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Riding the Waves of Passion and Profession: An unforeseen journey through Discovery, Loss, and Rediscovery
After four decades in the workforce and a late-in-life discovery of surfing, ERIK LOGAN thought he had found the ultimate blend of passion and profession when he joined the World Surf League. However, the experience eroded his love for the sport, making him realize that sometimes passion and work are better kept separate. He learned that while being passionate about your job is excellent, turning your true passion into your profession can risk losing the joy it initially brought you. After stepping away from the professional surf world, he’s rekindled his love for the ocean and is more mindful about protecting his passions as he ventures into his next chapter. It is an unusual and often unheard lesson and story that makes people think about this reunion of passion and profession.
Beyond the Degree: Life’s Unexpected Teaching on Success and Leadership
Raised in Oklahoma with dreams of college, ERIK LOGAN worked full-time by senior year of high school, beginning his career as a mascot named "Chuck the Duck." (Yes, an actual mascot with a foam head!) Emphasizing that formal education wasn't in the cards, he took an unconventional career path that led him through various industries and cities over three decades. Erik summarizes that the essential skills that propelled his success are not typically taught in traditional educational settings but were learned through adaptability and real-world experience. He takes these lessons and showcases them for not only young executives as they propel into the workforce, but veterans, as the lessons are universal to us all.
The Art of the Turnaround: Lessons in Resurrecting Businesses and Cultures
With a career kick-started as a young teenager, ERIK LOGAN quickly discovered the innate ability to revitalize struggling businesses and galvanize teams toward success. Later known as a "turnaround specialist," he’s orchestrated pivotal shifts for notable organizations, XM Satellite Radio, and Numerous media radio properties, The Oprah Winfrey Network. In this compelling keynote, he will unravel the art of the turnaround, offering a blend of hard-won wisdom, actionable strategies, and lessons from failures essential for business rejuvenation.
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Transformational leader Erik Logan helps groups embrace the growth mindset, leading to record-setting success
Transformational leader ERIK LOGAN helps groups of all kinds embrace the growth mindset, leading to record-setting success. During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the World Surf League (WSL), Logan amplified the league's profile, leading it to widely reported record audience levels and revenues. His focus on maximizing the WSL's Intellectual Property saw content expansion beyond its core league platform, landing partnerships with ABC, HBO, and Apple TV+. Logan’s leadership invigorated the sport, propelling its performance to be the best in over 40 years.
Before the WSL, Logan served as President of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and Harpo Studios for a decade. Through this time, he was responsible for the turnaround of OWN, driving it to all-time rating and revenue highs, and #1 in its key target demographics. His entrepreneurial journey includes positions at XM Satellite Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, and CBS/Infinity. Logan’s leadership style is defined by a genuine commitment to nurturing executive growth and a deep-seated passion for propelling businesses toward unprecedented success. As an avid supporter of the growth mindset, Logan inspires a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and adaptability through his leadership and motivational speaking engagements.
Erik Logan, with a remarkable portfolio ranging from talent management startups to technology, cable networks, production studios, content creation, and media sports league management, has been a transformative figure in the media and sports industries. Building decades of driving growth and innovations at the organizations he's led; Logan has displayed an uncanny ability to revolutionize how audiences interact with content and sports.
During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the World Surf League (WSL), Logan utilized his media and business acumen to amplify the league's profile, leading it to widely reported record audience levels and revenues. His focus on maximizing the WSL's Intellectual Property saw content expansion beyond its core league platform, landing partnerships with ABC (The Ultimate Surfer), HBO (24/7: Kelly Slater), and Apple TV+ (Make or Break), Amazon (Surf Girls Hawai’i), where he also served as Executive Producer as well as CEO of the company.
His tenure as the CEO at the WSL was marked by significant changes in the sport, introducing the first-ever one-day finals competition, a midseason cut, and a pathway for relegated surfers to re-qualify for the Championship Tour within one calendar year on the Challenger Series. His leadership invigorated the sport,
propelling its performance to be the best in over 40 years.
Before the WSL, Logan served as President of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and Harpo Studios for a decade. Through this time, not only did he aid in successfully ending the longest-running and highest-rated Syndicated TV show (The Oprah Winfrey Show), but was responsible for the turnaround of OWN, driving it to all-time rating and revenue highs, and #1 in its key target demographics.
Logan's entrepreneurial journey through his entire background, including positions at XM satellite radio, Citadel Broadcasting, and CBS/Infinity, leveraged his wide-ranging expertise to identify and nurture new talent, fostering the next generation of innovative minds.
His leadership style is defined by a genuine commitment to nurturing executive growth and a deep-seated passion for propelling businesses toward unprecedented success. As an avid supporter of the growth mindset, he inspires a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and adaptability within the teams and organizations he guides.
Throughout his diverse career, Logan has consistently demonstrated an ability to foresee industry trends and align company strategy to navigate changing landscapes. He has used this talent to drive significant growth across various sectors, from startups to established media entities.
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