← Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff
Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff
Reinventing Yourself After Rock Bottom: Leap Academy's Ilana Golan on Starting Over
00:39:19
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- [00:00]
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- [00:07]
Ilana Golan
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- [00:10]
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- [00:15]
Ilana Golan
Ugh.
- [00:16]
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- [00:27]
Ilana Golan
And.
- [00:27]
Depop Advertiser
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- [00:33]
Rebecca Minkoff
Hey, still got my hoodie?
- [00:34]
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- [00:47]
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- [01:15]
Ilana Golan
within exactly 24 hours. Rebecca. I lost everything. Like my co founder decided to throw me out of the business without telling me. And suddenly I found myself with no job, no salary. How did I not see this coming?
- [01:28]
Rebecca Minkoff
Hey everyone. Welcome back to Superwomen. And today's guest is Alana Golan. She started off her career as a pilot instructor advising people on how to not die while flying an airplane in some of the most stressful situations. To then navigating a career with a lot of very high highs in the tech world and very betraying lows.
- [01:46]
Ilana Golan
My identity was the company and suddenly I was a nobody. It's our responsibility right now to start designing these kind of portfolios for ourselves. So you're never without anything.
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Rebecca Minkoff
You have been in the room with some of probably the brightest minds and most incred incredible thinkers. Is there something you see in all them that's the same?
- [02:05]
Ilana Golan
It's grit. In the darkest moment, we all need to pick ourselves back up. It's about accessing your reserve tank when you really don't have anything else to give.
- [02:22]
Rebecca Minkoff
I'm Rebecca Minkoff and this is Superwomen. Each week, inspiring women are interviewed to uncover the unexpected journeys, the challenges and the unwavering spirit that Makes them powerful. Get ready to be motivated by stories of resilience and discover the keys to unlocking your own potential. So, Alana Golan, welcome to Superwomen. I knew about Leap Academy before we even spoke because I think I was served potentially something on Instagram or I saw it somewhere and I was fascinated because I was like, this is how children need to learn for the future. It must have been in the other, because your team emailed, and I'm just excited to welcome you and talk about the future of everything, basically because it starts with our kids. Oh, thank you.
- [03:10]
Ilana Golan
Thank you. Future of education.
- [03:12]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yes. So you did not have a linear career path. Let's talk about your F1 instructor for the Air Force. F16.
- [03:23]
Ilana Golan
Yes.
- [03:23]
Rebecca Minkoff
F16. Sorry.
- [03:24]
Ilana Golan
No, it's fine. It's planes. Like, who knows knows anything about planes? I didn't know anything about planes, but in Israel, we have a mandatory service, so I got into the military, into the Air Force. And I think what's beautiful about the Air Force is that it forces you to basically swim without knowing anything, forced to either swim or drown. And I guess I just had to swim. And it was an incredible experience. I think for the first time in my life at age 18, suddenly I'm becoming some part of something that is so much bigger than anything I've ever imagined. And teaching pilots how to fly the plane and what to do in cases of emergency and being part of sometimes, like, best decisions, it's like, oh, my God.
- [04:12]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yeah, no pressure, but it definitely was
- [04:15]
Ilana Golan
a really good school for me.
- [04:18]
Rebecca Minkoff
So how long did you stay after the army did instructing people?
- [04:22]
Ilana Golan
Yeah, so it was about three and a half years in the military, and then I went to engineering school, electric engineering. And I started in the tech world in the military. I think I wanted to be a doctor for a while. And I think also I grew up like you, I think in a very Jewish family. I could either be a doctor or a lawyer. These were my options. But I think I fell in love with technology in the military. And I realized that with technology, I can literally help people defend my country and come home safe. And I was like, oh, my God, this is so big. And so I studied electric engineering, and I started kind of in the tech world, like intel and startups and all of this. But I think for me, it was a lot about leaping again, again. And everything that I learned in engineering or whatever, it was not really preparing me for anything that will help me in life. Yeah. And I think this is a lot of the basis of Leap Academy. Because it's like I needed to learn sales and management and leadership and you know, marketing and like I can go on and on entrepreneurship. It's like, there must be a better way.
