This episode: From Boardroom to Purpose: Mitch Levinson’s Journey of Entrepreneurship, Adversity, and Advocacy for Special Needs Families.
Here’s what you’ll learn about:
Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast (0:15)
- Host Drew Deraney thanks Adam Citron for introducing Mitch Levinson and discusses the concept of a linear life path.
- Drew explains three types of men on a circuitous life path: those with blind spots, those who blame external factors, and those who see adversities as opportunities.
- Drew introduces Guest Mitch Levinson as the third type of man who sees adversities as opportunities for Growth and change.
- Drew asks Mitch to share a defining moment that changed his life and moved him from one path to another.
Mitch’s Early Career and Adversities (3:15)
- Mitch shares his experience of being laid off during the internet bubble burst and the decision to call clients for referrals.
- He explains how three Fortune 1000 companies offered him consulting work, leading him to start his first business.
- Mitch emphasizes the importance of character and integrity in building a successful business.
- He discusses the decision to grow his business and bring on more people, leading to the establishment of a full-service digital marketing agency.
Growing the Business and Making Difficult Decisions (7:25)
- Mitch talks about the challenges of balancing multiple clients and the decision to hire more people.
- He describes the growth of his business over 25 years and the eventual sale to a different company.
- Mitch explains the easy decision to sell his business when the new company offered to absorb his employees and services.
- He shares the subsequent challenges of his business unit being put on the block and the decision to start a nonprofit for special needs.
Starting Joey’s Journeys Nonprofit (11:05)
- Mitch discusses the inspiration behind starting Joey’s Journeys, an organization to raise awareness and create lasting memories for the special needs community.
- He shares the challenges of getting people to participate and donate to the nonprofit.
- Mitch highlights the importance of trust and transparency in building the nonprofit.
- He shares Joey’s achievements, including being voted the most inspirational athlete in Texas by the Special Olympics.
Impact of Travel on Special Needs Families (15:53)
- Mitch explains how travel can benefit special needs families, providing opportunities for personal growth and social interaction.
- He shares examples of trips organized by Joey’s Journeys, including cruises and trips to Mexico and the Bahamas.
- Mitch discusses the lessons learned from traveling, such as understanding value and learning to say no.
- He emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive community for special needs families.
Balancing Personal and Professional Life (22:33)
- Mitch talks about the challenges of balancing his personal life with his professional responsibilities.
- He shares his experience of becoming a stepfather to Joey and the emotional and cognitive aspects of raising a child with special needs.
- Mitch discusses the importance of empathy and understanding in building a strong family dynamic.
- He highlights the positive impact Joey has had on his life and the lessons he has learned from him.
Advice for Young Mitch and Young Entrepreneur Mitch (24:49)
- Mitch advises young Mitch to always do the right thing and stand by his beliefs.
- He emphasizes the importance of taking risks and staying true to oneself.
- Mitch advises young entrepreneurs to surround themselves with trusted advisors who will support them.
- He highlights the importance of having a core group of people who will be there for you through difficult decisions.
Final Thoughts and Contact Information (25:04)
- Drew thanks Mitch for sharing his story and highlights the importance of his work in the community.
- Drew provides contact information for Mitch’s websites, MitchLevinson.com and Joey’sJourneys.org.
- Drew encourages listeners to reach out to Mitch for more information and support.
- Drew concludes the podcast by expressing gratitude and appreciation for Mitch’s contributions.
To learn more about Mitch’s mission, go to his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchlevinson/
or his website http://www.mitchlevinson.com/ and https://www.joeysjourneys.org
Mitch Levinson – Long Bio
Mitch Levinson is a purpose-driven executive, consultant, coach, and nonprofit leader with a career spanning over two decades of growth strategy, marketing Innovation, operational excellence, and team alignment. From building and selling his own digital marketing agency to leading multi-million-dollar marketing teams in SaaS, Real Estate tech, and healthcare, Mitch brings a deep well of knowledge and a unique ability to create Clarity in complexity. He currently supports companies as a fractional CMO, CRO, and revenue-side expert through his firm, Strategy Recheck, where he helps businesses reframe challenges, uncover blind spots, and accelerate profitable growth.
Mitch is more than a marketing executive—he’s a connector, bridge-builder, and servant leader who shows up to get the best out of people and organizations. His leadership philosophy, rooted in the poem The Bridge Builder, informs everything he does—from Coaching youth sports to mentoring high school entrepreneurs and serving as a DECA judge. He has extensive experience working with B2B SaaS companies, private equity-backed firms, and founder-led businesses, offering both strategic guidance and hands-on execution.
