret. That regret was something I never want to feel ever again.” —Ilana ([24:01])
• “All the failures should be redirected... they’re teaching us something.” —Ilana ([25:23])
• “Even within the same corporate role, you still want to create a bigger impression of yourself... you want to be leap ready to the next role.” —Ilana ([31:31])
• “They all know there’s more they can achieve in life, and they want to...they don’t want to feel that regret.” —Ilana ([38:42])
• “No career will give you all of them...You can have all of them, just not at the same time.” —Ilana ([42:17])
• “If it doesn’t feed and fuel my purpose, it’s a distraction.” —Toby ([48:05])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ilana’s Air Force story and first leap: [08:48]
• Being ousted from her startup: [12:23], [17:26]
• Navigating despair and rediscovering self: [18:31] – [21:11]
• Cancer scare and epiphany: [22:44] – [24:01]
• Reframing failure and the birth of Leap Academy: [25:23]
• Strategic approach to career changes: [27:54], [31:31]
• Building portfolio careers/multi-income streams: [31:31], [34:41]
• Patterns among high-achieving clients: [36:09], [38:42]
• Challenges with vulnerability & community: [40:51], [41:21]
• Redefining success and life’s phases: [42:17] – [46:02]
• Saying no and being intentional: [48:05]
• Ilana's future: the next leap (upcoming book, scaling Leap Academy): [50:08]

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Lighthearted and Personal Moments

• Song for Ilana’s life montage: "Some Top Gun song, probably. … It opened possibilities I didn’t even realize." ([48:39])
• Host Toby’s support: “Consider me in because I am all in on Leap Academy.” ([52:48])
• Ilana’s parting humility: “Toby, you are an incredible interviewer … incredibly talented at what you do.” ([53:05])

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Where to Find Ilana and Leap Academy

• Leap Academy: leapacademy.com
• LinkedIn/Instagram: Ilana is active and welcomes genuine connection ([53:30]).

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Takeaways

• Setbacks hurt, but reframed intentionally, they provide the fuel for future impact.
• Be deliberate about your career and growth—prepare for the next leap before you truly need it.
• Remain open to reinvention; success can and should look different as you grow.
• Build a community; high achievers struggle alone, but thrive together.
• Define what matters to you in your current life phase and organize your goals accordingly.
• Above all: resiliency, reinvention, and leaping strategically are not just possible, but necessary in turbulent times.

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Summary by Podcast Summarizer AI

Transcript

[Ilana Golan]

This is Becoming Undone. The founder's story, right? We knew each other well, both of us in tech. Like, it was just such a classic story. We raised three times more than we wanted to raise. They were evaluating our little baby at $5 million, like the Silicon Valley love story. I was so proud. And I told everybody about the startup. I told about the money we raised within the same day. It was amazing. Toby. Same day I come back, I talked to my co founder, kind of thinking that we're celebrating, and I can see that something is wrong. And it's like, what is going on? He's like, well, you're not part of the company anymore. And I was like, wait, what? I actually had, like, a cancer scare at some point. And I remember at the lowest moment, laying in bed and thinking, you know, kind of waiting for them to decide if this was cancer or not. And the truth is, at that point, I felt so much regret about my life and what I've achieved and how somebody so high achievers, that was just the biggest stab. And the minute I got that it's not cancer, it was almost like, you gotta be kidding me. Yeah, like you've been playing so small. Like, where are you, Ilana? Let's go back. I needed to feel that regret. I'm Ilana Golan, and I am Undone.

[Toby Brooks]

Hey, friend.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

I'm glad you're here. Welcome to yet another episode of Becoming Undone, the podcast for those who dare bravely risk mightily and grow relentlessly. I'm Toby Brooks, speaker, author, professor, and learning scientist. I've spent much of the last two decades working as an athletic trainer and a strength coach in the professional collegiate and high school sports settings. And over the years, I've grown more and more fascinated with what sets high achievers apart and how failures that can suck in the moment can end up being exactly what we needed to propel us along our path to success. Each week on Becoming Undone, I invite a new guest to examine how high achievers can transform from falling apart to falling into place. I'd like to emphasize this show is entirely separate from my role at Baylor University, but it's my attempt to apply what I've learned and what I'm learning and to share with others about the mindsets of high achievers. It's a fall day here in Central Texas as we close in on a Thanksgiving holiday. The class I'm teaching is winding down, and the two I'm taking are almost finished, too. I'm managing to climb out of a deep midterm hole that I managed to put myself in for a less than stellar midterm performance. And with some hard work and a little luck, my first semester as a grad student here at Baylor is in pretty good shape. In other news, I can't leave well enough alone. I saw an ad this week for a prep course for the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Certified Performance and Sports Scientist exam, and I bought it. The cpss, as it's known, is a fairly new certification, and when I was back in Lubbock, I took it and I failed. The test requires a scaled score of 70 to pass. Although my raw score was above that threshold, the scaled score wasn't. So I failed. And honestly, I was crushed. Up to that point, I'd never failed any type of licensure or certification exam. And while I'd studied for it, I wouldn't say I studied hard for it. So what to do with a failure? Live what I preach. I guess that setback was going to be just part of my journey. I'd sign up for it again and I'd show that test who was boss. I was strategic in my preparation that time. I spent weeks gearing up and getting ready. It was like 400 bucks to take it. So now I was in pretty deep. And after all that, some four months had passed, I went back, I retook it, and I scored exactly one point better. I still failed. Two of my subsection scores actually went down on the second try. If the first time I was crushed, the second time I was ticked. I headed back to work with the knowledge I'd now failed this exam not once, but twice. And to cap it all off, on my way from the testing center where I'd failed to work, I got pulled over for speeding in a 40 mile an hour zone. It was not my best day. From there, life got busy. MBA was in full swing. Tay's senior year was going on. Then I moved to Waco and a new job. To be honest, I did my best to put the memory of that test out of my memory, hopefully forever. Here's the thing, though. I don't need it. I have no plans to ever work as a sports scientist, but it has now beaten me twice. And altogether, I've spent over $1,000 and I have literally nothing to show for it other than the humiliating fact that I failed twice. So now I'm in a graduate exercise physiology program. It's the first time I've had classes.