- [05:22]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yeah, I think in the last even year with the advancement of AI, it's, you know, and then I read some publication, like for your colleges. By the time someone graduates, what's happening transformationally with education and AI, they're going to be actually like so behind. And then I tell my kids, because I'm not a normal parent, I'm like, you're actually not allowed to go to college unless you want to be a specialty that needs a degree. And then I look back on my education, my high school education. The best thing I got out of it was a typing class. Like I can type fast. Everything else, haven't used it ever again. Algebra. Why was I crying? Like, who uses that? So I want to talk about what made you focus on education and really be the first to truly innovate in it.
- [06:07]
Ilana Golan
We focus very specifically on like professional education, which I think actually doesn't even exist. Like if you really think about it, if you are 30 plus and you're driven, you really don't have a home. So 30 to 65, you're kind of screwed if I'm allowed to say it on the podcast. You know, I mean, right? I mean it's like you can go to an mba, but that's very theoretical and it's really not helping you. And like you said, if I get a degree, it's teaching me things that are irrelevant by the time the first year is ending. You're right. Like the kids, poor kids. Like my kid just started college and I'm like, all you need to do is actually get an internship and learn AI. All the rest is irrelevant. Like, I love that you're having fun. That's all that matters.
- [06:51]
Rebecca Minkoff
That's a lot of money to have fun though. Can we be honest?
- [06:53]
Ilana Golan
Oh my God, it's so much money to have fun.
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Rebecca Minkoff
My sister in law said to me, she's like, yeah, but these kids don't know what they want to do. So going to college is perfect. I'm like, that sounds like a lot of money you're wasting on someone who's going to like fumble around.
- [07:07]
Ilana Golan
Yeah, take that money and experiment with what you want to do.
- [07:09]
Rebecca Minkoff
Exactly.
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Ilana Golan
That will actually take you so much further.
- [07:12]
Rebecca Minkoff
100%.
- [07:14]
Ilana Golan
So we totally agree. And again, like, I think that's why probably the military was the biggest school in my life. Like, I definitely think that. And by the way traveling alone, like I traveled all over the world kind of alone. And I think I learned so much from it. So I think it's eventually the things that you experience more than anything. But you're right, with AI, we're gonna see a cliff of tens of millions of people that need to reinvent themselves. And nobody's teaching this. Like, there's rescale schools. They don't need reskill schools.
- [07:46]
Rebecca Minkoff
What's a rescale school?
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Ilana Golan
I mean, there's schools that will teach them very specific, like you want to kind of move to coding, you want to move to something new. But honestly, a lot of them, especially if they're mid to late stage career, they already have things that they are good at. They just don't know how to translate it to something that is already useful. So I think reskill schools have their home. But I mean, why are we not helping people reinvent themselves and be more relevant in the future of work? And I think that's gonna be. It's gonna be a pandemic if we don't do anything. And I'm glad Leap Academy is there, but I think we're gonna need more players.
- [08:24]
Rebecca Minkoff
So you're disrupting an entire industry. So how do you approach that? Do you get overwhelmed by it? Do you just go, I just need to start it here and grow it slowly? Like, what's your.
- [08:32]
Ilana Golan
If I'm being really honest of how this started, it was like I had a really hard time and we can talk about it. Like at some point a decade ago, I lost almost everything I had in my life. And I think that was also.
- [08:45]
Rebecca Minkoff
What did you lose?
- [08:48]
Ilana Golan
I can go there.
- [08:49]
Rebecca Minkoff
Let's go there. Part of the journey.