In addition to his professional consulting work, Mitch is the Director of Philanthropy for Temple Beth Shalom in Austin and the founder of Joey’s Journeys, a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive travel experiences for families with special needs children. The organization was inspired by his stepson, who is on the autism spectrum and recently received the 2024 Most Inspirational Athlete award for Special Olympics Texas. Joey’s story fuels Mitch’s advocacy, leadership, and fundraising efforts to build a better, more accessible world.
Mitch shares insights and stories at www.mitchlevinson.com, and when he’s not consulting, writing, or coaching, you can find him cheering on Chicago sports teams, mentoring young leaders, or building meaningful Relationships that drive real impact. Mitch is currently open to supporting up to three more companies in 2024 as a consultant, executive advisor, or board member, helping prepare them for breakout success in 2025.
About your host: I’m Drew Deraney, the proud father of three children. For most of my life I’ve been concerned with what people thought of me and how I was supposed to act. I learned not to be my authentic self and instead became a people pleaser, a man wearing a mask.
In a 9-month span a few years ago, I endured four faith-shaking life events that caused me to question my existence.
I became determined to find a better way to live. Through intense self-reflection and awareness, I realized that in order to be happy, I must adhere to my standards of honesty, integrity and truth and needed to break free from the belief system that was anchored in me for close to 50 years.
I now believe that success happens when we find a better way and are willing and able to share it. HOW I do that is by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately, WHAT I bring is a way to contribute and add value by having an impact on the lives of others.
My company, Profit Compassion LLC consists of 3 paths:
The Mindful Man Movement: men’s self-discovery coach, speaker, podcast host, author. For Men Seeking Answers Within: Imagine having crystal clear knowledge of your purpose in life where you make confident decisions, and are assertive, productive, and at peak Mental Health. Corporate executives hire me to guide them to tap into their natural power through self-discovery so they may write their own story and live the life they want to live.
The Caregiver Coach: coach for fathers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For Caregivers who are open to a conversation about how I can support you on your Caregiving journey: I help caregivers find balance, build resilience, and rediscover their own well-being. Through personalized coaching, I provide practical strategies, emotional support, and the tools to reduce Burnout, strengthen relationships, and navigate the challenges of caregiving with confidence. My goal is to empower you to care for yourself as compassionately as you care for your loved one.
Business Solutions: health/wellness and financial services to support individuals and businesses.
Join me in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Let’s embark on this journey together.
HOW TO CONNECT WITH COACH DREW:
Website: https://profitcompassion.com/
Email: [email protected]
Book a discovery call: https://link.mavericksystems.online/widget/bookings/netweaving/connect30
Pick up a copy of Drew’s book: https://amzn.to/40dsbyR or https://bit.ly/BandNDrew
Drew Deraney now travels the world both to Live and Virtual Events showing mostly men the steps needed to strengthen self-identity and self-worth, to overcome self-limiting beliefs, and to build confidence while being authentic, maintaining boundaries and to transcend people pleasing skills to become the person they are destined to be. Drew challenges them to reach deep inside and make a lasting impact.
In a 9-month span, Drew experienced a grueling divorce, job loss, his son’s suicidal ideations, and his father’s death which devastated Drew emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is a commonality for men to consider any challenge as a weakness as well as to show emotion and ask for help. While writing his book, Drew realized he was not the only man suffering in silence. With more clarity of purpose than ever, he began asking for help. Drew Deraney’s mission is to help especially men, release their inner greatness by showing vulnerability, keeping in integrity of their power, and making a great impact on the people in their lives both personally and professionally.
Drew Deraney was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ where he still lives to this day caring for his elderly mom and his 3 adult children Matthew, Nicholas, and Emma. Drew earned his B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Applied Psychology, and two psychology research publications while at Fairfield University; a scholarship from the Healthcare Financial Management Association; and his M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from Baruch College / Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY. His hospital career spanned 24 years where he was co-chair of the Leadership Institute, spoke at JD Power, was one of three leaders interviewed by The Commonwealth Fund, received his Communicating with Empathy Trainer certification and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Four years ago, Drew founded Profit Compassion LLC, an entity to coach and empower mostly men to create resiliency and authenticity as Chief Resilience Officer. Drew is the podcast host of ‘From Caving in to Crushing It’ and recently became a best-selling author with his book ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ - Memoir of a reformed People Pleaser.
