Beyond Membership: How Damian Found Real Value Through the EO Path of Leadership

“If you like EO and you like what EO can give you, you wouldn’t even be close to getting the most out of EO until you actively participate in the Path of Leadership,” says Damian Blumenkranc, an EO member since 2016.

Over nearly a decade with Entrepreneurs' Organization, Damian has done far more than attend events or sit on the sidelines. He has consistently rolled up his sleeves, stepping into leadership roles that started as the Chapter Communications Chair, and spanned all the way to Chapter President, Regional Council member, and now a Global Growth portfolio role, helping drive initiatives that expand membership and support the launch of new EO chapters around the world.

For Damian, the Path of Leadership was never about titles. It was about proximity — a front-row seat to leadership in all its forms. “Leadership in EO lets you observe how great leaders think, act, and inspire,” he explains. “You see different styles, different cultures, different ways of making decisions — and you learn quickly what works, what doesn’t, and why.”

That exposure extended well beyond leadership theory. EO leadership opened the door to global travel, cross-cultural experiences, and an inside look at how a complex, volunteer-driven global organisation actually functions. But perhaps most unexpectedly, it also became the foundation for something deeper.

“There is no better way to build lifetime friendships around the world,” Damian reflects. “When you work alongside people toward a shared goal, especially in a volunteer environment, those relationships go far beyond surface-level connections. You’re not just networking — you’re building trust, shared memories, and friendships that last.”

EO, after all, is a community run by volunteers. “If you want to be part of that community, you can’t sit on the sidelines,” Damian says. “Everyone has to pitch in. At some point, it’s only fair to do your bit — and I knew it was my time.”

And pitch in he did.

During his leadership journey, Damian turned ideas into action, helping launch initiatives that delivered tangible value for members and the chapter alike. These included a new chapter website, enhanced member-to-member benefits, a worldwide LinkedIn pod initiative, SAP partnership packages, and structural changes to board size and permanent staffing.

Under his presidency, EO Melbourne also achieved several major milestones: hosting its first-ever chapter retreat outside Australia and reaching Mega-Chapter status for the first time.

“I reckon the most rewarding part, by far, was the chapter retreat,” Damian says. “When all that member energy came together, we spent days creating an experience most of us will never forget. The connections forged there strengthened the chapter, deepened inter-chapter relationships, and proved that something bold like this could not only be done — but done exceptionally well. If that’s not a legacy, it’s certainly proof of what’s possible.”

The lessons Damian gathered through EO leadership didn’t stay neatly within the organisation. He brought them straight back into his business — even while recognising that leading volunteers and running a company are fundamentally different challenges.

“In your own business, you have authority, hierarchy, and levers you can pull,” he explains. “In EO, those levers simply don’t exist. EO will never be anyone’s first priority — family and business come first — so EO often comes third, at best.”

“As a result, motivation and accountability look completely different,” he adds. “You’re sometimes faced with tough calls involving friends and peers who are volunteering alongside you. That makes leadership more nuanced, more human, and often far more challenging.”

Stepping into the presidency pushed Damian well outside his comfort zone — and the timing offered no shortcuts. He stepped in without a full year of preparation, without serving as President-Elect, during a period of significant post-COVID change. He inherited a board he hadn’t built, led an overseas retreat, and simultaneously took over a new business in an industry entirely new to him.

“It was an extraordinarily challenging year — and an equally powerful opportunity,” Damian reflects. “I grew in ways I didn’t expect, learned more than I imagined, and came out stronger for having said ‘yes’ when it would have been far easier to step back.”

Throughout his EO leadership journey, learning became a constant companion. From past presidents, current peers, global leaders, and those who followed him, Damian absorbed lessons in humility, communication, preparation, organisation, and perspective.

“Perhaps the most powerful realisation,” he notes, “was understanding that every leader sees the world differently and values different aspects of their role. That shift in perspective stays with you. It opens your mind.”

The experience taught him to let go of what he couldn’t control, lean into collaboration, and practise leadership through service rather than authority. It sharpened his ability to manage time, juggle competing priorities, and experiment with leadership styles he may never have the opportunity to test within his own business.

Most importantly, it strengthened his adaptability and resolve. Each role required him to meet people where they were, adjust his approach, and stay open to learning — reinforcing the idea that real growth often begins when you’re willing to flex. Not always easy for a strongly introverted individual.

“EO has so much more to offer when you choose to step forward and volunteer,” Damian says. “Take the journey. Take the leap. Bring the effort and commitment it deserves — and the rewards will follow.”