23 Jan January 23, 2015 – Founding Jack Erwin Shoes & TED SuperStar Simon Sinek
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Ariel Nelson and Lane Gerson – Co-Founders of Jack Erwin Shoes
Ariel Nelson and Lane Gerson are the co-founders of Jack Erwin Shoes, bringing a new kind of shoe buying experience for men. They focus on four core principles: quality, curation, experience, and fair prices. These two friends and entrepreneurs didn’t start out in the fashion world, though. Ariel was in beverage distribution and Lane worked in the world of accounting. They were both frustrated with high-priced less than classy shoes, so they decided to do something about it. They researched the shoe industry, had a chance meeting with a shoe designer, quit their jobs to pursue their new venture, and now offer classic shoes for men at prices ranging between $95 and $210 – reaching a wider customer base and providing a needed product.
Simon Sinek – SinekPartners and Management Consulting Consultant
Simon Sinek is the owner of SinekPartners and the leader behind Start With Why. He is a trained ethnographer and he uses those skills to help people learn how to be inspired, inspirational, and fulfilled with their careers. Simon is the author of two books, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Dont and Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Throughout his years of study and experience he has observed that there are certain patterns of behavior that successful people follow, and he wants to share those ideas to help others reach their own potentials. His approach to leadership has led him to work with leaders of businesses and organizations that include 3M, Costco, Deckers, jetBlue, NBC/Universal, the military, and government entities. You can also find his commentary in local and national press, including The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, and BusinessWeek. He is also a visionary for the RAND Corporation.