Former CEO of Design Within Reach and business consultant, John Edelman grew up on a horse farm in Connecticut. The youngest of 6, his childhood was filled with love, surrounded by his parents’ big dreams, in a home filled with visitors, from Andy Warhol to fashion executives. A hustler and daredevil from an early age, he excelled at flipping cars and riding dirt bikes but struggled in school. After college, John joined the family leather business, sorting buffalo skins in Thailand, worked for his brother at Esprit, and lived in Brazil to work in the shoe business. From 2010 - 2019 John served as CEO of Design Within Reach, during his tenure he pulled the company out of a downward spiral, transformed it into the world leader in authentic design, and led a highly publicized sale to Herman Miller. Now, Co-Founder of Fourth & Pride vodka, John’s life has been one great story after another - from adventure to romance, hardships to triumph, and a future that looks just as thrilling. Images, links and more from John Edelman!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsor:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if you have the insurance you need to be fully protected as a business owner? Gild is a nationally licensed, digital, independent insurance agency for small business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, microbusinesses and freelancers. Available online 24/7, Gild’s one-of-a-kind digital insurance process is easy to navigate and understand.  Gildber, the digital assistant, will ask you a series of questions and translate the complicated insurance process into a policy tailored to your business needs. By evaluating multiple trusted insurance providers’ options, Gildber finds you the partner you need in just minutes. To learn more about how Gild provides insurance when you need it and how you want it, visit yourgild.com/Clever. Please say Hi on social! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers, @designmilkIf you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!Clever is hosted by Amy Devers and produced by 2VDE Media, with editing by Rich Stroffolino, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven.Clever is proudly distributed by Design Milk.Clever is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to discover more great shows. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.