- [08:53]
Ilana Golan
So I did leap again, again, from the intel to the startups, all the way to like vice president of a tech startup. It was a really, really fun ride. But at some point I flew all the time. I was working like crazy. And I remember a friend of mine came to me and said, hey, Lana, let's start a startup together. It's going to be so fun and the minute. And I knew him for two decades. Like I knew him for a long time, Rebecca. And I was like, you know what? This is such idea. And even though I was as busy as crazy, I was like tinkering with it. It was like really, really fun. It was so exciting. And we live Silicon Valley, right? So you have to do the Silicon Valley thing. You have to go Grace Capital. And even because our founder story was so good and raised capital really quick and I Remember looking at the term sheet, they were evaluating our baby at, like, $5 million. And I was like, oh, my God, this is such a dream. How did we get there? And so doing the goodbye party from my previous role as the vice president so that I can do this full time, I told everybody about the startup and about the money that we raised, and it was really exciting time. And within exactly 24 hours, Rebecca, I lost everything. Like, my co founder decided to throw me out of the business without telling me. And suddenly I found myself with no job, no salary, no startup, no investment. And I think the hardest thing is, like, your ego just comes crashing down and you're like, how did I even let this happen? Like, I am a driven person. I'm a high achiever. How did I not see this coming? I made all the mistakes in the book, and I think that that was a big wakeup call. Because the big thing that I realized is that I worked for two decades before that. But I never thought of growing myself on the journey. I was always giving. Like, my identity was my title. My identity was the company that I was with. I never thought of growing Ilana. And suddenly I was a nobody. And I didn't even know where I want to go. So that lack of clarity was just driving me nuts. And I was like, am I the only lunatic that is going through this? And it was like one of the hardest time. Like, I couldn't sleep at night, I couldn't wake up in the morning. There was no purpose. I was just, like, I was snappy at my kids. My health deteriorated. Like, I can go on and on. Like, it was, like, really hard. And I know some people, it's really hard to admit because I was like, theoretically, I have it all, Rebecca. I have a beautiful home. I have the two kids. I have a loving husband. Like, theoretically, I should be grateful. And I am going nuts. And I was like, am I the only person? And when you feel that, where do you go? And your network will tell you? Talk to your network and I'm talking to my network, and I'm becoming this red flag and I'm all confused and I'm burning, you know, bridges. It's like, there must be a better way. Eventually, it did leap again. I started a tech startup. I sold it.
- [11:34]
Rebecca Minkoff
How long was between the confusion, you know, being in the doldrums and not knowing between that and then starting your tech startup?
- [11:42]
Ilana Golan
It wasn't a long time. But the tech startup, I think came from, and I think that was the reason why it wasn't as successful. It started from desperation versus from like a purpose. I think you talk a lot about purpose in your book and I love it. And it started from, you know, I needed to find something because I was going nuts and I thought it was a passion I started, I sold it, like theoretically it has a nice story and eventually like it helped me mentor in some of the biggest startup accelerators and speak on stages and do all these things. But suddenly I was just like, you know what? It all started with this lowest point in my life. And is there anybody else that feels this?
- [12:26]
Rebecca Minkoff
I think there are a lot of people that feel that.
- [12:27]
Ilana Golan
Oh, I was just like. Because eventually I. If you really ask, I was looking for what I want to do next for probably two years. So was there a better way? Was there a better school, education or something? A platform that I could go to to find what I want to do, how to do it, how to build a brand. But again, the future of work and the future of education and there wasn't anything. And I was like, you know what, you can find a coach, but I don't know, like I don't know if you know any good. I don't know if you're inspiration, inspirational for me. I don't know if you walk the walk like it's like, this should be a better way. And that was eventually in 2020, I was like, let's experiment this a little bit and I just going to help a few people. And I mean, we became one of the fastest growing private companies in America really quick. So I think the demand surprised me. And suddenly I realized that this is disrupting a really big market. And the more I could see the result and the people coming in, the people getting suddenly like from director to C suite and to start companies and raise capital and private equity and venture capital. Like suddenly you see the results and you're like, damn, we need to help. Not thousands, we need to help millions. How do we get there? So I think it was kind of an evolution, if you will, to actually get there.
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Rebecca Minkoff
Do you think that Covid helped? Because suddenly everyone was rethinking. Not only were people leaving jobs, but, you know, remote work became more of a possibility.