[Toby Brooks]

Like this for decades.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

And to make things worse or better, depending on how you look at it, I have a Classmate in my ex phys class who's planning to take the CPSS himself. So when I got the notice that this prep course was on sale for the only time in the year, I buckled. I might not need this test professionally, but there's still part of me that's a little embarrassed and ashamed and angry that I still haven't passed. Now, I make no excuses for it, but I'm definitely older. My peak memory days may be behind me, but I don't think there's any reason why I cannot overcome this test. I've pulled out the book. Sadly, in a petulant fit, I threw away the study guide I'd created when we moved. You know, like a hurt teen who scratches their ex's pick out of their yearbook. I didn't even want to see it. But turns out the CPSS hasn't seen the last of me. At least that's the plan. I was torn between keeping it to myself until I finally passed, if ever, and sharing it here. Being vulnerable, letting you in on my struggle. And I'm still not quite sure that this is the right approach. But I'm choosing the latter. Not for myself, but because I know that somewhere out there, someone listening to this show right now has either failed a licensure or certification exam. Or you will.

[Toby Brooks]

Trust me on this.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

It's not the end of the world. But it is time for a new strategy. So stay tuned. Hopefully, I can pass this mother. This week's guest is a renowned entrepreneur and high achiever with an incredible story to share. While she didn't specifically mention my mountain of a CPSS examination, it's safe to say that there have been some tests she's faced along the way that maybe didn't turn out as she'd hoped. At least not in the moment. However, today, as CEO of Leap Academy, she continues to face down those obstacles with grit and determination that is nothing short of remarkable. Some of our guests build their stories step by step. Others crash, burn, rebuild, and rise again. But this week's guest, she's done it all. A quick Google search for Lana Gulan popped up an image of a coffee mug she'd shared in an Instagram post a few days ago. That says it all. Quote, sometimes wrong turns are the very ones that lead to the right place. So imagine, if you will, being just 18 years old, tasked with training fighter pilots in the Israeli Air Force. People making split second life or death decisions before most of us have even figured out what we're going to do after high school. That was the Beginning for Alana. From breaking barriers in the military to scaling the heights of Silicon Valley as a tech exec, being ousted from her own startup after raising nearly a million dollars, Alana's path has been anything but linear. But through every twist, every setback, every leap, she's redefined what it means to be resilient. Today, she's a sought after speaker and the founder of Leap Academy, where she helps professionals make bold career moves and navigate life's unexpected turns with clarity and with courage. Let's dive into her remarkable story. I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with the incomparable Ilana Golan in episode 141. Let's get into it.

[Toby Brooks]

Greetings and welcome back. Becoming Undone is the podcast for those who dare bravely risk mightily and grow relentlessly. Join me, Toby Brooks, as I invite a new guest each week where we examine how high achievers transform from falling apart to falling into place. This week's guest. Fantastic. Can't wait to get into this story. Ilana Gulen has come from Air Force officer to exec, startup founder, being ousted from her own company. So she's got tons of stories, only to come back stronger. Sought after speaker today, founder of Leap Academy. We see the signage in the background helping professionals make bold career leaps and define what's next. Ilana, thank you so much for joining me today.

[Ilana Golan]

Oh, thank you, Toby. It's great to be here. Becoming undone. Let's go.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Yeah.

[Toby Brooks]

So looking forward to getting into the details of your story. You've had one of the most nonlinear careers imaginable. Air Force officer, engineer, tech exec, entrepreneur, investor, speaker. What was the first big leap you ever remember taking?

[Ilana Golan]

I mean, I think the big one is definitely Air Force. Again, I come from a place where we do have mandatory military service in Israel, but I think I got lucky. I guess there's a little combination here of luck and creating your own luck, but I got lucky and I did get probably one of the best roles you can have, which is training F16 pilots on the F16 flight simulator, which was the most advanced simulator. And I got to be the first woman to become a commander in the squad, so. So I got to see kind of how we break some ceilings, which is a really big deal. And it gives you a lot of confidence, but also a lot of teaching moments. Toby, if you want.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah, for sure. Well, I've had several guests who were athletes, but also military and entrepreneurs, executives, and you kind of check a lot of those boxes when you look back and you kind of alluded to this just now, Were there early experiences in the Air Force or even engineering that planted the seeds for resilience later on in your journey?

[Ilana Golan]

Oh, so many, so many, so many. I think when you break barriers, it's such a beautiful question, Toby. When you break barriers, I think by definition you're always out of your comfort zone and it's, you're gonna get knocked down again and again, again. I think then you, you by definition have to create a lot of grit, a lot of tenacity, a lot of resilience. And again, like I, I found myself sometimes, you know, in the Air Force suddenly making decisions that are essentially life and death decisions, whether somebod not. And I, you know, and I remember, you know, catching my breath and saying, wait, I'm. I'm only 18 or 19, probably at that point in time, like I don't, I, I can't make that decision. And you know, but then you're looking around, I'm like, yeah, I know why they called me. I'm the person, you know, training them on emergencies and all these things, like I should be able to do this, but I don't feel ready. Right. And I think that that is almost like that definition of entrepreneurship. Like you're never ready. Right, right. Or the definition of sports. You're never ready to be in the are, but it's like you kind of have to be and you have to create that almost alter ego for yourself to step in and to say, okay, I gonna have to make this and. And God, it was sometimes so scary too, like I can't even stress it.

[Toby Brooks]

So yeah, I think you hit the nail right on the head. There's so much about high achievement that involves. There's a self awareness piece like understanding what I know now and maybe what I need to acquire along the way to be successful at this. There's an ability to face your fear, understanding that I'm going to step out in faith on this goal or this thing that I have in my future and I might have to acquire skills I don't yet have in order to reach that successful completion. You've shared openly about the painful moment of being ousted from your own startup after raising close to a million dollars. And the theme of this show is that oftentimes it's the setback, it's the adversity, it's when we find ourselves in the rub never would have chosen that actually lays the groundwork for our next level of success.

