Member Since 2017
The Veloz Group
Los Angeles Area
Adam Mendler is the Chief Executive Officer of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries: Beverly Hills Chairs, a leading office furniture e-tailer; Custom Tobacco, a one-of-a-kind cigar customization e-commerce platform; and Veloz Solutions, a technology consulting and software development practice. Adam remains active in each portfolio company, providing strategic guidance and support. Adam also provides business thought leadership as a contributor to and an expert cited in national media outlets; as a speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations; and as an advisor and board member. Adam utilizes his professional, entrepreneurial and managerial background developed through a unique set of experiences. Adam worked for D.E. Shaw, then the largest hedge fund in the world, and Credit Suisse; for the strategic planning groups at William Morris Endeavor and Universal Pictures; at TWC Sports Management, a leading sports agency; and on a successful presidential primary campaign. Adam served as the Executive Producer of Virtually Israel; as a Strategic Partner and Advisor to Here Media; and as a consultant to the LAUSD. Adam is an advisor to the accelerator Fusion LA and to ScaleAbout, an Israeli software company. Adam graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Southern California, earning a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Political Science, and earned an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he received the UCLA Anderson Fellowship Award. Adam serves as the Chairman of the USC Alumni Entrepreneurs Network; on boards for the USC Alumni Association, USC Marshall Innovations Conference, USC Casden Institute and Startup Grind USC; and as a founding member of the UCLA Anderson CEO Forum. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam loves sports, classic movies and TV, politics, physical fitness and backgammon.
Hiring is an imperfect science and even the best hiring process will not necessarily yield the best hires.
As we take in this playoff season, leaders across all industries can learn key lessons from how the NBA successfully navigated the bubble playoffs.
The pandemic underscored a lesson entrepreneurs need to be reminded of from time to time: There is only so much within our control.
When examining the habits and routines of successful people, specific patterns start to emerge. While they may approach their morning schedules differently, successful business leaders all include essential steps that help them prepare for their day. The small details may vary from time to time, but the overall sense of preparation remains.
From ramping up online offerings to implementing new health and safety protocols, the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the way people do business—especially for physical retail stores navigating the future of post-pandemic shopping. While it can be challenging for companies to pivot their operations based on customers’ changing needs and expectations, it can also serve as a unique opportunity for growth.
When you think about outstanding personal branding, at least one person comes to mind. This person displays all the elements of what a personal brand should be, but they also have a little something more—an “X” factor.
No matter what type of business you're in, your team will undoubtedly encounter problems with creativity and inspiration sooner or later. It’s difficult for any human being to always be “on” creatively, and these uninspired moments can happen during the most inopportune times.
Being a leader is more than running meetings and managing a team. It’s a skill that takes a lifetime to master, and there will always be room to grow as a mentor, coach and source of inspiration to your employees.
Today's world is more stressful than ever. The fast-paced, always-on environment many of us operate in is enough to cause anxiety among even the most organized leaders. Throw in the current global pandemic and an economic recession, and it's no surprise that many people are experiencing doubts and fears in their personal and professional lives.
Motivation works cyclically. There are moments when you feel as though you can take on the world, punctuated by moments when you feel like it makes no sense to do anything. If you've been feeling unmotivated at work recently, you're not alone. Workers worldwide go through the same moments of "boom and bust" when it comes to their motivation.
Great leaders don’t simply tell their team what to do; they lead by example and “walk the talk.” Staff members are much more willing to listen to instructions and respect leadership if their boss is doing the same.
In the age of remote work and social distancing, try these video conferencing tools for your company's online meetings.
An employee referral program is a win-win for you and your team. Referral candidates tend to be well-qualified, since they're pre-vetted by staff members you know and trust, and hiring referrals shows you value your employees' input. To help you build a great referral program, we asked the members of Young Entrepreneur Council the following question:
Spending time alone and focusing on the year ahead are among the most effective strategies.
Just like football season, the path to a successful business is anything but smooth.
Everyone feels down from time to time -- especially when you're dealing with the stress of running a business. Those negative feelings can make you question everything. While it's OK to feel down, the best way to relieve that feeling is to actively seek out positive thoughts. That's why we asked Young Entrepreneur Council members what they do in moments of doubt to help remind them of their potential. Ask yourself the following questions to regain your confidence during a mental or emotional rut.
Risk is often inherent in business, especially when you’re running your own. However, there are steps you can take to manage that risk. As highly successful entrepreneurs in their industries, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council have learned a lot about effectively mitigating risk and minimizing its impact on their businesses. We asked them to share some practical tips for new business owners who are also new to risk management. Read on for their best answers.
This powerful sports agent is disrupting the NBA landscape as we know it.
Not all business is good business, and sometimes the best strategic decision for your organization — and for your own sanity — is to fire a client or a customer.
It pays to make customer-centricity a core part of your business.
Walk the fine line of actively promoting without being too promotional.
What worked as the leader in one place may not work in another.
Mistakes are inevitable. It's how you respond to the mistake that counts.
Great leadership is integral to the success of a company and winning team.
Embrace the coming wave of Gen Z and everything it has to offer.
You don't need to be the titular head of your organization to yield the most influence.
Focus on the right audience and differentiating your offering.
Tailor your leadership style to the people you are leading.
There are a few things class won't teach you.
Showing your team that you support them (and their families) goes a long way.
When you're first starting out, there are a lot of ways to misstep. Here are some approaches that didn't work — as well as what was learned.
As an entrepreneur, in particular, you come to learn that the only certainty is change.
Establishing a routine and developing good habits are key.
While not every job is going to be incredibly fun, unfortunately too many people are subjected to a joyless experience in the workplace.
Small talk can be a powerful sales weapon when used correctly.
Every company should expose its employees to as many different leaders, fresh voices and experts as possible.
There is no magical formula to getting your first, second or third customer. But if you create a differentiated value proposition that resonates with your target market -- and deliver it consistently -- you have a business.
Mentorship is, above all, a state of mind, and the mindset that facilitates greatness.
The Veloz Group builds and operates technology-driven companies and applies advanced technology skills and creative, outside-the-box thinking to underserved markets. We own and operate e-commerce businesses Beverly Hills Chairs and Custom Tobacco and technology consulting firm Veloz Solutions; are actively incubating new technology ventures; and participate in strategic partnerships with both large and smaller entrepreneurial companies.
Retail