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Ilana Golan
I luckily started this exactly two months before COVID Wow. But completely didn't know, obviously Covid is coming. So January 14th, you know, we started this. Yeah. And then Covid hit. And the truth is the first thing that happen is that I freaked out because suddenly it's like, there's not going to be any jobs. You know, what do you do. So I think it was actually also interesting because some people closed down and just shut whatever they started. And I was like, I don't know, I just started. I don't really have an option, so it has to work. And yeah, it eventually Covid really, really did help because I think a lot of people realize that they want not just the paycheck, but the life that comes with the paycheck. And the question, how do you create that? And I think it also opened the remote work and the zoom and the gay economy. It also created what I call portfolio career. I think we're seeing more and more people basically creating a whole portfolio of ventures, income streams, things that they love, things that they are building for personal branding, things that they love because, I don't know, like good experiences. So they're building a multiple facet career versus this one thing, that this is all they have in their life. And I think I wish I knew that earlier because then I wouldn't have this, like massive drop that all my identity was this one title, one company, nothing else. So I think it's our responsibility right now to start designing these kind of portfolios for ourselves. Even if you have, you are an employee, but just build some branding on the side. Volunteer, join boards, join advisory, do consulting, do coaching, do whatever. Start building yourself on the side so you're never without anything.
- [15:27]
Rebecca Minkoff
Hey everyone, quick pause. I want to share something exciting with you all. Superwoman has a brand new YouTube channel. It's still under construction, but big things are coming in 2026. You'll find past episodes, new episodes, and some bonus content I can't wait for you to see. Just search SuperWoman Media on YouTube and hit subscribe so you don't miss a thing. I'm asking for myself because I've built a portfolio career. So I obviously have Rebecca Minkoff the brand, but then I have female founder collective. But then I speak and I write and I have a podcast. And it's a lot.
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Ilana Golan
It is a lot.
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Rebecca Minkoff
Sometimes I'm the opposite. I'm like, wow, it'd be so nice to focus just on one thing.
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Ilana Golan
First of all, I will say life is in phases, in different phases, different things will be important for us. And I think the hardest thing is sometimes for high achievers to admit what is this phase? And I think a lot of our struggles come from not admitting that right now I want balance, or right now I want to travel, or right now I want the podcast, or right now, you know. So I think a lot of it is also coming from our internal struggles versus saying, okay, this is actually what I really want. So let me double down on that. And you're right. Like, I stopped the boards, I stopped the advisory. A lot of the things I did stop because I'm so passionate about Leap Academy. But then after I focused on Leap Academy for a while now, I wanted to start the book. So I think it's also okay to have a little bit of a variety and then focus on another one thing and then variety. But I think the big message here is be intentional, be strategic. Like, for you, it's beautiful. Like, they're all kind of creating this amazing snowball effect.
- [16:59]
Rebecca Minkoff
I'm glad you can see that. Sometimes I'm like, is this.
- [17:02]
Ilana Golan
Do it.
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Rebecca Minkoff
Is anyone listening?
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Ilana Golan
I'm listening. I'm a fan. Seriously. Like, I think the mistake that sometimes people do is that they throw spaghetti on the wall and they hope something will stick and they do things that are so unrelated that it doesn't create this, like, mega result that actually should come from this. But I think if you do do it very intentionally, it's like a chess game. And it's fascinating. And I wish more people would kind of look at it in a more strategic way, because once it creates just this fun life that you get to live. And I think we're pretty lucky there.
- [17:37]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yeah, it does. And I like that you've broken it out, that it can be seasons, phases. Because I do think some people feel overwhelmed by the idea of starting something new or not focusing on one thing. A question I have is, who is this right for and what you see or what I've seen? And this is being so general, but you have people that I would say are 50 plus that have high salaries and haven't been fully integrated into being as good on the computer or Internet or whatever. And so those people sometimes are the first to go. Then you have Gen Z coming in and they're like, I'm sorry, I don't work past 5 o'.
- [18:13]
Ilana Golan
Clock.
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Rebecca Minkoff
And I don't. I'm not available this weekend and all the other fun things that come. And so then you're like, well, we can't hire these people, but those guys of it, you know, so Millennials. Thank you. I feel I can toggle both. But who is Leap for? Like, give me a person that should. Who's listening, that should take advantage of you.
- [18:32]
Ilana Golan
So I would say the ideal audience for us is 35 to 65. They're very driven. In many cases, they're again, mid to late stage career and trying to think what's next for me and how do I live my full potential? They have to be motivated. There is no magic wand. There is no get rich quick. Like, this is for high achiever. This is for driven people. But they know in their career core that they're not their full potential. They know that there's more to them and they would love to get that out.
- [19:03]
Rebecca Minkoff
And, and do they have to know what they want to do?