[Ilana Golan]

Right.

[Toby Brooks]

Can you take us into that day? I really like to think about in that moment when you're, when you're dealing with the despair and all the emotions surrounding that, how that can set you up for the next thing, what you felt, how you processed it.

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah. And to give the listeners some context. So I was leaping again and again and again and, and felt like I tick a lot of the boxes of success, quote, unquote. Right. Like what you kind of think of embody success. Right. I studied here and here and I went to intel and I went to startups and like theoretically tick a lot of boxes of success. And I think that's important because in your mind that shouldn't happen to you. Right. So that there's a little bit of like that piece. Right. And after a leap, again, again and again to it from engineering to technical sales and architect and all the vice president and at that point you kind of also get a little bit of that, you know, ego boost. You know, like I'm vice president, I can do a lot. So no matter what I going to tackle, I'm going to be successful at it. So it does come with a little bit of maybe more ego than it should to me. And, and yeah, that's where a friend of mine came to say, hey, let's start a company together. I knew him for two decades, so it's not somebody I didn't know. And we decided to work on this thing. We worked on a day and night. I was so, so excited to be. And yes, I. We were both in Silicon Valley. We had an incredible Silicon Valley, you know, kind of the founder story. Right. We knew each other well, both of us in tech, like it was just such a classic story. We raised three times more than we wanted to raise. They were evaluating our little baby at $5 million. Like it's unbelievable. And you know, and it wasn't from one small investor. It was three prominent Silicon Valley investors. It's like the, the Silicon Valley, you know, loving love story. Right. And I was so proud to be. And we had this. So right after I actually parted ways from my VP role and, and I wanted to make sure people don't run away after me. Right. So I wanted to come forward with the startup. Like I want them to know I'm not running away from the company I'm running away from to chase a dream. And I told everybody about the startup, I told about the money we raised within the same day. It was amazing. Toby. Same day I come back, I talked to my co founder, kind of thinking that we're celebrating and I can see that something is wrong and it's like, what is going on? And he's like, well, you're not part of the company anymore.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

So here's the thing about me, your faithful host and writer and producer and pretty much one man show.

[Toby Brooks]

Well, I'd venture a guess that most.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Of your favorite podcasters just do their interviews and leave the rest to their team.

[Toby Brooks]

Here I am the team.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

After the interview, I go back in and I edit and clean up the conversation. In the process, I decide where to interject my monologue. Like this one, and then what I'm going to say. Write it out, rehearse it. As a result, by the time this hits your ears, I've heard each episode at least two or three times and I will say I'm probably my own harshest critic. All that to say, I got to the meat of our conversation here too quickly. I didn't set this one up properly in order for you to be able to really feel the gravity of what actually happened to Alana. But that's the beauty of post production and where I as a writer and producer get the chance to make up for me as the interviewer Today, Alana is an unmistakable force. As founder of Leap Academy, which we'll talk about in a minute, she's been honored as winner of Startup of the Year from the American business awards in 2023 and named to Inc. 5000, fastest growing company in America. At just 18, she was responsible for training fighter pilots in the Israeli army, soon after pursued a career in engineering and technology. Her ascent had been downright meteoric and marked with one success after another. That all changed in 2014. She'd left her job as a VP in technical operations to launch a new Silicon Valley startup with a longtime friend. Not long after, the pair and the team they'd assembled had raised more than $800,000 in seed funding to finance the new company. It was a pinnacle moment for Alana as she saw her wildest dreams coming true. But little did she know she was heading straight into the teeth of a destruction level purpose storm. In her own words, from a Medium article by Authority magazine published in 2020, she shared quote, right when we raised the money, he took the money and kicked me out of the business. I was left with no job, no startup, and my ego deeply crushed. I needed to figure out what I want to do next with my career, and the downhill spiral wasn't easy. Friends, that is the very definition of a purpose storm. And in the midst of one, it can seem impossible to find your way to safety, let alone success. But as Alana shares today, she no longer sees it as a hurricane sent to destroy all that she held deer, but rather a life giving thunderstorm that showed her where she was the strongest. While it undoubtedly cleared the way for the work she does today, in the worst of it, she found herself first stunned, then hurt, then angry. But in the aftermath, suddenly stripped of purpose and desperately searching for identity.

[Ilana Golan]

And I was like, wait, what? Like, we just, I, we. I just, we're just looking at the term sheets yesterday. Like, what are you talking about? Like, I made this big party. I told everybody, like, you must be kidding. And he's like, no, I took you out. And it was like 24 hours. I was out of a job. No salary, no startup, no investment. And to be really honest, like, the worst part is your ego. It's like, I don't even know who I am anymore. And I, I remember driving back home, I couldn't even. Like, my family is like, how was the party? How was the party? And I'm like, I'm choking. Like, I don't even know what to say. Like, I'm hiding in the, in the room and I'm like, I don't even know how to face like the world anymore. Because my identity, Toby, was always attached to my title. It was attached to the company, it was attached to this dream that I was after. And suddenly I was a nobody. I was like, how do I even start? Like, who, Who. Why do I want, you want to do? Where do I want to go? And I think that's another thing for high achievers. You always expect to know what's next. And I had no clue. And that was driving me absolutely, absolutely nuts.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah.

[Ilana Golan]

Like, I didn't even know if I'm looking for a job, I'm starting a company, or I'm looking for revenge. Like, it was really that bad.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah. And it's something that I've, I'm really starting to dig deeper on the book I'm working on several of the guests that I've talked to. I come from a medical background and I came across this notion of a thyroid storm. And it's where your endocrine system just goes haywire. And in that moment, it's, it's life threatening. But since your endocrine system is the communication network in your body, everything about your functioning is potentially at risk. And doing the wrong thing when we're hit, like, you're punched in the gut. And you go from one end of the emotional spectrum of being elated at the victory to the other end, where you are devastated by the defeat. We enter what I call a purpose storm, where you're wondering why you're here. Like, I can't understand how this could have happened. This doesn't fit with the narrative of who I've built around my whole self.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

And in.

