Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

As a shy kid, Alex Carter struggled to speak up for herself. Her parents divorce sparked her interest in advocacy and mediation, which led her to pursue a law degree. Despite facing self-doubt early in her career, Alex bet on herself and built a career as a Columbia Law professor and renowned negotiation expert. Now, she helps others find their voice, advocate for themselves, and unlock career success. In this episode, Alex joins Ilana to share actionable strategies for negotiating with confidence, landing promotions, charging your worth, and scaling a business.

Alex Carter is a negotiation expert, Columbia Law professor, and bestselling author. She specializes in helping professionals and entrepreneurs build the confidence to negotiate effectively in high-stakes situations. In this episode, Ilana and Alex will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:49) Finding Her Voice and Building Confidence (06:56) Pursuing a Career in Law and Mediation (10:52) Betting on Yourself Despite Self-Doubt (14:25) The Power of Negotiating for Yourself (19:48) How to Secure Your First Big Client (24:39) Negotiating Your Way to Career Success (30:41) Key Steps in Preparing for a Negotiation (39:36) Face-to-Face vs. Email Negotiations (41:44) Negotiating Across Cultures (43:06) Practical Solutions to Business Challenges (45:52) How to Scale by Leveraging Your Time

Alex Carter is a negotiation expert, Columbia Law professor, and bestselling author. She specializes in helping professionals and entrepreneurs build the confidence to negotiate effectively in high-stakes situations. With a background in law and mediation, Alex teaches practical strategies for securing promotions, landing clients, and navigating complex negotiations. Her work empowers individuals to advocate for themselves and achieve career success.

Connect with Alex: Alexs Website: alexcarterasks.com Alexs LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandrabcarter

Resources Mentioned: Alexs Book, Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything: https://www.amazon.com/Ask-More-Questions-Negotiate-Anything/dp/1982130482

Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

Chemi Peress journey to success was shaped by both professional challenges and personal loss. After losing his job, he felt humiliated and vowed never to face such a setback again. He pivoted to venture capitalism, co-founding Pitango Venture Capital, Israels largest venture fund. Despite his success, Chemi experienced the profound losses of both his father and son. These tragedies fueled his drive to honor their legacies through innovation. In this episode, Chemi joins Ilana to share how he navigated grief and adversity, transforming these experiences into a force for lasting impact.

Chemi Peres is the co-founder and managing partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israels largest venture fund, which has invested in over 250 startups. He is also the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing peace and technology in the Middle East. In this episode, Ilana and Chemi will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Growing Up in a Political Legacy (05:21) The Challenges in Becoming a Combat Pilot (07:59) Lessons from the Israeli Defense Forces (11:59) Transitioning to Aerospace and Career Setback (20:13) Entering the Venture Capital World (27:01) Building Israel's Venture Ecosystem (31:14) Navigating Challenges in Venture Capital (34:52) Turning Personal Loss into a Legacy of Innovation (41:27) Healing by Honoring a Loved Ones Dreams (49:34) How the Peres Center is Shaping Israels Future

Chemi Peres is the co-founder and managing partner of Pitango Venture Capital, Israels largest venture fund, which has invested in over 250 startups. As the son of former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Chemi continues his father's legacy by promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. He is also the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing peace and technology in the Middle East.

Connect with Chemi: Chemis LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chemiperes

Resources Mentioned: Pitangos Website: pitango.com Yuka Monsters Website: yukamonsters.com

Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

Guy Kawasaki’s journey from a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Hawaii to becoming a Silicon Valley icon is clear proof of grit and transformation. After working in the jewelry business, he pivoted to tech and joined Apple as Chief Evangelist. There, he played a key role in launching the Macintosh, shaping Apple’s brand, and transforming how technology is marketed. Today, Guy is a venture capitalist, startup advisor, and Chief Evangelist at Canva. In this episode, Guy shares his battle with hearing loss, why passion is overrated, his top sales strategies, and advice for scaling a business as an entrepreneur.

Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, bestselling author, venture capitalist, and speaker. As the former Chief Evangelist for Apple, he played a pivotal role in launching the Macintosh and now serves as Chief Evangelist at Canva. In this episode, Ilana and Guy will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:11) From Humble Beginnings to Studying at Stanford (06:24) Why Sales Is the Key to Business Success (11:01) Knowing When to Pivot vs. Stick with Your Career (17:26) Transitioning from Jewelry Business to Tech (21:48) Key Lessons from Working with Steve Jobs (24:38) How to Evangelize Great Ideas (26:31) The Promotion That Led Guy to Quit Apple (31:58) The Myth of “Finding Your Passion” (38:26) Building Resilience After Hearing Loss (43:15) Strategies to Scale Your Career and Business (49:33) How to Truly Understand Customers’ Needs

Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, bestselling author, venture capitalist, and speaker. As the former Chief Evangelist for Apple, he played a pivotal role in launching the Macintosh and now serves as Chief Evangelist at Canva. Despite experiencing hearing loss and receiving a cochlear implant, Guy’s passion for sharing ideas remains unwavering. He hosts the Remarkable People podcast and delivers over fifty keynote speeches annually for clients like Apple, Nike, Google, and Microsoft.

Connect with Guy: Guy’s Website: guykawasaki.com  Guy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/guykawasaki

Resources Mentioned: Guy’s Podcast,  Remarkable People: bit.ly/RemarkablePeoplePod  Guy’s Book, Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Remarkable-Paths-Transform-Difference/dp/139424522X 

Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

Growing up, Shai Reshef wasn’t the most enthusiastic student, but after earning a master’s degree in Chinese politics, he discovered the transformative power of education. Inspired by a UNESCO report predicting the future lack of access to higher education, Shai decided to act. He sold two businesses, leveraged open-source technology, and partnered with volunteer professors to create University of the People, the world’s first tuition-free, accredited online university. In this episode, Shai joins Ilana to share how the university is empowering over 150,000 students from marginalized communities and offers valuable advice for those seeking to make a meaningful impact.

Shai Reshef is the founder and president of University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, accredited online university dedicated to providing accessible higher education to underserved populations across 206 countries. In this episode, Ilana and Shai will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (01:52) The Power of Education in Nation-Building (04:41) Founding the First Online University in Europe (09:08) Creating a Global, Tuition-Free University (16:05) Overcoming Accreditation Challenges (19:34) The Global Impact of the University of the People (26:41) Building a Sustainable Model for Free Education (30:59) How University of the People Screens Students (34:18) Keys to Launching a Meaningful Project (38:18) Balancing Leadership Stress with Team Dynamics (40:33) Success Stories from University of the People (43:41) The Power of Philanthropy and Nonprofits

Shai Reshef is the founder and president of University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, accredited online university dedicated to providing accessible higher education to underserved populations across 206 countries. Previously, he led Kidum Group, Israel’s largest for-profit educational services company, and chaired KIT eLearning, the first online university in Europe. Recognized for his impact on education, Shai also serves as an adviser to the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development.

Connect with Shai: Shai’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shaireshef 

Resources Mentioned: University of the People’s Website: www.uopeople.edu

Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

Growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, Rosanna Pansino struggled to find her career path. After being fired from every job, she found her calling on YouTube, combining her love for baking with nerdy pop culture. Despite financial struggles, she invested her life savings into building her channel, Nerdy Nummies, which quickly became a sensation. With over 14 million subscribers, bestselling cookbooks, and her own product line, Rosanna turned content creation into a thriving business. In this episode, Rosanna joins Ilana to share how she sustains a long-lasting digital career, navigates platform algorithms, and diversifies her entrepreneurial ventures.

Rosanna Pansino is a YouTuber, actress, author, entrepreneur, and baker, best known for her channel Nerdy Nummies, where she creates visually stunning baked goods inspired by pop culture. In this episode, Ilana and Rosanna will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:24) Growing up with Dyslexia and ADHD (05:07) Discovering a Passion for Baking (06:51) Lessons from Random Jobs and Failure (10:13) Transitioning from Acting Career to Nerdy Nummies (14:09) Investing Her Savings in YouTube Growth (17:04) How Getting Fired Sparked YouTube Success (25:44) Grief and Mentorship from Susan Wojcicki (31:40) Expanding Beyond YouTube (34:03) Sustaining a Long-Term Digital Career (36:52) Adapting Content to Platform Algorithms (41:24) Balancing Family and Business Partnerships (47:03) How Your Inner Circle Drives Success

Rosanna Pansino is a YouTuber, actress, author, entrepreneur, and baker, best known for her channel Nerdy Nummies, where she creates visually stunning baked goods inspired by pop culture. With over 14 million subscribers, she has become one of the most influential figures in the baking and YouTube communities. Rosanna is the author of two cookbooks, The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook and Baking All Year Round, and hosted the HBO Max series Baketopia.

Connect with Rosanna: Rosanna’s Website: rosannapansino.com  Rosanna’s YouTube: youtube.com/@RosannaPansino 

Resources Mentioned: Star Trek: Phoenix - Cloak & Dagger Part I: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1704271/ 

Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training