- [19:05]
Ilana Golan
Oh, no, they never. Like, I think 75% of the people that I talk to don't know what they want to do. And I think that's what I'm so passionate about because this is where I've been, right? So for me it's about this like very engineered process that eventually I engineered again. I'm a geek. Hey, engineer is a gate. That's probably the only thing that I actually got from engineering school. I'm a geek. So I geeked this out. There's l. A process that you go through to really understand like what it is that I want to do. What is my zone of genius, what's my must haves? Like, how do I. So there's like a really, how do I experiment? And it's interesting because startups experiment all the time. Like I learned this actually like when I mentored in like Google startup accelerators and Singularity University and other, you know, Carnegie Mellon, et cetera. And what's interesting is in startup world, we do this all the time, but somehow we're not bringing this back to careers. And it's actually really easy to experiment the minute you do. And once that clarity kicks in, it's incredible to see like how much old motivation you can get from just driving force. It's really more about that art of leaping and doing it again and again to create that portfolio career and that snowball effect for you. So it's really fun. So I would say again, 40 to 65 driven want more from their career. They have to start being really intentional because I think right now our brand is our currency. It's the only insurance policy we have.
- [20:28]
Rebecca Minkoff
Our personal brand.
- [20:29]
Ilana Golan
Our personal brand.
- [20:31]
Rebecca Minkoff
That's the other thing that I think people are struggling with is, oh my gosh, even if I don't have a portfolio career, I have to have a personal brand. And like, I'm not good in front of the camera and I don't know how to do my hair or dress. And it's really clear when someone's bad at it and it's like, how do you get them to get good at it, you know, because it is. You're right. It is so important. It is our currency.
- [20:52]
Ilana Golan
Well, I mean, you knew it a lot earlier than I did. I mean, I caught myself very late. So I think for me, it's about, hey, I've been there. Like, I was you, right? Like, I had no clue. I had no brand, I had no LinkedIn. I actually have a story for you. So when I left, thrown out, whatever, when I had my big moment, that's already when I started my tech startup. And I remember going to investors and I had no brand. There was nothing. Rebecca, you would have needed to be like a spy to find anything about me. Because I just didn't have time. Like, I grew the other companies. I never thought of growing myself. And it was interesting. Like, so I went to this investor again, again, and eventually, you know, and I could see that they're interested, but they would not invest, right? And I was like, what is missing? What is missing? And eventually I just popped the question. I was like, look, you want me to meet me here again? Again, Again? What are you missing? Like, what's needed? And he just said, really honestly. And I. I'm grateful for it. It was hurting at the moment, but he basically said, ilana, like, we actually googled you before you came. Like, we were very interested. We're interested in what you're building. We're interested in you. We love the background that you're sharing, but we googled your name. We didn't find anything about it. We. You looked at LinkedIn. You have, like 400 connections. Like, you merely don't exist. And I remember looking at this and I'm like, you know, what do I like? It didn't even cross my mind. It wasn't even on my radar, that that was even important. And again, and we're talking about, I don't know, 2017, whoever is listening to this, and you're like, I can't build my brand. I don't know how to do this. Like, I'm not comfortable. I was you like, right? So I think there's also an element, I think, when. Because I've been there and I'm still not very comfortable, you know, in front of camera and Instagram and all this. You know, I look at you and like, oh, my God, Rebecca, you're amazing at it.
- [22:52]
Rebecca Minkoff
I wasn't comfort in the beginning. I was, like, cringing. I was like, oh, God, really? Oh, gosh, now I gotta get braces. You know, it was.
- [23:01]
Ilana Golan
It was cringy anyway. I can't see that was 2014.
- [23:06]
Rebecca Minkoff
You know, 2014 was the year the camera turned.
- [23:09]
Ilana Golan
I can't see that you're cringy. It looks so natural from you.
- [23:12]
Rebecca Minkoff
But you know what I still can't do? A lot of people that are having a lot of success on Instagram just talk to the camera as if they're talking to their best friend. And I that part I haven't gotten there yet. They'll do their makeup and be like, I'm going to tell you a story. And I'm just like, oh God, do I have to do that now too? Maybe that's what will make me go viral.
