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Steven Izen

Lokai Founder and CEO Says, “Don’t Cut Corners.”

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Steven Izen uses relay race baton handoff to illustrate an entrepreneur’s journey from “running through walls and never taking no for an answer” to maturing into a long-term thinking planner whose success depends not only on lots of hard work, but also aligning team members around a shared mission and passion for “making the world a better place.”

Steven is in an unique position to speak both to founders and corporate leaders because he currently serves as both. He launched Lokai in 2013 as a senior at Cornell. Today he serves as CEO, and Lokai’s brand of beaded bracelets have become a phenomenon sold in 5,000 locations in 170 countries. The bracelets each contain a droplet of mud from the Dead Sea and water from Mount Everest to represent the highs and lows of earth and of life.

In 2019, Steven founded his second company Elements, which produces functional wellness drinks formulated to consistently balance the body’s stress levels. The products have found a place in Wegmans stores, and are being tested at other large chains.

Listeners are sure to enjoy his descriptions of getting his businesses off the ground as well as the differences and similarities of being a founder versus a CEO, including why the numbers count… but aren’t everything, and baking social responsibility into your bottom line. Steven offers a distinctive blend of unwavering confidence and hard-won humility that is sure to inspire and awaken your own creative juices. And one thing’s for sure: you’ll never look at a baton handoff in a track relay the same way again.


You will learn:

  •  5:30   How the highs and lows of sport relate to Steven’s business.
  •  7:00   The lessons from football woven into Steven’s journey.
  •  8:00   The athletic accomplishment Steven is most proud of.
  • 14:00  His dad’s impact on his leadership.
  • 18:00  The idea Steven had while studying at Cornell that changed his life.
  • 19:30  Debunking Steven’s “overnight success.”
  • 23:00  The advice Steven gave his fellow Cornell alums about life.
  • 29:00  Lokai’s partnership with Kyle Carpenter.


You will learn:

  •  6:00   How easy it is to cut corners in practice and why you’ll suffer as a result.
  •  8:00   How to emphasize the power or “we” on your team.
  • 11:00  How living and working in Japan in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster taught Lane that caring was the universal language of respected leaders.
  • 15:00  The level of employee interaction required to achieve success.
  • 18:30  The difference between being accountable and responsible.
  • 27:00  How to identify a meaningful friend or mentor.

Resources:


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Meet Don Yaeger

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13-Time New York Times Best-Selling Author & Leadership Coach

As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 12-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
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Simon Sinek

Best-Selling Author, Inspirational Speaker

"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”

Beth Brooke

Global Vice Chair of Public Policy for Ernst & Young

“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”

Rick Hendrick

NASCAR Hall of Famer, Owner of Hendrick Motorsports & Chairman of the Hendrick Automotive Group

We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”

Bill George

Longtime Medtronic CEO, Harvard Professor

“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”

Greg Brenneman

Home Depot Board Director

“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”

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