Scott Simons is the trusted advisor to some of the nation’s most successful CEOs and business owners. With 20+ years’ experience building strong companies and personal wealth, Scott shares his entrepreneurial expertise through the CEO Council, consulting, venture investing, speaking, and his new book, Sweet Spot Leadership.
Scott understands first-hand that leading a smaller company is one of the toughest challenges of business today and that we’ve had to adapt to an “always on” world. At the age of 21, Scott founded his first company, Simons Optical, and went on to build several multimillion dollar enterprises. Concurrently, he worked closely with private investment bankers and served as the Pennjerdel Chapter Chair of the Council of Growing Companies, where he learned the inner workings of corporate America through exposure to companies like IBM and GE. In his work with CEO Council members and his private consulting, Scott has been involved with companies, in a variety of industries, that have grown into INC 500 winners.
With his longtime active leadership role in the Philadelphia area business community, Scott has earned his reputation as one of the region’s foremost experts on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and succession planning and the “go to guy” for private investment groups. He is a SCORE counselor, Speaker for the Wharton’s Entrepreneurial Program and other notable institutions, serves on numerous boards, and has served as Board Chair for the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation. Scott has been recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal and the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He’s been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and in Fast Company events.
In addition to being an Optician, Scott completed the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Entrepreneurial program. He’s also one of the world’s first Reach-Certified Personal Branding Strategists.