- [23:31]
Ilana Golan
Oh, well, maybe for you. I don't even know how to make a makeup. Maybe I need to do it so that people will see what happens when you don't know how to make put any makeup on. But, but I think for me it's about, you know, I think when you learn to do it the right way, it is more about finding your voice and finding your way. You're not going to be like everybody else. I won't be like, you know, I mean, I'm meeting Gary Vee for dinner. Right? Like, I'm not going to be Gary Vee. I'm never going to talk like him. I'm never going to, you know, But I think it's finding your voice. But just get your voice out and there's somebody out there that needs to listen to you. There's somebody there that you're going to move the needle for them. There's somebody that you can inspire. It's about finding that somebody. So do it not for yourself, do it for somebody that somebody that needs to listen to it. And I think it's a lot easier to think about it.
- [24:21]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yeah, I mean, I think everyone has something to give, they just don't necessarily realize it yet.
- [24:26]
Ilana Golan
Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah.
- [24:33]
Rebecca Minkoff
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- [25:42]
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- [26:12]
Rebecca Minkoff
So you mentioned you're one of the fastest growing companies in America. Do you share numbers, rough numbers or.
- [26:19]
Ilana Golan
It is private but I would just say that they always so inc measures it's pretty strict. Like it's very only numbers oriented. Like it's very strict performance based. They kind of look three years back so we grew 1300% I think in three years. Yeah. So I mean I'm really proud. But I think for me it's not so much that piece because for me that translates to a lot more humans that we actually can help and that means that I can hire the best coaches on the planet. Like if I'm being really honest, I didn't believe in coaching. Like I. I'm embarrassed to say it right now. Right. But I mean I did not believe in coaching because I felt like a lot of people are either didn't really walk the walk or they haven't been really successful and now they became a coach and I'm like I don't want that. Like that's probably one of the reasons I never like really thought I gonna go to a coach or to anybody that will help me and what was really important for me is that every single person on the team has walked the walk. Like I have people that ran 600 people departments. I had people that you know, like I had people that started startup and you know, raise capital or whatever. Like I wanted to have an environment where if this is where you want to go, we got the expert for you. And I think that was a big thing that was missing for me from like this whole like coaching business. So I wanted to create something different environment of people that have been there, they've done it and they can just take you on this ride in shortcut. Like I think it's all about the shortcut because if somebody can create impact faster, why not?
- [27:58]
Rebecca Minkoff
And I think that sometimes people think coaches are therapists, but they're not therapists. They're really like I have a coach now and for a long time I didn't want to have one, but he's almost like my accountability partner. And I feel like after I talk to him and after we agree that I have to do this thing, I get my ass in gear and I do it versus if I'm not accountable to no one. It's just this simple little mind shift that I've been so much more productive since I had him. And so it's nice to know that you have coaches for all the different needs because they're not just being like you can do this honey, go get em.
- [28:31]
Ilana Golan
I know that was the biggest problem. It was just like either very motivational, like woohoo, you can do it. And I'm like I know I can do it. I'm really driven, but I just don't know what to do, where I'm going. Da da da. Like I needed the how I needed like that action. But also I think we're gonn see a big movement towards community. And again every, every cool opportunity is a hidden market, right. It's not coming on job boards, like especially not mid to late stage career, especially not entrepreneurship, advisory board seats, consulting, coaching, whatever, like all these things.
- [29:01]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yeah. But also I feel like with AI, like AI is reading resumes AI like there's now the gatekeeping on getting a job is even harder.
- [29:08]
Ilana Golan
Right? Exactly. Like everything is different. So you gonna have to be in that hidden market Community I think is gonna go really big. We have a flagship event now, it's called LE our flagship event in, in San Jose, in Silicon Valley in end of February. I don't know when this episode will come out, but we're going to have the previous president of Starbucks, we're going to have founder of Siri, Guy Kawasaki. Like you know some of the founders that film directors, Hollywood. I mean are we going to have some incredible people? But again it was like about how do I give people the opportunity to listen to all these different incredible leaders and to say okay, this is what's on the menu, this is what I can actually start replic.
- [29:50]
Rebecca Minkoff
So you've mentioned in our interview that you have sold built and sold Many companies. What is your goal for Leap? Is this your now your lifelong passion? Are you like, if someone comes knocking, you're. You're there?
