Featuring purpose-driven leaders who are making a meaningful impact in their communities, industries, and around the world.
Gregg Vanourek is the Founder of Gregg Vanourek LLC headquartered in Denver, CO. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube and learn more at greggvanourek.com.
TELL US, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am Gregg Vanourek and I run a training and development venture focused on leading self, leading others, and leading change via workshops and retreats, speaking, and coaching.
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
My work connects personal and professional excellence. In college, I took courses that urged us to ask the big questions of life (“Who am I, why am I here, what will I do with my life?”) and to envision what a good life would be for us. I then encountered “inside-first leadership” from an organization emphasizing the importance of purpose and values in leadership–and of leading ourselves well before we attempt to lead others. I’ve been on a winding path, from a think tank to a startup education foundation to a startup social enterprise that became a market leader in virtual schooling, to writing books, to teaching master’s and executive courses and running my own ventures, from the U.S. to Europe and back here to Colorado. The connective thread has been that all of it has been related to education and human development, particularly for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, and about helping people lead good lives: good life + good work.
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? WHY DOES THE WORLD NEED YOU?
Help people lead good lives–lives of integrity, service, and purpose… re-connecting them with what matters.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
I have had the honor of being a teacher for thousands of students over the years, plus many in workshops and retreats. I have called them to raise their sights about what they can do with their lives, what they can do in the world, through their leadership, through their startup ventures, through their social enterprises, through their change-making, through their parenting, through their example. I have asked them to think about business being about more than profits and growth, recognizing the importance of people, communities, the planet, and purpose. I have tried to get them to see the connections across disciplines and across sectors. My hope is that they will design their work and lives well and thus have a positive impact and a deep sense of fulfillment of a life well-lived–with vitality, connection, and purpose.
In my book, LIFE Entrepreneurs (written with Christopher Gergen), we challenge people to integrate their life and work with purpose and passion. In another of my books, Triple Crown Leadership (written with my father, Bob Vanourek), we challenge leaders to raise their sights about leadership and build an organization that is excellent, ethical, and enduring/sustainable.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO DO THIS WORK?
I have been inspired by many, first and foremost my Mom and Dad. John Roth, my college philosophy professor. Great authors and thought leaders like Richard Leider, Parker Palmer, Paulo Coelho, Richard Bach. And my wife, Kristina, and our daughters.
WHAT’S YOUR VISION, YOUR BIG DREAM, FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
Through my work, I want to connect with people in ways that touch the heart and fire the soul, impacting them deeply. I have a remarkable writing career infused with joy and inspiration. I teach, help, and connect with people in purposeful ways.
WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING?
My family moved back to the U.S. after 10 years of living in Europe (Sweden), and these life transitions take time. The world is facing great challenges now with the pandemic, and those have affected me and my business too. And we have family members experiencing health issues. These life transitions and hardships are good times to take stock and see whether we are investing too much of our identity and self-worth in things that are transient.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
We poured our hearts and souls into our books so check out LIFE Entrepreneurs and Triple Crown Leadership to see if they may be relevant to you or those you care about. Connect with me on my web site (greggvanourek.com) or join the conversation on Twitter (@gvanourek).
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