[Toby Brooks]

In those initial moments, obviously, it's. It's. It's stunning. Like, we've been hit, we've been dealt with a blow. How long did it take you to navigate that space of the. The not knowing in order to realize what was next?

[Ilana Golan]

The truth is, Toby, you. You nailed it. I think. I think maybe because I came from very high to very low, it took time. And again, I'm a doer, so I theoretically, and I think high achievers do that sometimes I compensate by thinking I'm doing things, but I'm actually throwing spaghetti on the wall, see what sticks. Nothing is intentional. Nothing is strategic. I'm kind of in survival mode at that point, and I think that that kind of throwing darts and trying to figure out what on earth is next for me. I think I was lost for a while there, like a good, good long time. And that. That is the basis of everything I do today. But at that point, like, I remember Googling, like, what do I want to do? Is my life? How do I find my passion? Like, what's next for me? And I was watching Ted Talks and YouTube and all the things, and it's like, why can't I figure this out? Like, I'm a high achiever. I'm driven person. Why can I not figure this out? And that became the biggest mission in my life at that point. So, I mean, fast forward. I did start a company and, you know, sold it, and I started leaping again and again. We can talk about it, but that low moment, which you alluded to it like, I couldn't sleep at night, I couldn't wake up in the morning. I was snappy at my kids. My health deteriorated. Like, it's everything you talked about, right?

[Toby Brooks]

I've seen a visual depiction of this, and it really resonated with me. And the speaker had essentially a pane of glass, and they put several different colors of paint. And you remember as a kid thinking, oh, I'll have blue and gray, and I'll have all these beautiful colors. And you mix them together and they're all just this horrible brown, right? And so the speaker has this pane of glass with all this horrible brown, which to me is illustrative of when I'm in the midst of a purpose storm. I'm Wading through some crap, right? And so the speaker has paper towels and they're trying to wipe the glass. And the more he worked, the more it smeared and the worse it got. And when we're in the midst of that, it's tempting to think, I just need to do more. I need to buckle down. I need to sign up for a new degree or get a mentor. I mean, we. We're going to work our way out of the problem. And then he pulls out a pane of glass. He said, this, this. I did the same thing three days ago, and it's dry, and I let it sit. And he takes a razor blade, and it just scrapes right off. And in that moment, I was just so taken with the notion that sometimes the best thing we can do is to just let things settle. And that's so counter to the way I'm wired, right? And it sounds like much the same, that experience impacted your career, but also your health, your sleep, your sense of self. At your lowest point, what would you pinpoint as the first sign that you could climb back out of that?

[Ilana Golan]

Man? I think to some extent, I don't know if there was a sign that I could climb back. I think eventually I found myself climbing back. And then you can always, you know, kind of paint the vision or the dots. You can kind of like connect the dots backwards, right? There's like, oh, I actually was starting to pay, you know, to come back from this. But, you know, like, I think at the lowest moment, if I'm being really honest, like, I actually had, like, a cancer scare at some point, and. And I remember laying in bed and thinking, you know, kind of waiting for, you know, them to decide if this was cancer or not. And the truth is, at that point, I felt so much regret, Toby, about my life and what I achieved and how somebody's so high achiever, so driven, this is all they achieved. And that was just the biggest stab in the. And the minute I got that it's not cancer, it was almost like, you gotta be kidding me. Yeah, like, you've been playing so small. Like, where are you, Ilana? Let's go back. And. And I think that was the drive I needed that. That was the basically the boost that I needed. I needed to feel that regret. And. And that regret was something I never want to feel ever again.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Here, Alana shares candidly about a major health scare that altered her perception. And what strikes me is that last idea that she just shared, quote, I needed to feel that regret. End quote. So often we can find Ourselves slogging through life in survival mode. I know I have a to do list every day, many times every week. But what we can sometimes lack in that approach if we aren't careful, is vision. So often we get sucked into what some would call the tyranny of the now. All the small fires burning around us that need our attention, that can steal away our purpose and our intentions to do the big things and pursue the big dreams in our hearts. For Alana, that cancer scare ended up being okay. But it brought her some much needed perspective. In her words, she'd been playing too safe, too small. Choosing instead to address the needs of now instead of a deeper, more impactful purpose for the future. That sting of regret proved to be like rocket fuel, helping to inspire her to make her leap and eventually inspiring others to make theirs.

[Ilana Golan]

That was it.

[Toby Brooks]

And there's a clarity that can come from that. Not every storm comes just to destroy. Sometimes storms come to nourish and to redirect. And so that's kind of my next question is, how do you maybe even today differentiate between failure and being redirected?

[Ilana Golan]

Hmm. I think all the failures should be redirected. So I do think that all of them are teaching us something. And the question is, what? What is it teaching us? And I think the more we're deliberate about asking ourselves the very hard questions and really kind of looking backwards and reinventing ourselves and starting to be really intentional, strategic with our career, the more we gonna look at them as big lessons versus a thing that is a failure. It's not a failure, it's just something that, I mean, let's be real, Toby. I would never have started Leap Academy. I was successful in the cloud data center space. I would have continued there. I would never have found this zone of genius. I would continue to being in my comfort zone, getting a nice paycheck and being a fraction of who I be now. I'm not saying a paycheck is a bad thing. I actually think it's fantastic for the majority of people. I think we're creating entrepreneurship as if it's like the gold standard and it's not, it's not right for a lot of people. Like, I think where it's malpractice to make it sound so right, you know, like pink and purple and it's all with old childhood. Like, I think we're doing a lot of harm to a lot of people by driving them into entrepreneurship, if I'm being honest. But. But I think, you know, you need to figure out, where are you the best version of yourself. And I do believe that even in corporate, in the world today, you have to create this portfolio career for yourself because nothing is for 40 years anymore. So you got to start being really intentional, very strategic, and start being very deliberate about how you reinvent yourself every year or two. Because the pace of change is absolutely mind blowing.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah, the, the alignment to me is key. And sometimes I will willingly choose whether it's the easier path. Sometimes it's just the path of least resistance and growth left unattended happens, you know, if I look at the roots of my tree, it doesn't choose to go through concrete walls unless that's the path of least resistance. That's how growth tends to be for a lot of people. But you mentioned it being strategic in that growth, recognizing that zone of genius. And, you know, maybe I got complacent and maybe I've allowed what was easy to take the place of what was impactful. You didn't just rebuild, you sold another company. You invested in over 80 ventures. You've become the sought after keynote speaker. How did you decide which opportunities to pursue during that comeback phase? I gotta imagine that you were inundated with lots and lots of things. How did you plot your course?

