John O’Leary with Jennifer Jefferson of FOCUS
Jennifer Jefferson is a wife, mother, veteran and Executive Director of FOCUS Marines Foundation, who has dedicated her life to uplifting others, creating community and…
Thought Leader: John O’Leary
Kevin O’Leary: “I’m an ambassador for the American Dream”
To a packed Weis Center this past Tuesday, Kevin O’Leary, known for his role as an investor and TV personality on ABC’s long-running show “Shark Tank,” delivered an economically-oriented talk as the Bucknell Forum’s penultimate event in the 2024-25 “World in Transition” series.
O’Leary repeatedly emphasized the importance of businesses in America, casting entrepreneurship as the core of the American economy. Of course, large corporations like Walmart and Target provide a significant portion of the jobs Americans have access to, but they also maintain employees internationally. According to O’Leary, about 62% of jobs in America are created by small businesses, businesses with between five and 500 employees, which are run by entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to the American Dream.
“People risk their lives to come [to America in pursuit of] the American Dream,” O’Leary said, ruminating on the “export” of American culture and influence to nations worldwide—including the 54 countries where “Shark Tank” airs. The platform has become an “ambassadorship” for him: “People know me in India and Switzerland and France and England; wherever I go, it’s ‘Shark Tank.’ […] The number one export of America is not technology or, you know, energy or anything like that. It’s actually the American Dream. I’m an ambassador for the American Dream.”
Domestically, he finds himself spending more and more time teaching. “It’s a form of giving back,” O’Leary said. “I’ve been on quite a journey in my life, and I want to share some of the paths of failure and success so that these students interested in entrepreneurship […] can get some guidance on what not to do, which I think is more important than the obvious path of success.” And he finds that the collegiate period is the perfect time to speak to up-and-coming innovators: “You find the most extraordinary people in every place,” he said, joking, “It’s not like some college has a monopoly on great students.” He often “enjoy[s] these [student-oriented presentations] more than [his] corporate sessions […] they’re more interesting.”
In the ruthless world of business, utilizing entrepreneurship to pursue what matters to you is, to O’Leary, “the pursuit of freedom.” America is undergoing an adjustment, he said, as “the market [is] changed forever” by “direct to customer strategies [and] digitization.” But even as the landscape changes and data collection enables increased marketing and analytical accuracy, communication remains to O’Leary one of the most valuable skills on the proverbial market. “Great managers” who are able to communicate, and who understand the “nuance of marketing,” especially in relation to “pivoting” as needed, possess the “essence of entrepreneurship.”
O’Leary’s years on “Shark Tank” have honed his understanding of a successful pitch, too. Those who possess the necessary attributes must also be able to articulate their opportunity to an investor in 90 seconds or less, convince investors that their team is the right one to execute their idea (thus de-risking the investment) and have a comprehensive understanding of the numbers relevant to their sector of the economy and idea. Investors are “way more likely” to climb onboard if all three aspects of a good pitch are present—part of entrepreneurial leadership is “having people trust that you know where you’re going, even when you don’t know yourself.”
That being said, it’s just as important to listen to others. “If you talk and don’t listen, [you’re] missing out on information.” True freedom, in O’Leary’s mind, comes from listening, filtering out the noise and honing in on what matters.
To host Kevin O’Leary at your event, contact WWSG.
Relevant posts
Erika Ayers Badan: Navigating Internal Transitions At Work
Erika Ayers Badan gives advice and direction for navigating internal transitions at work.
Thought Leader: Erika Ayers Badan
Sara Fischer: International Fund for Public Interest Media looks to raise $150M
This piece is by WWSG exclusive thought leader, Sara Fischer. An international fund that supports independent media on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious plan to raise…
Thought Leader: Sara Fischer
