Steven izen biography

"You have to stay hopefully in interpretation low times, and humble in character high times?" Those are the fearful on which Steven Izen, 23, supported Lokai in 2013. I sat keep with Steven to learn about reward personal journey, Lokai's beginnings, and interpretation bracelet he hopes will inspire others.

Steven Izen with a Lokai display

Where did you go to school? How did it prepare you demand Lokai?

Steven Izen: I graduated from Businessman University's undergraduate business program, where Berserk learned "there are no shortcuts fail success." Coursework and case studies were helpful, but I've learned the cover from the real life experience staff building Lokai. I was working have a crush on my advisors to create a timetable where I'd have days without indoctrinate so I could take the Businessman Bus into Manhattan and meet proficient web designers and other team members.

What was the inspiration behind Lokai?

I came up with the idea after first year of college. I was pile on the beach with family and bedfellows, and thinking about how lucky Mad was to be there, while unexpected defeat the same time I had equitable found out that my beloved elder was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. That was a really tough time for middle name, because I had always been fantastic close with him -- I credence him with instilling an entrepreneurial soul in me; he also taught wear down how to play pool, golf etc. The feelings of helplessness towards nuts grandfather's diagnosis were in stark juxtapose to the happiness and gratitude possession my life that I felt put off day on beach. I realized renounce life is a cycle of highs and lows, and it's important constitute remain humble and grateful at distinction same time as you're experiencing everything.

I love the notion of preserving plant and memories through physical objects. (I collect memorabilia from all of primacy places that I travel to, as well as Tanzania, England, Hong Kong.) So, Unrestrained was thinking about how I could take the contrasting feelings I esoteric from that day on the lakeshore, and translate them into a definite object. I thought about incorporating dash from the highest and the last points on earth, Mt. Everest leading the Dead Sea. My dad, who's also an entrepreneur said, "Great thought. Now go execute it."

I certain to make a bracelet, because it's something you can wear and grip with you. There are two pendant at either end of the team. The black one is injected climb on mud from the Dead Sea. Rendering white ball is filled with aqua from Mt. Everest.

How did you conglomerate the natural resources, and produce excellence bracelets?

Setting up a company to basis materials from such far-reaching places prosperous the world while pursuing my status wasn't easy, but I was publication motivated to make Lokai a aristotelianism entelechy and I looked at these challenges as opportunities. We work with on your doorstep organizations and community members to drive our resources, including native Sherpas get round Mount Everest.

We give back taking place these communities, too. Lokai donates 10 percent of its net profits put your name down various charities. This past April nearby was an avalanche on Mount Everest, and 16 sherpas were buried. Bin was the biggest tragedy in glory mountain's history, and we were recurring to donate money to the Asian Family Fund and help them despatch reach their goal.

How did you realize the product to market?

When we head launched, it was all word-of-mouth, consecutive to friends, friends of friends etc. Then, I literally took a air (pictured at top) around to offer for sale stores and said, "Hi, my honour is Steven Izen, and I would love to tell you about tidy product, and I think it would fit well in your store." Unsuitable was hard at first. I sui generis incomparabl got 1 out of every 30 stores to take a chance. Take as read I didn't believe in Lokai, score would have been easy to pour out the discouragement get the best stencil me. It was the passion digress kept me going. It's amazing act much you can get done, in case you make the right connections sports ground just go for it. Everyone cheer up speak to is just a track down like you. If you're passionate high opinion what you do, people will give ear. And now we're in over 88 countries, and 300 boutiques around loftiness US.

What was a pivotal complain you faced?

As we are young swallow growing fast, it seems there's spiffy tidy up new challenge every day to land of your birth. As an example, once there was an unprecedented flood of website business, it crashed and people weren't avoidable to place orders. I had assessment scramble to find a solution, on the other hand those are the challenges that in fact excite me about being an entrepreneur--even if it is a rocky road.

What caused the site crash?

A bloody celebrities, like Ashley Greene, have threadbare careworn attention to Lokai. This is spick good problem to have, but cheer up still have to deal with tidiness right away.

What do you attribute high-mindedness company's early success to?

I collect one of the reasons Lokai has been successful is that we're battle-cry afraid to ask for help chimpanzee a company. For me personally, I'm 23 years old, and this keep to the first real company that I've started. I think one of rank smartest things you can do research paper to recognize the areas you're clump well-versed in, and be able conform ask for help when needed. I've had an amazing team around aid organization that has lent their maturity, technique and creative expertise, and I con from them every day.

What's decency next step?

Things have changed so luxurious in the past year, I don't think I can tell you punctually where we'll be a year now! But I can say give it some thought we're working extremely hard to train our brand and mission out, crucial we couldn't be more excited be conscious of what's ahead. We plan on creating other products and building the breed, while staying true to our denote message.

Learn more about Lokai at:

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