Episode 149: From Wall Street to Wartime: Teaching Wounded Heroes to Fly with Lyubim Kogan, Founder, Wings4Heroes.org

Lyubim Kogan is a five-time immigrant, Olympic qualifier, and NYU finance graduate who led clients through the 2009 financial crisis without a single net loss. But in 2015, after speaking at the United Nations alongside Brian Tracy, Lyubim made an unexpected choice: he returned to a war-torn Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea. There, he took over a collapsing fuel company with 2,000 employees two pay periods behind and founded Wings4Heroes, helping wounded veterans, including amputees, reclaim dignity by literally learning to paraglide. This conversation explores what it means to lead when nothing is certain, to hire for heart over credentials, and to keep a social contract with those who sacrifice everything. Lyubim shares stories of finding exemplary people in impossible circumstances, making decisions one step at a time through "a big dark mass," and why taking action and feeling fully alive matters more than the search for the meaning of life. From Soviet-era Afghanistan veterans to today's Ukrainian heroes, Lyubim's mission is driven by a singular belief: purpose is more powerful than profit, and legacy matters more than comfort. 00:00 - Introduction and guest overview 02:00 - Growing up in the Soviet Union: Afghanistan war veterans and the failure of the system 04:00 - The 600-mile commute: chasing Olympic dreams while studying at NYU 06:00 - Wings4Heroes origin: the amputee on the highway and a girl's defiant speech 10:00 - The first flight: providing psychological relief and discovering deeper needs 12:00 - Hiring for heart: why perseverance and grit matter more than credentials 14:00 - Taking over a collapsing company: no politics, no finger-pointing, just survival 19:00 - Finding diamonds in the rubble: the gas station manager who became a leader 22:00 - One step at a time: navigating crisis when long-term planning is impossible 26:00 - Purpose over profit: the internal compass that guides meaningful work 29:00 - The social contract: why failing veterans means failing the future 31:00 - The experience of being alive: legacy and meaning in leadership If you enjoy our podcasts please like, share and subscribe we genuinely appreciate your support.