The strategy behind every leap

Why the opportunities you want are determined long before you're in the room. "Ilana, I don't need a personal brand." I hear that almost every week. And almost every time, it's coming from someone who is already incredibly accomplished. A vice president leading global teams. An executive who has spent twenty years building expertise. An engineer everyone depends on when the stakes are high. An entrepreneur quietly building something remarkable. The people who say this aren't

Why do some people seem to move into leadership almost effortlessly? They don't always have the most experience. They're not always the smartest person in the room. They aren't necessarily working longer hours than everyone else. Yet somehow they're the people who are invited into the conversations that matter. The strategy meetings. The board presentations. The leadership discussions. The decisions that shape the future of the business. For years, I thought getting there mea

Key Takeaway The skills that lead to early success don’t always translate to executive success. Advancing requires a shift from execution to leadership, visibility, and strategic influence. The next level is built on reputation, not just results. For years, I thought success worked like this: Work hard. Get results. Keep climbing. And honestly? For a while, it worked. That formula took me from the Air Force to engineering, to technical sales, to product, to VP. Every time I

92 million jobs will disappear by 2030. It’s a stark reality, and yet so few of us are prepared for what that future may look like. What do you do when the thing you've spent years building is no longer there? The job. The company. The business. The title. The identity you've worked so hard to create. Most professionals will experience a major career setback, career transition, or unexpected job loss at some point in their lives. Whether it's a layoff, a failed business, o

Why do some people seem to make extraordinary progress while others stay busy but never quite move forward? At first glance, it looks like a productivity problem. It's not. Most driven professionals don't struggle because they're lazy. They don't struggle because they lack talent, intelligence, or opportunity. They struggle because they're saying yes to too many things that don't move them closer to where they want to go. And the cost of those decisions is often invisible. Un

The Hidden Reason Career Growth, Leadership Opportunities, and Personal Reinvention Often Feel So Difficult

In today's fast-paced job market, the idea of leaping your career (making a strategic move to a new role or company), might seem like something to do when you're unhappy, stuck, or facing an uncertain future. But what if I told you that the best time to leap your career is when you don't need to? Many professionals make the mistake of waiting until they’re dissatisfied or feel their job is at risk before they start considering their next move. However, the most successful car

Winning a job interview requires a combination of preparation, presentation, and performance. With a few key steps you are sure to stand out

Ageism is a significant issue that can profoundly impact careers. However, with a strategic and intentional approach, you can turn your age

In today's competitive job market, establishing a strong personal brand and reputation is essential,

Realizing your career dreams requires more than just wishful thinking; it demands a strategic approach and unwavering committment.

Career fulfillment is a journey, not a destination.

If you’re an entrepreneur trying to grow or start your business, keep reading… Picture this: I was working from a clumsy bed tray with a weird hanging light, feeling pretty overwhelmed. I was about to go live with Leap Academy, but fear had me paralyzed. Fast-forward three years, and we won the Startup of the Year award. We were invited to an award ceremony in New York for our impact and growth, and even had a few moments of glory on the NASDAQ tower. Today, my office looks

My top ten picks of books for leaders that I've read.

A fascinating interview with Rania Vice President at Intuit on Empowering Leadership

A few years ago, I sold my startup. At first, there was a huge sense of relief and excitement. But quite quickly this turned into fear and doubt. I realized my entire life, I identified myself as my job or my title. I believe many of us do this. In events and conferences introducing myself was easy – I was “Ilana the VP of…”, “Ilana the founder & CEO”. Now I was just Ilana. If the question of ‘What do you do’ came up, I would cringe. What should I say? That I have absolutely

A few years ago I was working as an executive in a company when a friend approached me to start a tech company together. Excited, I rolled up my sleeves and jumped right in. A few months later we raised $700,000 from investors! “This can’t be real!”, I jumped with sheer joy and immediately quit my job. Little did I know that same day I will also be kicked out of the business. I was left with No Salary, No Startup and No Investment. OMG the downhill spiral! How could this happ

You will notice its actually not easy to think of everything you went through in the last decade. A decade is a long time! But when you do, you will gain some great insights into what makes you truly unique, happy, when do you achieve greater things, in what cases do you feel proud, etc. The best part is that this will help you plan the future. I don't believe we can plan a decade in advance but you can plan your next 2-3 years and own your plan for growth. At Leap Academy we