After her first startup collapsed, Ilana Golan lost her job, salary, and investment. Feeling like a failure, she spiraled into doubt and uncertainty. But instead of giving up, she made a promise not to be the person who does nothing. That decision led her to reinvent herself and found Leap Academy, a community helping others make bold career shifts. In this 2025 LeapCon, Ilana shares her emotional journey from feeling stuck in her career to becoming an impactful leader. She provides actionable insights for navigating hidden markets, building a personal brand, and growing continuously in your career.

Ilana Golan is an entrepreneur, board director, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy, she helps professionals navigate career transitions, leadership, and personal branding.

In this episode, Ilana will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:27) The Power of Dreaming Big

(05:06) Breaking Free From Career Stagnation

(09:21) Turning Tragedy into Fuel

(11:49) The Collapse of Her First Startup

(16:06) How to Reinvent Yourself Again and Again

(18:12) The Cycle of Ego, Fear, and Growth

(21:35) Handling Critics and Naysayers

(22:49) Building True Confidence in Business

(25:34) How to Open Doors in Hidden Markets

(26:36) The Three Levels of Personal Branding

(30:11) Learning From Others to Accelerate Growth

(31:41) Inspiring Success Stories From Leap Academy

Ilana Golan is an entrepreneur, board director, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy, she helps professionals navigate career transitions, leadership, and personal branding. She has been recognized as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, a Top 40 Woman to Watch, and a CEO World Award winner. Ilana is also a sought-after keynote speaker and has been featured on Yahoo Finance, Fox, NBC, and more.

Connect with Ilana:

Ilana’s Website: ilanagolan.com 

Ilana’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan 

Resources Mentioned:

Leap Academy Website: leapacademy.com 

Leap Academy:

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