- [30:02]
Ilana Golan
Well, I built and sold one company, but I'm invested in a lot of them and some of them have sold them, so I can't take responsibility out of that. But I think Leap has become part of me in a way that I didn't think will be possible. And I think I'm kind of. It takes me back to whatever, 2000, whatever, when I was like, all confused, 14, 15, and I was like, what's next for me? How do I find it? How do I find my passion? I think you knew that you love fashion, but I think for me, the passion piece, you don't have enough evidence if you're really transforming or changing. You don't have enough evidence that this is really your passion. You have a mere idea, you have a testing ground, you have some experiments, but you don't know that this is really what you're going to want do for the rest of your life. Right. And I think it's going to change anyway and things will morph anyway. So I do think that now that I see Leap Academy, I can say I get the thank you. Thank you changed my life. I see what our podcast is doing and talking to some of the biggest leaders of our time and in my book and whatever, like, I can see how this arena is going to become like a full blown. This is my life, I think. Yeah.
- [31:14]
Rebecca Minkoff
So what are your thoughts then on you find your passion, but you're older and wiser and you know the work it's going to take to pursue it. So I was offered. Someone came to me and said, leave Rebecca Minkoff. I'll take the money instead of buying Rebecca Minkoff and we'll start a new brand. And I said, thank you so much, but I know the work involved in launching a brand from zero, and I'm not willing to do that at this stage of my life. So what would you say to someone who's like, I love this, but I don't want to do what it takes?
- [31:44]
Ilana Golan
I mean, I think you said it beautifully. Like, I really think it's the same.
- [31:47]
Rebecca Minkoff
It's.
- [31:48]
Ilana Golan
Life is in phases. Like, like, you know, sometimes you're really hungry to get to the next phase and sometimes you're not. I work my ass off. Like, I'm a really hard worker, but I also love experiences which in the past, I couldn't afford to go cycling in India with Richard Branson or to, you know, to do all these, like, really cool experiences that I get to do now. But the fact that I do these things are part of who I am and what I want to do. And if I need to now work and put these on the back burner, that's a no go. So I think it's also really important, kind of what we talked about, to decide what you want to say yes to and what you want to say no to. And I think the beautiful piece is when I think there's a little bit of accordion thing. Like, sometimes you are opening a lot of opportunities for yourself and this is what you need to focus on. And sometimes it's about saying no to a lot of other things. Right. So there's a little bit of a accordion. You don't want to always say no because then you wind up with like, very limited, limited scope of what's possible. And it is a new possible all the time. There's so many things and so many opportunities on the menu. But then I think there's a little bit of, like, how do I decide I going to say a lot of yeses and then I gonna say a lot of no's and trim them down.
- [32:59]
Rebecca Minkoff
Yeah. So being that you have been in the room with some of the probably the brightest minds and most incredible thinkers, is there something you see in all them that's the same.
- [33:11]
Ilana Golan
Yeah.
- [33:11]
Rebecca Minkoff
That maybe is responsible for their success or impact?
- [33:15]
Ilana Golan
Yeah. So it's really funny that you say that, because I was thinking about the same. I mean, I think if I need to summarize all my meetings with all these big leaders, if I need to summarize all my podcasts, it's grit. There's one word. You know, like, I feel. I feel like I'm dumbing down the entire podcast to one word, which is embarrassing, but it is. It's like it's. Eventually they all go through really hard times. I think what I love about this podcast and doing my podcast is that I get to be inspired by their stories. Like, I hear their lows, I hear the challenges, I hear the hardest moments of their life. And then I see that they continue, despite the fear, despite the hardship. And it's incredible to see. And it gives me so much inspiration to continue because again, I think, you know, Tom Bilyeu says it beautifully, is like, don't tell me, what's the minimum you're willing to do? Tell me, what's the maximum you're willing to bear? Right. I mean, it's just so such a good question. Right. It boils down to grit. It's amazing.
- [34:18]
Rebecca Minkoff
If somebody hasn't yet wrote, written a book called Grit, that. That's the next title of mine.
- [34:24]
Ilana Golan
I'll take it. I think there is one. But yeah.
