“You don’t have to be successful to be happy, but you do have to be happy in order to become successful,”-Ted Leonsis

By Dimitri Soultogiannis

Ted Leonsis is a name affiliated with entrepreneurship and success, not only within the borders of the Greek-American community but way past them. A Brooklyn native, born to Greek parents Ted could not possibly have one job title. He is an Internet pioneer, a sports team owner, an investor, a filmmaker, an author as well as a philanthropist. His first “baby”, his early new media company “Redgate Communications” was acquired by America Online in 1994, and Leonsis became a senior AOL executive for the next 13 years. He is currently owner of sports properties, including the NHL's Washington Capitals & NBA's Washington Wizards, as well as the Chairman of Revolution Money, SnagFilms, and other companies, the producer of documentary films such as the Peabody and the Emmy Award-winning “Nanking” and the author of “The Business of Happiness”

The Greek American entrepreneur has based his very own life on one principle, the one that made his book “The Business of Happiness” a bestseller. “You do not need to be successful to be happy, but you do need to be happy in order to become successful,” said Leonsis. During his interview with Neo Magazine, Leonsis admitted that his Greek background played a significant role in shaping his business profile. “Growing up Greek I was always involved with community activities, including church, Greek school and organizations, you learn how to team play, be creative and therefore excel,” he said. Leonsis does not necessarily come from an educated or wealthy family, he was raised, however, with much love and that certainly reflects in his biography. His parents worked as a waiter and a secretary. After skipping 8th grade, Leonsis attended Brooklyn Tech but before graduation, his family moved back to their hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1973 and Georgetown University in 1977. After graduation, Leonsis moved back to his parents' home in Lowell and began working for Wang Laboratories. After surviving an airplane crash landing in 1983, he drafted a list of 101 things to do in life and has completed many of the tasks, including owning a sports franchise. Today, Leonsis lives in McLean, Virginia, and Vero Beach, Florida, with his wife and two children. He has earned many titles in his life, enough to cover the walls of a mansion house such as Businessperson of the Year in 2001 by Washington Business Journal and Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine and in 2009, Leonsis was named one of Washington's Tech Titans by Washingtonian Magazine.

Among with other businesses America on-line has been a big part of Leonsis’ business life. Brought on to help AOL compete with Microsoft, his career with AOL started in 1993 when AOL purchased his marketing company, Redgate Communications Corp. From 1994 to 1997, Leonsis helped increase AOL's membership from fewer than 800,000 members to 8 million. Revenue also increased from $100 million to $1.5 billion. Even though his business partnership with AOL officially ended in 2006, he held numerous positions at AOL during his years there, completing his tenure as the audience group's president and vice-chairman. Today, he serves as vice chairman emeritus of AOL. There is no question that Ted Leonsis has a plateful of responsibilities as he currently serves as founding chairman of SnagFilms, a social media website that lets viewers watch and share documentary films. He is also chairman of Clearspring Technologies and Revolution Money, a subsidiary of Revolution LLC the investment company created by Steve Case. In July 2010, Leonsis was elected to the Board of Directors of American Express, he chairs the New Innovation and Technology Committee and in December 2008, Leonsis was named to the board of NutriSystem, Inc. A few months later, in June 2009, Leonsis was appointed as member of Alcatel-Lucent Board's Technology Committee and also serves on the board of Groupon and Rosetta Stone. Aside of his busy business schedule Leonsis is currently on the board of directors at Georgetown University, his alma mater.

Ted Leonsis has collected an impressive amount of titles and awards over the years. Philanthropy and giving to the ones in need, however, was always more important to him. Leonsis is a mentor through the Hoop Dreams program. Through Hoop Dreams, Leonsis was able to guide Michael Hendrickson into and through his first choice college. Leonsis and Hendrickson continue this relationship today. When asked about Hoop Dreams, Leonsis said, “The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund is extraordinary and this Tournament really brings together so many different segments of the city to do something good for the youth of DC. Together, we can help make the educational dreams of hard working students a reality." In addition, Leonsis is a contributor to the See Forever Foundation and to YouthAIDS. He also sponsors his own philanthropic foundation, the Leonsis Foundation, dedicated to creating “opportunities for children that enable them to reach their highest potential.” The Foundation “partners with and supports organizations with the creativity, skill and dedication to help children overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.”

A successful and glamorous career, however, could not possibly be one with no controversies and no “ups and downs”. In 2004, Leonsis was involved in a violent altercation with a fan, Jason Hammer, who was jeering him for trading Jaromir Jagr. Though cut and bruised, Hammer decided not to press charges against Leonsis. The entrepreneur has proposed that he will restore the name of the Washington basketball franchise to the Bullets, however, critics said that this would "send the wrong message" about gun violence in Washington. In 2001, Leonsis claimed to have written a computer program that prevented Pittsburgh Penguins fans, the Capitals first-round opponent, from purchasing tickets online. When asked if the actions were unfair, Leonsis stated, "I don't care. I'm going to keep doing it." Again in 2009, he received criticism for preventing visiting team fans from purchasing Capitals playoff tickets. Months after purchasing the Wizards, Leonsis criticized the NBA's salary cap at a luncheon with business leaders. He was fined $100,000 by the league, for "unauthorized public comments regarding the league's collective bargaining negotiations." Leonsis has been criticized for raising ticket prices and has been compared to Washington Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder for his treatment of fans. Despite the Capital's first round exit in the 2010 Playoffs, ticket prices were increased between 13 and 50 percent. He allegedly mocked a fan that protested unfair ticket practices.

Putting all this behind him, Leonsis is starting his new year by participating and being one of the featured speakers at the 20th Annual Leadership 100 conference at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, February 24th-27th, 2011 along with the celebrated space pioneer Peter Diamandis, noted archeologist John McKesson Camp II and Executive Chef, Michael Psilakis. When asked about the Annual Leadership 100 conference, Leonsis said “I am honored to be one of the featured speaker during this year’s conference. I am looking forward to it,” In 1984, under the guidance of Archbishop Iakovos, Leadership 100 was created as an endowment fund of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese through which Greek Orthodox leaders were asked to commit themselves to offer $10,000 a year for a total of $100,000 each to maintain the life-sustaining ministries of the Church. Today, Leadership 100, renamed the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund in recognition of Archbishop Iakovos’ vision, is a separately incorporated endowment fund supporting the priority needs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, but broadly dedicated to advancing the Orthodox faith and Hellenic ideals in America. Leadership 100 disburses grants ranging from scholarship funds for individuals studying for the priesthood, building an information infrastructure and Internet ministries for the Archdiocese, promoting the National Ministries and providing assistance to emergencies such as September 11, Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes and medical needs. With the initial membership of 100 soon surpassed, Leadership 100 “raised the bar” and grew progressively to 300, doubling its membership to 600 in 2000 and now to 847 members in 2010, including 88 Leadership 100 Partners, young professionals who progress in their contributions as they progress in their careers, and 5 Leadership 100 Junior Partners enrolled by their parents. The membership includes a broad spectrum of Greek Orthodox leaders, men and women of all ages from every field. Leadership 100 is a driving force to seed and nurture new programs that advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism into the 21st Century.