We recently connected with Lealem Mulugeta and have shared our conversation below.
Lealem, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
My story really begins with the dreams that consumed me while growing up in Ethiopia surrounded by poverty, illness, and civil unrest. I was consumed by visions of moving to North America where my family and I would be free to pursue our dreams. I envisioned exploring the cosmos, curing diseases like those I was surrounded by, and becoming a competitive gymnast.
The prospect of achieving any one of them was against all odds. But no matter the opposition I faced, I could not grow out of these “childhood dreams.” I still haven’t.
As fortune would have it, my father fled Ethiopia and got us out six years later through Uganda and subsequently immigrated to Canada as stateless citizens – very traumatic experience. But, after many years of adapting to a new culture and language, I earned a degree in Mechanical-Aerospace Engineering while working three jobs and pursuing competitive gymnastics on my “spare time.” Following this, I worked in satellite and aircraft design before moving to France for graduate studies in Space Studies.
I was ultimately recruited to join NASA’s Digital Astronaut Project (DAP), where I was quickly promoted to DAP Lead Scientist to direct the development of NASA’s highly complex computational models in human spaceflight. This required applying cutting-edge knowledge in human health and performance, physiology, anatomy, exercise science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and much more. I also collaborated with the NIH, FDA, DoD, DARPA and other leading organizations to spin-off this work to customized healthcare.
After my tenure at NASA ended in 2015, and much soul searching, I formed Medalist Performance to apply my scientific expertise and life experiences to help people pursue their passions successfully. The past six years of helping people achieve their dreams have been incredibly fulfilling. I look forward to many more years!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Beyond my professional roots and ambitions, I’m someone who believes in the power of diverse experiences and constant growth. I’ve been fortunate to lead a life filled with a variety of experiences, and these have shaped me into an inquisitive and independent individual.
Therefore, my life is a mosaic of various passions. I’m an avid traveler, finding joy in exploring new places and gaining fresh perspectives. Movies, video editing and writing also serve as therapeutic outlets and to let my imaginations run wild.
My passion for gymnastics also still burns bright. I especially invest a considerable amount of time training skills on my favorite event – the Still Rings. It’s not just about staying fit; it’s a testament to the enduring dedication to a sport that has been a constant thread in my life.
Overall, I try to live with the attitude that if my life was to suddenly come to an end, I want to be able to look back on everything I’ve done and attempted with a sense of fulfillment. As such, I often think of Henry David Thoreau’s quote,
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”
So, if you were a fly on the wall witnessing my daily activities, you’d probably notice how I try to spend very little time speaking. Instead, I focus on thinking, planning, and acting with purpose.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I’m so glad you asked this. This is one aspect of my entrepreneurial journey that has greatly surprised me.
In the beginning, I was convinced that my professional background and experiences would be what would help me establish a strong reputation. But I quickly discovered that, although people may be drawn to my unique background, they were more captivated by the sincerity I infused into every client interaction, with an obsessive focus on yielding unparalleled results. In other words, they didn’t care how much I knew. They cared more about how much I cared about them.
My approach goes beyond the usual business dynamics. I forge unique and personal connections with each client, immersing myself in their journey. This commitment has led to relationships that extend well beyond our professional engagements. Even after our official time together ends, we stay connected. This level of engagement sparks referrals from existing and past clients. Their heartfelt online reviews and testimonials resonate with people who’ve never met me, leading to cold contacts reaching out for their peak performance needs. It’s all about building a network founded on trust and genuine connection.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Cultivating brand loyalty isn’t a concern for me. I believe that should be established over time by the merits of my work. Consequently, I vigorously focus on delivering the best quality service possible while maintaining a genuine connection with my clients through personal forms of communication, such as individual texts, emails, or friendly phone calls. I strictly avoid mass messaging systems and steer clear of marketing messages. When I reach out to clients, it is always for a specific purpose—either concerning our ongoing work or simply to check in personally.
Moreover, I find joy in meeting up for coffee with previous clients or those with whom I have a long-distance working relationship. Whether they are passing through Houston, or I am close to their location, arranging face-to-face meetings allows us to spend quality time together and deepen our personal connection. While these practices likely contribute to brand loyalty, the primary focus is on cultivating meaningful and authentic relationships with each client.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://medalistperformance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medalistperformance/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medalistperformance
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lealem
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@medalistperformance