Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged
Episode: “The Power of Adaptability: Lessons from Ilana Golan”
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Ilana Golan
Date: January 19, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of "Mick Unplugged" dives deep into adaptability as the superpower for modern leaders and anyone aiming to live a life of impact and purpose. Mick Hunt hosts renowned leadership coach, entrepreneur, and Leap Academy founder Ilana Golan for an unfiltered conversation on loss, reinvention, the “Adaptability Quotient” (AQ), building your brand, and actionable frameworks for navigating the future of work. Ilana shares her personal journey from corporate VP to co-founder who lost everything overnight, to finding her greater “because” and helping others leverage reinvention as a tool for lifelong growth.
Key Discussion Points, Insights, and Memorable Moments
1. Discovering Your “Because”
- [03:21] Ilana’s Purpose
- Ilana reflects on her motivation, rooted in a promise to herself after witnessing her mother’s passing from cancer.
“Not feeling regret became so prevalent for some reason. And that became my fuel. That became my because.” – Ilana Golan [04:25]
- Her mission: help others get “unstuck,” find fulfillment, and avoid a life of regret.
- Mick credits her for living with purpose, prompting her journey of self-discovery beyond helping people.
2. Losing Everything: The Co-Founder Story
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[06:18] Getting Kicked Out of Her Own Company
- Ilana’s cautionary tale: after raising major funding in Silicon Valley, her co-founder ousted her from the company within 24 hours.
- She attributes the loss to ignorance around startup agreements and the pain of losing her identity as both professional and person.
“Who am I without that identity? Who am I without my title? Who am I without my company?” – Ilana Golan [08:19]
- Only in hindsight could she share vulnerably: “You can always only be vulnerable when you’re from the scars, not from the wound.” [06:20]
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Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Mick emphasizes legal protection, regardless of friendship (“Make sure your paperwork protects you.” [12:15]).
- Both discuss the role of ego, pride, and overestimating your competence when switching domains.
3. Growth Through Adaptability and Grit
- [14:47] Getting Up from Rock Bottom
- Ilana transformed her lowest point into a launchpad for Leap Academy and her life’s new purpose.
- Key advice: “It’s always darkest before sunrise…your darkest moment…could put you on a journey that will change the second part of your life.” [14:47]
- The right question isn’t “Why is this happening to me?” but “Who am I becoming because of this?”
4. Leap Academy: Reinvention as a Service
- [16:19] What Is Leap Academy?
- Leap Academy helps people “leap” into new careers, businesses, or roles by discovering their unique story, strengths, and building a brand that attracts opportunity.
- Ilana spotlights adaptability as THE most vital skill in the future of work.
“Reinventing yourself, leaping again and again, is becoming the most important skill for you right now.” – Ilana Golan [16:48]
5. Finding Your Zone of Genius
- [18:23 & 21:16] How to Identify What Makes You Exceptional
- Success leaves clues: listen to what others seek from you and the feedback they share.
- Taking action is key to clarity—don’t get stuck thinking your “zone of genius” is what you learned in school.
“The clarity will come from action, not just ideas, not just dreaming about it.” – Ilana Golan [19:08]
- Framework: experiment for 10 days, then 10 weeks, then 10 months, deciding at each stage if it’s worth continuing.
6. Reinvention Framework and Brand-Building
- [26:52] Mick’s Reinvention Story & Ilana’s Framework
- Clarity about your direction comes first—even if it’s just an experiment.
- Align your story and how you present yourself to match where you want to go, with integrity.
- Building a personal brand unlocks opportunities in the “hidden market”—where almost all the best jobs and deals are found.
“Your brand is your currency, your brand is the only insurance policy you have.” – Ilana Golan [27:20]
7. From Comfort to Courage: Why AQ Matters
- [30:18] Overcoming Comfort with Adaptability
- The world’s changing too fast: comfort is a myth, and staying still means falling behind.
- The new success metric: “AQ”—Adaptability Quotient, overtaking even IQ and EQ in importance.
“If you don’t build that adaptability... your ability to reinvent and leap is actually becoming the most important skill for the future of work.” – Ilana Golan [32:07]
8. Opportunities and Tools for Listeners
- Free gift for podcast listeners: Leap Academy’s “Career360” assessment
- Leadership conference (Feb 26-27) featuring major speakers, with exclusive ticket giveaways for audience engagement [34:57–37:52].
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- [04:25] “Not feeling regret became so prevalent for some reason. And that became my fuel. That became my because.” – Ilana Golan
- [06:20] “You can only be vulnerable when you’re from the scars, not from the wound.” – Ilana Golan
- [08:19] “Who am I without my identity? Who am I without my title?” – Ilana Golan
- [12:15] “Make sure your paperwork protects you. Make sure you review the paperwork like we all do it at some point.” – Mick Hunt
- [14:47] “It’s always darkest before sunrise…your darkest moment…could put you on a journey that will change the second part of your life.” – Ilana Golan
- [16:48] “Reinventing yourself, leaping again and again, is becoming the most important skill for you right now.” – Ilana Golan
- [19:08] “The clarity will come from action, not just ideas, not just dreaming about it.” – Ilana Golan
- [27:20] “Your brand is your currency, your brand is the only insurance policy you have.” – Ilana Golan
- [32:07] “If you don’t build that adaptability... your ability to reinvent and leap is actually becoming the most important skill for the future of work.” – Ilana Golan
Key Timestamps for Major Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------| | [03:21] | Ilana’s “Because” and deeper purpose | | [06:18] | Co-founder betrayal and life collapse | | [14:47] | Rebuilding after failure & Leap Academy | | [16:19] | Leap Academy’s mission and future of work | | [18:23] | “Success leaves clues” & zone of genius | | [21:16] | How to identify your exceptional skill | | [26:52] | Reinvention framework & personal branding | | [30:18] | Moving from comfort to courageous action | | [32:07] | Why AQ – Adaptability Quotient – matters | | [34:57] | Ways to connect / Leadership conference | | [37:52] | Rapid fire: legacy, food, career lessons |
Rapid Fire: Ilana’s Insights and Personality
- Favorite hiking fuel: Coffee latte, acai bowl, pasta (“I’m a foodie!”) [38:11]
- Favorite Israeli dish: Hummus, shakshuka, salads [38:40]
- Top lesson from Air Force: Know your audience—“It’s not about what I say, it’s how I say it.” [39:11]
- Biggest myth about success: The “four-hour workweek” doesn’t exist—success takes hard work [39:35]
- One word for her legacy: Impact [40:15]
“I want to impact a lot of lives and make a lot of people smile. That’s it.” – Ilana Golan [40:22]
Actionable Takeaways
- Get clear, even if temporarily, on your next leap—clarity precedes brand and opportunity.
- Value adaptability above all; practice reinvention regularly.
- Build your personal brand for access to the “hidden market” of top opportunities.
- Turn hardship into a catalyst—the best growth comes from your lowest moments.
- Take action to discover your zone of genius—increase clarity with each small experiment.
- Success is about “grit with purpose”—drive plus mission creates unstoppable momentum.
- Legacy is not about titles or paychecks, but about the impact you have.
Where to Connect with Ilana
- Website: leapacademy.com (special free assessment “Career360” for Mick Unplugged listeners)
- LinkedIn & Instagram: Ilana Golan
- Leadership Reinvention Conference: Feb 26-27, 2026 – Tag Ilana & Mick with your definition of AQ for a chance at free tickets
Closing Words from Mick:
“Remember, your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.”
This episode is an energizing, practical deep-dive for anyone feeling stuck, seeking growth, or ready for their next chapter—with Ilana’s lived wisdom and frameworks lighting the way.