[Ilana Golan]

It's a good question, Toby. I think that initially I kind of threw spaghetti on the wall, which is exactly what I teach people not to do. Right. I feel like I teach a lot based on scars and wounds, not based on, you know, like, successes. So if I'm being really honest, like, I think that initially I kind of let life. I almost slept through life, you know, like, I feel like I was sleeping through, I was doing my things. And then it was like this moment of, no, I need to start being deliberate. But you're right. Like, I started a company, I sold the company. It's actually a beautiful story. I'm invested today, probably it's way above 100 now. Was probably some of the biggest startup, you know, investors in Silicon Valley. And I learned a lot on the way. And I did do a lot of public speaking. And what I realized, which is kind of interesting, Toby, is that as a geek engineer, at the end, I'm a geek, right? Like, I'm actually doing the same things again and again and again. I'm just getting better at them so that I can leap faster and higher. And at that point I realized, okay, if that. It's so calculated, first of all, can it work? You know, by, can I leap on demand, basically? Right. And the other thing is, like, if I can, then Can I start creating almost like a wish list? And what's. What do I want to do next? Oh, I want to join a board. Great. Let me see how I do that. I want to do an advisory. Great. How. Let's see how I do that. I want to start a company. Great. Are we going to be one of the fastest growing in just a few years? You know, like. Like you suddenly realize that it's really just about taking these few steps. I'm not saying it's easy, but it's kind of four simple steps that I just need to do again. Again, Again. And now that I know that it helps thousands of others, you know, I think, like, I wish I could get to millions and show them that it's really that simple.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah. That notion that it's. It's not easy, but it's simple.

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah.

[Toby Brooks]

Execution can be difficult. It's not easy to execute. But once you've plotted that course, it's just kind of. It's almost like a cookbook. Like, I just follow the instructions and reverse engineer the destination where I hope to end up.

[Ilana Golan]

And you alluded to it, Toby, because the hardest thing for people usually is the decision is that, you know, because it's scary. It's. What will people say? And what if I fail? And what if, you know, people think it's not cool? Like, it's all the things. And these are all the things that scared the heck out of me of doing Leap Academy. Right. Like, I'm this business person, I'm investor, I'm this, like, who am I to start this thing? Right.

[Toby Brooks]

Yes.

[Ilana Golan]

So I think a lot of times it's us.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah. Who am I? The classic lament of the person struggling with.

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah, what if I fail?

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah. That imposter syndrome is a thing.

[Ilana Golan]

It's real. It is real. Yeah.

[Toby Brooks]

You've described and I've heard you even allude to this, but definitely in the stuff that I prepped before the show, you talk about career as a series of leaps. And for me, I think the biggest question, and it's. I've even encountered this with students. I've encountered this with folks that I've coached. And in my own life, it's not knowing that I need to leap, it's knowing when is the time for the next one. What advice would you give someone who is. Maybe they're on board, they recognize that growth is a series of leaps, but I don't know when, you know, it doesn't feel safe to leave this paycheck it. I don't want to get rid of these benefits that I have and try this entrepreneur journey. What are maybe some signs that it's time to leap?

[Ilana Golan]

It's a beautiful question, Toby. I will say a few things. The very first thing that I'm seeing in this world of this era of change, and maybe my answer would have been different five years ago, but in this specific era of change, we're moving faster than we've ever seen before. And even this one corporate career is not necessarily safe for you anymore. So the one thing that I'll say to anybody listening, you always want to be leap ready. Even if you're staying there, you always want to know what's next. How do I tell my story? I want my network to be my ambassadors. I want my personal brand to speak for me. I want to get the relevant opportunities for myself according to what I want to be known for. So first of all, just be intentional and deliberate about being leap ready. The other thing is that I will say that if you're going to look at the top 0.1% of the people, they all have, it's actually interesting. The statistics say it's interesting. 62% of them have multiple streams of income, more than 3, 62%. So what this means is that all of us need to start being very strategic about creating this portfolio career. Even if we are in corporate now. Sometimes you can't. Visa issues, whatever. I'm not going into the legal stuff here, but I would just say almost every single person needs to start looking at what are my multiple streams of income. How do I create a personal brand that I can leap again? Again, how do I make sure that I get the right opportunities for myself? And then it's really about, you know, I don't think necessarily you want to. I don't believe that you want to burn the boats if you're not ready for it. I think you want to be very strategic about where it is that you want to go. But again, maybe you just want the promotion. Maybe you just want a different industry. There's a ton of incredible opportunities that are really, really safe right now. So I think it's more about like, what do you want? Is it even within the same corporate. You don't want to be the person that always stays and does the same. Like you want to be leap ready to the next role, to the next function, to the next responsibility. You want to be the person that they're looking at to move you, to be put you in the right seat at the table and to bring you in and to you know, so you want to, even within the same corporate role, like you still want to create a bigger impression of yourself, more executive presence, more opportunities. And unrelated, I would start looking at mentorship, advisory, public speaking, investment, like whatever it is right for you. But I would start creating these things on the side that a, they're incredible against ageism. They're your, you know, insurance policy. You know, if something God forbid does happen, this is what's going to help you leap again, again. So I'm a huge believer now that I've seen, now that I almost lost everything in my life, Toby. I'm a big believer that you need to do things very different. And again, when you're kind of looking. Now that I have this podcast, you know, Leap Academy with Ilana Golan and I get to speak with the Richard Branson and the Gary Vee's and the president of Starbucks or whatever. They all have portfolio careers. Why is nobody teaching this?

