S10-Ep21: Leadership Lessons from Shark Tank...and Beyond

Guest: Shaan Patel, CEO of Prep Expert Here’s an unexpected formula for success. Step 1: Get a lower score than expected on your SAT. Step 2: Parlay your disappointment into a multimillion dollar company.   That’s how Shaan Patel’s leadership journey began. It included a victory on Shark Tank, mentoring from Mark Cuban, and earning an M.D. It’s not the typical path to industry-leading CEO, but the lessons Shaan learned along the path are important for leaders in any sector. He shares those lessons with us in this episode. Here's what Shaan and host Maureen Metcalf cover: Why winning is NOT the name of the game in business (but neither is losing!); How embracing change instead of fighting it puts you far ahead of the competition; and The mindsets Shaan keeps foremost to inform his leadership – and why that leadership is still evolving. Other episodes you'll enjoy: Women’s Leadership Journeys with Lisa DeFrank Cole & Sheryl J. Tan Women on the Rise: A Leadership Journey with Reta Jo Lewis The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership with Ruchira Chaudhary Building Trust in Uncertainty: A Personal & Professional Journey with Dr. Mary Jo Burchard   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   You can learn more about Shaan’s company, Prep Expert, on their website: https://prepexpert.com/ .   Shaan’s book, going into further detail on his strategies, is Self-Made Success. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/3QAhTFC, and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/4abXeP9 .   For his insights on the SAT, check out SAT 2400 in Just 7 Steps. It’s in paperback on Amazon at https://amzn.to/44Gp2KE, and the Kindle version is https://amzn.to/3UsK1vE .   Our host, Maureen Metcalf, posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.    Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.      Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include: Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Mungi Ngomane. Hardback (https://amzn.to/48Doh6j) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/48YCRF4) Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First by Martha Piper & Indira Samarasekera. Paperback (https://amzn.to/3tOtzg4) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/41OYdT5) Jilly Truit murder mysteries by Beverley McLachlin: Full Disclosure – https://amzn.to/46TxW6Q (paperback) https://amzn.to/46VDL3Q (audiobook) Denial – https://amzn.to/46YCbhs (paperback) https://amzn.to/3GJc0AA (audiobook) Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole   NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.   -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli Always Totally Prepared: Jenna Reik CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  Threads: @innovativeleaders X/Twitter/Whatever New Name It Has This Week: @IL_Institute  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  TikTok: @innovativeleadership Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Dr. Shaan Patel completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at the University of Southern California, Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Yale University, Medical Degree (MD) at the University of Southern California, and dermatology residency at Temple University Hospital. He is a board-certified dermatologist who practices teledermatology, and as the Founder and CEO of Prep Expert, Patel closed a deal with Mark Cuban on ABC's Shark Tank for an investment in the company.