- [34:28]
Rebecca Minkoff
So a piece of advice you want to share from yourself and maybe from one of the fantastic people you've interviewed that you felt like was highly applicable.
- [34:37]
Ilana Golan
One of the big things that I will share, especially for high achievers, we like to go, go, go, go, go. And we never stop and look at the wins. So we never kind of look back and see how far we've come. And because we're always kind of, what is the next carrot? And I do the same. Like, sometimes I get to this, oh, never mind. I got to, you know, 5 million. Great. What's next? You know, I mean, it's like the carrot keeps on moving instead of like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let's celebrate the first seven figure, eight figure, right? Let's celebrate it for a second and then. And then continue. And I think that's the big thing that, you know, we don't stop to celebrate. And I think that gives you the stamina to continue because again, at the end of the day, it's about the tenacity. It's about continuing when it's insanely, insanely hard and scary and the fear is there and the fear of no money and the suffocation and I mean, in the investment world, we literally call it the near death experience. There's a name for it because you feel like you're dying and everything around you dying. And at some point, you don't even care if you're gonna die. At some point, I'm like, this sucks and you need to stay and pick yourself back up. And the only way for you to do it is if you start getting really good about looking at the wins and the things that you have done successfully because those give you the win. And I think that's really, really important.
- [36:03]
Rebecca Minkoff
I love that. Pick a line from Gary or Richard or Starbucks man. Anyone there or a woman you interviewed that you felt like was also good for people listening?
- [36:13]
Ilana Golan
Oh, man. Richard Branson is probably the biggest mentor of my life right now. And by the way, he has a beautiful quote that I like, and I'm probably gonna butcher it, so please don't.
- [36:23]
Rebecca Minkoff
You know, we'll put it in the show notes.
- [36:25]
Ilana Golan
But it's something along the lines of, in the darkest moment, we all need to pick ourselves back up. It's not so much about just doing the work. It's about accessing your reserve tank when you really don't have anything else to give anymore. And I think accessing the reserve thing is such a great way to look at it because it's like sometimes we really believe we don't have anything else to give and we can't do it anymore. And there's always a little layer that will continue. And I think if somebody like him that has so many ventures and so many adventures, you know, and he still quotes this, it just gives you that feel like, yeah, this is a good one. And maybe I'll share one from Howard Behar, who was the president of Starbucks. And he literally, for him actually was like an opposite thing. He basically said that retiring was one of his hardest moments of life because he suddenly felt lack of relevance. And for him, that was almost suicidal. Like, it was just like, I couldn't bear with it. Like, I. I couldn't do it. And I think that's also fascinating because I think Daniel Pink was on my podcast to talk about the power of regret. Like, how do you live a life with minimum regret? Right. Which is another thing that is fascinating. Anyway, I love it.
- [37:40]
Rebecca Minkoff
So where can people find out more@LeapAcademy.com
- [37:43]
Ilana Golan
LeapAcademy.com yeah, LeapAcademy.com or the Leap Academy podcast. The Leap Academy with Ilana Golan. And if somebody wants either inspiration, the podcast is there. And if you really are serious about taking your life to the next level and creating portfolio, career and multiple streams of income, you know, just living your best life. Leap Academy.
- [38:03]
Rebecca Minkoff
Okay, so it's not the girls on Instagram telling me that I can make $2 million this month.
- [38:08]
Ilana Golan
Not quite.
- [38:12]
Rebecca Minkoff
I fall for it every time. I'm like, ooh, maybe if I sell this, I'll get that too. Thank you so much for coming on. It was great to have you. Oh, Rebecca, thank you so much for watching today's episode. Before you head out, I wanted to invite you to our brand new YouTube channel for all things Superwoman. It's a fresh space we're building out for 2026, packed with past episodes, future episodes, and some special new content we're cooking up. Just search SuperWoman Media on YouTube and subscribe so you're there for everything coming next. I will see you over there. Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you've enjoyed it, take a second to rate and review the show. Wherever you're tuning in, it really helps others find the podcast. You can follow me on Instagram. Rebecca Minkoff and msuperwoman or for a slice into my personal life. Eckyminkoff. And don't forget to check out my book Fearless the New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. See you next week.
- [39:10]
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