[Toby Brooks]

Right?

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah, why should. I mean, everybody's talking about diversity and financial and investment. Why should we not do this in our career? So that's kind of why Leap Academy became, you know, it became a passion to teach others how to create these multiple streams and how to leverage them to leap again and again.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Right.

[Toby Brooks]

I love that. And to me, I've worked in higher education most of my career and if you find someone who is too upwardly focused, they're more worried about the next job than their current job, that can really be stigmatized. Like, you know, this person's not a team player or they're not really all in on what they need to be on.

[Ilana Golan]

That's true, by the way.

[Toby Brooks]

Well, it is. But I also recognize that high achievers are always looking for what's the next step. And as a leader, I want to cultivate that in my team. I want people that are being actively recruited by other places because that means they have something of value that that is marketable, you know, that, that, that is not something that I shy away from. So you've mentioned Leap Academy born from your own 25 year journey, helping others through transitions. And that's really kind of, I mean, I love the alignment between your message and mine, even though we're coming at it. Maybe you're more entrepreneurial and me from more from sports, but the idea is pivots and transitions can be fraught with fear, they can be freighted with shame. There's so many emotions that can pollute an idea. What patterns do you see in people who are stuck and really ready for.

[Ilana Golan]

A leap oh, it's a great question. And, you know, and we do see it. I mean, I love that you see it in sport. Right. Because again, you know, I listen to your show. I mean, in sport, we see it a lot. We've had, you know, people who been before in, like, Olympians, etc. Like, and suddenly they're in this, like, pivotal moment in their career. They kind of checked all the boxes of success to some extent. Right. And now they're coming into this, but, oh, my God, what's next? Right? And. And that, you know, reflection point of. I never really needed to think about it because from a very young age, everything was scripted. I knew exactly what I need to do, and for the first time, I need to actually reflect back and think about what is that combination of things that I want to do? What is my passion? What is my zone of genius? What are people intrigued by me? What. Who even needs this? Like, who can I, you know, how can I monetize this thing? And I think that is definitely a common thread between, you know, what we're both seeing. And I think, you know, what, what, what the common theme, though, like, you're asking me about a pattern. The one thing that I'll say is both what you're doing and especially what we're doing in Leap Academy, it's not going to work for somebody who's not driven. You know, I think what, if you're looking at what is the common path? They're all driven. They all want more for themselves. They all know that they're a faction of who they can be.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

I absolutely must jump in here and enthusiastically agree with this idea and give you your roses right now. My listener, my friend, my companion on this journey from where we are to where we want to go. Alana says that the one thing all her clients have in common is a desire to get better. And although she says they. I want you to hear this truth. Rephrase it, you. The same is true for you, every last one of you. You know, we are now 141 episodes deep, and you've got my word here that I've gone all in to get better at this journey each and every episode. So I felt like now was as good a time as any to say thank you. I see you. But if you aren't yet where you want to be, that's okay, too. Just be patient. Trust the process. Your door is coming. The fact that you're here tells me all I need to know. I know, and you know that there's more. And you Got to believe me on this. You're more is coming.

[Ilana Golan]

They all know that there's more that they can achieve in life, and they want to, like, they. They don't want to feel that regret. They want to create something incredible. They know they can. And then it's like, but how? And how do I monetize it? And how do I become my full potential? And I think that, that, that, that driven part, because, again, I don't. I don't think that I can. If somebody's never been successful ever in their life and they reached the age of 60, I can't suddenly create magic. You know what I'm saying? Like, I need them to really want something out of life. I want them to eventually have that fire in them that once they find it, they're like, let's go right? And Olympians sometimes, or sport figures or, you know, lfl whatever. Like, sometimes they're like the biggest because they're so driven, because they're so wired since, you know, childhood. Once they get that new focus, they're like, all in. It's incredible to watch. So that's why I love working with that.

[Toby Brooks]

So, yeah, it's navigating the. The what now? To the. And I talk about. I go from being undone, feeling like I'm in pieces, to realizing I've got a purpose left to achieve and that I'm undone. And I love what you said about how so many times folks who are in that, what's next? And from your story, I gather this as well. But in my book, I talk about how there was a time in my life when sport was over. I wanted to play longer, and it wasn't an option. I was pushed out of sport. It wasn't that I was jumping toward. I wasn't leaping into my life after athletics. I was being forced out of it. And I had a what next? Moment? And I can remember sitting in that locker room and audibly saying to myself, what next? But what a lot of people don't recognize, I think, is that you aren't immune to that same emotion. Even when you succeed, there are times when you will reach that goal that you set that was so high, that so audacious goal. And you got there and you're just as purposeless.

[Ilana Golan]

I'll push back on you, Toby. I think it's even harder because you've been in that peak because you've been in that peak. It's incredibly hard to ask for help because we're used to be the person that is. People are coming to us for help. Like for me to ask for help. You're kidding me. Like, that's not where my ego goes. Like I, I can't ask people that I need a job or that I'm lost or that I don't know what I want to do next. Like that, that is weakness that I can't show.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Yeah.

[Ilana Golan]

So I think to some extent, because you got to that peak, it's almost harder. Like it's, you're, you feel so alone on this and you're actually not alone. Like, I think the reason Leap Academy has succeeded is because suddenly people are meeting thousands of others in the same boat. They're also high achievers, they're also motivated and they're also stuck. And it's okay, right? And it's also part of that hidden market and people are bringing each other's to opportunities and it's beautiful to see. But guess what? Nobody's. You know, everybody has a hard time asking for help like that. That is like the one common. Or they're all driven and they all have a hard time asking.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

So.

[Ilana Golan]

Well, so what you said, I'm just like, oh my God. Toby. Yes.

[Toby Brooks]

Yep.

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah.

[Toby Brooks]

Well, again we're talking with Ilana Gulan, the host of the Leap Academy podcast, noted entrepreneur and speaker and coach. How do you define success now compared to when you started?

