In Good Company is a series of conversations with the people shaping creative and entrepreneurial culture around the world.

Amish Tolia, CEO and co-founder of Leap, has long been drawn to entrepreneurship and the challenge of bringing brands to life. His career has centred on building businesses, challenging convention and rethinking how we experience retail. At Leap, he is working to make physical retail more accessible to the next generation of brands. We spoke with him about building the business, the entrepreneurs who inspire him and why, in an increasingly digital world, there is still nothing quite like being together in person. 

How did you find yourself doing what you do today?
I'm an entrepreneur by trade and have always worked in the consumer space. I've started several companies throughout my career, taking them from the early stages through growth and, in some cases, acquisition.

One thing we witnessed with a previous marketing tech business was that, while e-commerce businesses were increasingly aspiring to move into physical retail, the process was incredibly challenging and operationally intensive. We felt there had to be a simpler way to approach physical retail and wanted to create that same kind of infrastructure for physical retailers.

That was really the inspiration behind Leap. Between 2015 and 2018, we were also seeing a huge wave of direct-to-consumer businesses beginning to make the move into physical retail. We believed this was just the beginning, and now eight years later, physical retail is more important than ever, and we're excited to be part of that evolution. 

What's something you've learned along the way that you wish you'd known at the beginning?
One of the most important things I've learned about entrepreneurship and building a business is that your leadership team matters enormously. Businesses don't build themselves, people build businesses. It might sound intuitive or obvious, but it's probably one of the most important lessons I've taken from my career. Building really strong operating teams with excellent leadership capabilities is everything if you want to have a chance of building and scaling a successful business. Judgement really matters, and that can only come from people's experiences. At Leap, we're a very people-intensive business. We operate around 115 stores and are on our way to having 1,000 people in the business. You need great leaders to successfully steer the ship and support a large organisation of people.

Your New York City day in three stops?
1. Grab a coffee at Interlude
2. Visit Powered by Leap Stores
3. Il Cantinori for Dinner

Personal style in three words?
Tailored. Minimal. Classic.

What's your most irrational style rule?
Thinking I don’t need a second opinion from my wife, who works in fashion!

Any fall style favourites?
Right now I'm really liking FRESCOBOL CARIOCA’s black leather loafers and green suede jacket combo. 

Where do you find your most unexpected sources of inspiration? 
Other entrepreneurs have always been a source of inspiration for me; what may be less expected is how often I look outside retail for ideas. Through reading, podcasts and conversations, I follow how founders in other sectors have built their businesses: how they’ve navigated challenges, developed distinctive products, brought them to market and scaled. Of course, I also learn a great deal from people with decades of experience in consumer retail. Their perspective on what has worked, what hasn’t and why helps me think through the decisions we face at Leap. I always come away with a fresh perspective.

Is there a routine that grounds your best work?
Spending time with my management team is everything.

Is there a cultural shift or emerging trend that you find particularly fascinating right now? 
It's really exciting to see how much younger generations value experiences, particularly in this current AI supercycle. Gen Z and Gen Alpha have grown up with social media and technology at their fingertips, yet they have an enormous appetite for real-world experiences. They want to spend time with friends, do things in person and create experiences with their families.

Of course, they're incredibly digitally savvy and continue to embrace technology, but it's fascinating to see how much they crave in-person connection. In some ways, it's almost as though they're seeking experiences they haven't had enough of. I think this desire for real-life experiences is also influencing older generations, including those who grew up without technology. We're seeing lots of new and interesting concepts and experience-led businesses emerging as a result of what younger generations want. Given that we operate in the physical retail space, we're particularly excited about this momentum.

What's one very 'ordinary' New York City ritual that you think deserves more attention?
Walking on the West Side highway, definitely underrated. 

Do you have a go-to SoHo spot?
FRESCOBOL CARIOCA, I try to pop in whenever I'm in the area.

If you weren't in New York right now, where would you be?
That's an easy answer: Tokyo.

Can you give us a cultural recommendation?
For my 40th birthday, I recently travelled to some of the US national parks with my family. We visited Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, and I would highly, highly recommend the experience, particularly if you're interested in the outdoors and hiking.

In terms of listening recommendations, podcasts are a big source of inspiration as I mentioned, and there are two I absolutely love. The first is Acquired, with Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal. It's a fantastic podcast that explores the stories behind successful companies and how they've been built. The other is Founders, with David Senra. Also brilliant, they cover stories and biographies of entrepreneurs and the businesses they've created. Both offer fascinating insights into the world of entrepreneurship, founders and the journeys behind some of the world's most interesting companies.

Amish wears Dinis T-Shirt and Tomas Jacket, paired with Mendes Jeans and Leme Leather Resort Slippers, all FRESCOBOL CARIOCA. 

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