John Terzian: The King of LA Nightlife and Building The h.wood Group from Scratch | E156

John Terzian is the co-founder of The h.wood Group, one of the most influential hospitality companies in the world, known for creating iconic venues like The Nice Guy, Delilah, Bootsy Bellows, and Shore Bar. But before he built an empire in nightlife and dining, John’s path was anything but conventional. From working as a DJ assistant to getting banned from the Queen Mary for throwing an out-of-control college party, John’s journey is filled with unforgettable twists, relentless hustle, and big risks. A former USC walk-on quarterback and Pepperdine law school grad who never passed the bar, John chose to follow his passion for creating experiences over traditional career paths. In this episode, he opens up about growing up in L.A., being harassed by corrupt cops, dealing with failure, and how grit, creativity, and real relationships helped him build a global brand from the ground up.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and John's Childhood10:45 – USC Football, Recruiting, and the Roots of H.Wood’s Culture20:55 – Nightclubs, Celebrities, and the Birth of The h.wood Group35:30 – The Tea Room and Getting Shut Down by Corrupt Cops47:40 – Moving Back Home and Starting Over53:17 – Bootsy Bellows, Katy Perry, and the Breakthrough MomentResources:The h.wood Group WebsiteThe h.wood Group InstagramJohn's InstagramThe h.wood Group Media InstagramAbout Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X