[Ilana Golan]

Ooh, that's so good. That's a great question. I think, because I think my definition of success changes. And I think we also need to understand that life is in phases and different phases will bring different levels of success and different definitions of success, if you will. And I think this is something I didn't understand because I think I kind of thought that if I gonna tick a lot of the boxes, that it's all about boxes. Right. And once I ticked a lot of these boxes, like I've been a vp, I've been a CEO, I've been in there like, okay, the boxes are ticked. What, what now? Can I die peacefully? And the answer is no. Right? So the. Right. So now it's really more about what is this phase in your life, what's critical for you? And this is a big piece that we work with people, you know, speaking of what's next, because I think the hardest thing is to also admit to yourself more than anything is what's really critical for you right now, what is your must have. And sometimes it's financial. Whether because we need the money or it gives us confidence, or we want the second home or we want the first class, it doesn't matter why. But we need the financials. Sometimes it's growth. We need to feel like, you know, it's a responsibility, that reputation, the fame, like whatever it is. Right. And sometimes it's impact, like I just need to feel like I move the needle on the company or society, the world or whatever. Right. And sometimes it's balance because I want to do sports or I want to have kids or whatever, I want to have hobbies, it doesn't matter. But no career will give you all of them. You can have all of them, just not at the same time. So the hardest thing is to choose the two that are absolutely must have for you and to be okay with compromising at least for a little bit on the other two. But the beautiful thing is because you're going to reinvent yourself every year or two, you're going to change, your phase will change, and as your face will change, suddenly you can start creating a little more for yourself or another, you know, another stream of income or less streams of income, et cetera. So you're going to start navigating through this based on what's critical for you. And I think the hardest thing is though, to admit it.

[Toby Brooks]

Yeah, I love the liberty that is baked into that approach because for so many high achievers, we think we have to hit all those boxes all at the same time immediately.

[Ilana Golan]

Right.

[Toby Brooks]

And to give yourself a little bit of grace to say that this season is about this and I'm going to really drill down and focus on my physical health or I'm going to grow in this particular skill set. It's coding or it's writing or it's speaking, whatever that is. It's so heavy to carry the expectation and unrealistic. But I don't know about you, but I'm looking at my to do list that I had for the weekend, and there is no possible way a human could have knocked out all of these things. And so what happens? I got a lot done, but when I look at the list and realize what I didn't get done, I walk away from the weekend feeling guilty, frustration, underperformed. Right. But what I love about the approach that you're saying, and on a macro scale that you're, you're kind of giving yourself permission to have a mental approach that's sustainable. It's not going to grind me into the ground. I love David Goggins. I love the Rock. And in my last episode I quoted both of them. And this, this kind of grinder mentality that has really taken over social media circles like you should be working 27 hours a day, eight days a week, and that's the only way you get ahead. You mentioned Gary Vee. He tends to talk about things like that, too. That's great for, for a time, but rest isn't just as important part of the growth process as work. And I find with high achievers, the challenge isn't kicking them in the rear to get them going. It's kind of peeling them back and realizing that your work needs to be directed.

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah, no, I love what you just said because I think it's so, so, so important because I think, first of all, it is about creating somewhat of a freedom of choice. And that freedom of choice doesn't mean that I'll slip on the beach all day. Like, I'm probably to be one of the hardest workers you've ever seen. But I can work on my own term and I can decide when I'm going on vacation and I can decide when I'm out and I can decide if I'm taking the weekend or I'm working on my, the weekend. So first of all, it is on your term. But I think it's also, again, life is in phases. And sometimes the hardest thing is to say, you know what, this phase, I don't want to fly. I want to be there for my kids or I want to be there for my family, and it's okay to say that. And I think for us as high achievers, I think sometimes the guilt is the hardest thing. And I think if you can look at it as phases, there's something a lot more in peace with yourself, that you can kind of be in peace yourself. And to say, you know what, it's just a phase. It's a year that I want to be closer to them and then I can fly again. But you define and, and guess what? If the phase changes and suddenly you need to fly again, then you fly again. Right. But you get to decide you are intentional. And the one thing that I'll say is that as high achievers, because we sometimes compensate. And I'm not saying entrepreneurship is different, Toby. So I think it is a lot about throwing a lot of things right. But I think a lot of times high achievers, we work really, really hard, but we don't necessarily work smart. Yeah. And I think we sometimes the grind is a compensation for starting to be a lot more deliberate and saying no to things that we should have said no to. And you know, and again, this is kind of where, when you have your must haves and you have Your zone of genius. This is where you start saying no to a lot of things and you're saying, you know what? This is not if I want to 10x myself. This is not where I should focus.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Yeah.

[Toby Brooks]

One of my mentors says if it doesn't feed and fuel my purpose, it's a distraction. And that's a critical test for me to give something. Like, it may be a great opportunity, but if it's not fueling and feeding my purpose, then it's distracting me. It's keeping me from things that would. And I love to kind of weigh things. In light of that. I got two left. I want to be aware of your time. I certainly appreciate it. One, I ask of all my guests, if we were to watch a montage of your life, what song would you pick to play in the background and why?

[Ilana Golan]

Some Top Gun song, probably.

[Toby Brooks]

Your aviation background is showing.

[Ilana Golan]

Yeah, probably, probably. And I think because it's created. It opened up possibilities that I probably didn't even realize. And it built me in a way that I don't think I knew back when I was 18, 19, 20, that it was building me to such an incredible way. So definitely that would be a.

[Toby Brooks]

Love it. I put together a mixtape of all my guests and post that on Spotify, so.

[Ilana Golan]

Oh, nice.

[Toby Brooks]

I'm thinking highway to the Danger Zone.

[Ilana Golan]

Exactly.

[Toby Brooks]

I'm a huge fan also of just Top Gun Anthem. When I. When I put that on the headphones and head into the gym, I feel like I'm getting ready to do some work.

[Ilana Golan]

You hear me exactly right.

[Toby Brooks]

Well, I usually ask this one like this. I usually say what for my guest name, Ilana Gulan is left undone. But I'm. I'm actually going to change the phraseology for the first time in the history of this show because of your platform and say, what's the next leap that Ilana Gulen is preparing to take?

