Founder & CEO, Leap Academy

Leap with
Ilana Golan

Turning Executives & Founders into Thought Leaders.

A former Air Force officer, tech executive, now running Leap Academy — one of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

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Inc. 5000 · Forbes · Stevie Awards — Startup of the Year · 100+ Companies Backed · Top 1% Podcast Worldwide · Simon & Schuster Publishing Partner Inc. 5000 · Forbes · Stevie Awards — Startup of the Year · 100+ Companies Backed · Top 1% Podcast Worldwide · Simon & Schuster Publishing Partner
Leap Academy Podcast with Ilana Golan — guests including Richard Branson, Gary Vaynerchuk, Guy Kawasaki, Grant Cardone, and Kym McNicholas
The Mission

Deep expertise doesn't speak for itself. Someone has to build the platform around it.

That's the work: turning executives and founders with real substance into recognized thought leaders — a personal brand, a stage, a network, and a body of work that instills trust, attracts opportunity, and opens doors no title alone ever could.

Ilana Golan on stage at the Women's Leadership Conference of Northeast Ohio, asking the audience: What's your mission?
Ilana Golan on stage, screen reading: It's not about who you are now, but who you want to become next
In Her Words

"I've leaped again and again — the Israeli Air Force, tech, founder, investor. Right now, I'm building one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, a podcast in the top 1% worldwide, and a global publishing house with Simon & Schuster for thought leaders. Every leap taught me the same lesson: the story you tell about yourself decides what happens next — and which doors open."

— Ilana Golan
What Ilana Runs

Four worlds. One throughline.

Coaching, media, publishing, and capital — every part of the work exists to help ambitious people leap faster.

Ilana Golan celebrating below the Nasdaq Tower after Leap Academy was named Startup of the Year
01 — Coaching & Community

Leap Academy

The flagship program fast-tracking executives to leadership, new industries, or entrepreneurship. Named Startup of the Year and twice to the Inc. 5000.

Visit Leap Academy →
02 — Media

Leap Academy Podcast

Top 1% podcast worldwide — honest conversations with some of the biggest leaders in the world about reinvention, leadership and growth.

Hear the show →
03

Leap Signature Publishing

An imprint for leaders' books, built with Forefront Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Live now.

Explore Leap Signature →
04 — Capital

Golan Ventures

Personal and fund-based investor in 100+ startups, several past a $1B valuation — plus growth advisory and board seats.

Visit Golan Ventures →
Flight Log

This is my journey of reinvention & leaping.

1975
1975
Log 01 · Salt Lake City → Israel

Born

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, then raised in Israel — the only daughter to two loving parents.

Ilana as a young child with her mother in the snow
1991
Log 02 · Israel

War, and a lesson in resilience

Her parents divorced the same year war broke out. Hours in sealed rooms with gas masks made for a harsh teenage chapter — and an early education in staying steady under pressure.

Young Ilana wearing a gas mask during wartime in Israel
1993
Log 03 · Israeli Air Force

F-16 Simulator Command

Became the first woman to command F-16 flight-simulator training in the Israeli Air Force — training pilots on the aircraft ahead of real flight.

Ilana Golan telling her F-16 story on stage, with fighter jet cockpit footage on screen behind her
1996
Log 04 · Intel

Youngest hire on record

Joined Intel as the youngest employee the company had hired to that point — the start of a tech career built on the same fast execution she learned commanding the simulator.

Intel headquarters building
100+
Startups invested in, personally & via funds
$1B+
Valuation crossed by several portfolio companies
70K+
Professionals reached by Leap Academy, four continents
Inc. 5000 — fastest-growing private companies
The Show

Leap Academy Podcast

Honest, unfiltered conversations about what it actually takes to leap to bigger things. Ilana sits down with the world's biggest leaders to find the untold truths behind their reinventions.

Ranked in the top 1% of podcasts worldwide. New episodes weekly.

Leap Academy Podcast guests: Russell Brunson, Gary Vaynerchuk, Seth Godin, Richard Branson, Guy Kawasaki, Grant Cardone, Neil Patel, and other leaders
Richard Branson · Gary Vaynerchuk · Grant Cardone · Dr. Rajiv J. Shah · Russell Brunson · Spencer Rascoff · Harley Finkelstein · Chris Voss · Robin Arzón · Tom & Lisa Bilyeu · Howard Behar · Dan Ariely Richard Branson · Gary Vaynerchuk · Grant Cardone · Dr. Rajiv J. Shah · Russell Brunson · Spencer Rascoff · Harley Finkelstein · Chris Voss · Robin Arzón · Tom & Lisa Bilyeu · Howard Behar · Dan Ariely
In Their Words

What leaders say.

An Imprint of Forefront Books

Leap Signature — Publishing for Leaders

A traditional publishing experience, amplified by a platform. Live now, built with Forefront Books, distributed nationwide by Simon & Schuster.

Leap Signature — an imprint of Forefront Books, distributed by Simon & Schuster
100%IP & rights retained by the author
Bestseller-list eligible (NYT, WSJ, USA Today)
Ilana's podcast, media & network behind every launch
01

Traditional-grade production

Full editorial, cover design, print and eBook production — managed end-to-end by Forefront's team.

02

Real retail distribution

Stocked through Simon & Schuster's own sales team — bookstores, airports, and major national retailers.

03

Leap's platform, built in

A podcast spotlight alongside guests like Richard Branson and Gary Vaynerchuk, a launch into the Leap Academy community, and speaking pathways after the book ships.

15
NYT bestsellers from Forefront Books to date
$80M
Value created through client results
100+
Companies Ilana has personally backed
$29.5M
Venture capital raised by Leap clients

Forefront authors include Glenn Beck, Joan Lunden, John C. Maxwell, Harold Hamm, Brandon Dawson, and Dave Liniger.

Ilana Golan speaking on a fireside-chat panel outdoors
On Stage & In The Room

Speaking & Advisory

An award-winning international keynote speaker, and a trusted advisor to founders, executives, and institutions on growth, leadership, and reinvention.

See Full Speaker One-Sheet →
TechCrunch Disrupt · Google · Western Digital · Wix · Inman Connect · Unicorn Summit, Lisbon · ClickFunnels · IAC Edge Summit · Technion · Pacific NW Chamber of Commerce · LeapCon · Necker Island TechCrunch Disrupt · Google · Western Digital · Wix · Inman Connect · Unicorn Summit, Lisbon · ClickFunnels · IAC Edge Summit · Technion · Pacific NW Chamber of Commerce · LeapCon · Necker Island

Advisory & Boards

  • Google for StartupsMentor, Accelerator program
  • Singularity UniversityFaculty & mentor
  • Carnegie MellonGuest lecturer
  • MBA ProgramsGuest lecturer, multiple top programs
As Seen In
Book Ilana

Speaker Enquiries

Ilana brings a rare combination to the stage: an F-16 simulator commander's composure under pressure, a founder's scar tissue, and an investor's view across 100+ companies.

For keynotes, panels, corporate offsites, and board advisory — get in touch and her team will follow up within 48 hours.