Episode 12: From Wall Street to Wings: Leading with Purpose After Crisis

Summary

In this episode of The Climb, host Rahul Karan Sharmainterviews Lyubim Kogan, a remarkable individual with a diverse background as a Winter Olympian, 9-11 survivor, and founder of Wings for Heroes. The conversation explores Lyubim's leadership journey, the challenges he faced, andthe importance of resilience and self-leadership. He shares insights on how extreme experiences shaped his leadership philosophy and the mission of his nonprofit organization that empowers amputee veterans through paragliding. Theepisode emphasizes the significance of supporting noble causes and the lessons learned from working with wounded veterans.

Key Takeaways

Leadership requires self-leadership before leading others.

Delivering more than expected is key to success.

Your name and reputation are your most valuable assets.

Extreme challenges can shape a strong leadership philosophy.

Supporting veterans is a noble cause that requires action.

Making a decision is the first step towards achieving goals.

Positive experiences are crucial for personal growth.

Resilience is a common trait among veterans.

Empathy and understanding are essential in leadership.

Dreams cannot be taken away unless you let them go.

Chapters

00:00The Journey of Lyubim Kogan

08:24Leadership Lessons from Extreme Challenges

13:05The Birth of Wings for Heroes

20:22Supporting a Noble Cause

29:13Lessons from Wounded Veterans

35:24Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

 

 

About Guest – Lyubim Kogan

Our guest today is Lyubim (pronounced Loo-beem) Kogan — a five-time first-generation immigrant, Winter Olympian, NYU Stern graduate, 9/11 survivor, and founder of Wings4Heroes.org, a mission helping amputee veteransreclaim dignity, purpose, and joy through paragliding and adventure. His journey spans Wall Street trading desks, kitchen tables across Main Street America, crisis leadership in war zones, and humanitarian missions acrosscontinents. He’s a national bestselling co-author with Steve Forbes and has shared the stage at the United Nations with Brian Tracy. Today, he’s here to talk about what it means to keep a promise — especially when there’s no script, no paycheck, and no clear path forward. Learn more about his purpose -   https://wings4heroes.org/

 

🔹 About Host: Rahul Karan Sharma

 

Rahul Karan Sharma is a Forbes Coaches Council member,keynote speaker, and creator of the globally recognized CLIMB™ Framework for Confident Leadership. As the founder of Steady Steps LLC, he empowers organizations and individuals to grow through mindset transformation,leadership clarity, and the development of sustainable team culture.

🎯Rahul works with: First-time managers & emerging leaders Organizations navigating transformation

Universities preparing students for career success

📘Author: Be Action Oriented & Habits4Miracles

📘 Get Rahul’s book BeAction Oriented: ⁠https://habits4miracles.com/jumpstart⁠🎙️ Host: The CLIMB – Confident Leader Podcast

🔗 CONNECT WITH RAHUL

🌐 Website: www.rahulkaransharma.com

📸 Instagram: @preparewithrahul

📘 Facebook: Prepare with Rahul Sharma

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma X (Twitter): x.com/rahulphr

🎥 TikTok: @preparewithrahul ⁠

 

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