[Ilana Golan]

Oh, I love that, Toby. So, first of all, I have a book that is upcoming, so we're writing the proposal now. I'm really proud that Gary Vee is blurbing the book. And we have incredible people like the president of Starbucks, the previous president of Starbucks Outward, and Tim Storey and other incredible individuals that are blurbing the book. So that's really exciting. So my aim is for a New York Times bestsellers, so fingers crossed. And again, I'm in a mission. To be really honest, I think we're right in front of a cliff where millions or tens of millions will need to reinvent themselves. And my biggest worry is how do I Grow Leap Academy to impact the lives. Not. I mean, right now we're in thousands a year, which is beautiful, and we're one of the fastest growing private companies in America. But for me, the biggest question is, how do I bring this to millions, into tens of millions? And to me, that's what keeps me up at night. So, Toby, I'm glad you're here to help me. And I, you know, I hope, I hope these, the listeners had a lot of value.

[Toby Brooks]

Absolutely. I can't really imagine a closer, better alignment than the platform that I've, I've worked to build. And the thing I love about this podcasting journey, I mean, I can remember just muddling through episode one.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Love the guest.

[Toby Brooks]

I didn't have any idea what I'm doing. I have a little bit more idea what I'm doing. If I'm not growing, hopefully a year from now I'll realize that, oh, wow, like last year, I really botched that interview. I mean, that's what growth is about, is recognizing how horrible we were back when. Right. But the thing I love about it is it, it is cause for conversation with people that I never would have had a chance to connect with before. And there's an alignment with that. There's a tribe there. Just the notion and the idea that you are looking to scale this to millions. And I hadn't really thought about it. I mean, I've pitched this as I'm helping people in transition, but as we're on the threshold of this AI age, and maybe not even on the threshold like we're squarely in the doorway, you're right. People are going to have to pivot. They're. They cannot continue to do their role the way they did before. And I'm in higher ed, so I see this all the time. I'm not scared that AI is going to take my job. I'm recognizing what AI can do to help me do my job more efficiently and faster and broader. I always talk about augmented intelligence, not artificial. It allows me to have a much greater impact than I had before. And if I'm a laggard on this, I'm going to get left in the dust. And the thought that Chat GPT has not yet crossed its third birthday, like, it blows me away how differently my world is operating just due to generative AI being in the workplace. So I love the alignment with what you're doing. And I will say for everyone that's listening, if you have anywhere that you can use me in the work that you are doing, consider me in because I am all in on Leap Academy.

[Ilana Golan]

Oh, let's go Toby. And so I'll give you something back. And to the listeners like Toby, I, you know, you are an incredible interviewer and again, I sit on a lot of interviews and I see on both sides you're incredible, talented at what you do. And I just want to say that.

[Toby Brooks]

So how can listeners connect with the work you're doing?

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Drop your socials.

[Toby Brooks]

I'll be sure to drop those in the show description. But let us know where we can find the work that you're doing.

[Ilana Golan]

Of course. Leapacademy.com we have a lot of free resources. We have sometimes three day challenges, we have free trainings, we have a lot of, we have free conversations if we think it's the right fit. So we're really, really, we love giving back. So just reach out and at LinkedIn, Instagram, like I actually see these things myself and I would love to talk to any sort of any person that would like to. So it makes them my day.

[Toby Brooks]

Alana, thank you so much. It's been my pleasure to connect with you. I really appreciate your insights. Again, Alana Guelan, entrepreneur, founder of Leap Academy and any number of other things I could add to that bio. You are a treat and a tremendous guest and I thank you for being.

[Ilana Golan]

On Becoming Undone I am Ilana Golan, and I am undone.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

From the cockpit of an F16 simulator to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley and beyond, Alana Golan's journey reminds us that falling apart isn't the end of your story. It's often where the real story begins. Whether you're contemplating a bold leap, reeling from a professional setback, or simply searching for your next move. I hope Alana's story offers truth, that resilience is built in the rubble and reinvention is possible and even powerful when.

[Toby Brooks]

You'Re brave enough to begin again.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Big thanks to Alana for sharing her incredible insights and to you for joining us on this episode of Becoming Undone. Thankful to Alana for dropping in and I hope you enjoyed our conversation. For more info on today's episode, be sure to check it out on the web. Simply go to undonepodcast.com ep141 to see the notes, links and images related to today's guest, Alana Gulan. Coming up on the show, I've got former college and professional athletic trainer turned sports scientist Dr. Josh Beaumont, who shares his story of finding yourself in the midst of what you thought were your dreams, only to discover that they're nothing like you'd hoped and what to do next. Then I've got athletic trainer Morgan Dietrich, who bravely shares her powerful story of recovery and redemption and her fight with alcohol addiction. This and more Coming up on Becoming Undone. Do me a favor, head on over to undonepodcast.com you can click that subscribe tab at the top. Sign up for my free newsletter that I produce almost every week. It too is always free and built to help you pursue better every day. In other news, my brand new personal website launches this one week as well. Toby Brooks PhD.com and I have an exciting new mobile app to tell you.

[Toby Brooks]

About in another week or so, so.

[Toby Brooks (Producer/Host Voiceover)]

Be sure to stay tuned for that. Also, quickly wanted to share I connect monthly with former guest and friend Quincy Connolly out of at Still University, who mentioned this week as he was chatting with someone who'd heard his episode and he's a friend of the show. So whoever you are, friend, virtual fist bump. And thank you for being part of this Undone movement. I'd love to connect. I know there are great stories out there to be told and I'm always on the lookout. So if you or someone you know has a story that we can all be inspired by, tell me about it again. Go to undonepodcast.com, click that contact tab in the top and drop me a note. Becoming Undone is a nitrohype creative production written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. Tell a friend about the show and follow along on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at becoming undone Pod. And follow me at my new social handle, Obi Brooks Brooks PhD on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok anywhere else. Check out my link tree at linktr EE backslash Toby Brooks, PhD Listen, subscribe and leave me a review at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Till next time. Keep getting better.

[Ilana Golan]

Sam. It.