LEADERStory: The Diplomat

Business took Joe Rezabek around the world before ultimately bringing him to Columbus, Ohio, but it was an unexpected friendship that led him to LeaderPromos.

“Two of the first people I met in Columbus were Stephanie and Brian Leader,” Joe said. “We were out to dinner one night, and the friendship grew from there.”

Joe and Stephanie were friends long before Joe joined LeaderPromos as President, and it was not a partnership either of them took lightly.

“We had known each other for years, but we never talked business. When the opportunity arose to work together, we were both very thoughtful about making sure it was the right fit.”

Born and raised in New York, Joe was a promising athlete in high school and immersed himself in the punk scene of the 1980s. Growing up near New York City exposed him to the arts and a culturally diverse community that broadened his perspective and shaped the way he views the world today.

That cultural exposure proved invaluable in a successful corporate career in banking and asset management. Following opportunities across the globe, Joe lived and worked in South Korea, Ireland, and Italy. He rose through the corporate world but eventually found himself searching for something more fulfilling and enjoyable.

Enter LeaderPromos and a professional partnership with Stephanie that became a harmonious yin and yang. As Joe jokes, “Stephanie is the gas, and I’m the brake.”

“It’s been a fun ride, and I’m grateful to be part of what we’ve built together,” Joe said.

Get to know Joe and how his experiences have helped shape the LeaderPromos success story.

What’s your life story in one word?

The one word I always use to describe myself is “diplomacy.” I’ve worked all around the world, navigating different cultures and business environments. Here, I serve as a bridge between competing priorities and the day-to-day push and pull of the business.

When people ask me about my secret sauce, both personally and professionally, it always comes back to that word.

What do you love most about LeaderPromos?

I love the energy of this place. I came from an environment where it was custom suits every day—buttoned up tight and constantly playing chess in my head. I love the creative spirit here and the opportunity to bring my business acumen to support it.

As we’ve grown, I’ve focused on making sure we never lose the integrity of who we are as an organization. Those values and the entrepreneurial spirit that built this company are what matter most to me.

What’s the most challenging part of your role here?

You have to be nimble every day. You have to pivot, adapt, make adjustments, and reprioritize—sometimes two or three times in a single day.

Coming from the corporate world, what are the benefits of a company our size?

We have the same horsepower and tools as much larger organizations, but we have a greater ability to pivot. They’re a massive cruise ship. We’re a speedboat.

We’ve invested heavily in technology and operational infrastructure. We’re a creative organization at heart, but creativity is only as strong as your ability to execute consistently every day.

What advice would you have for your younger self?

Two words: humility and authenticity. Be humble, and be your authentic self. I say those two words so often that my daughters are probably tired of hearing them.

Earlier in my career, I would see qualities I admired in other people and try to imitate them. It took me a long time to realize that someone else’s style doesn’t work for me.

What advice would you have for someone who wants to get into promotional product marketing?

Do your homework. This is a very complex business with infinite possibilities.