Jeff Gum is a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, entrepreneur and founder of Sunga Life, a swimwear and athleisure brand focused on achieving bottom line goals of purpose and profitability, where 10% of profits go to veteran focused charities – specifically those that benefit wounded and amputee Special Operations Forces. He joins program host Chris Meek to speak to the essence of his brand and how he first fell in love with swimwear during his many travels and adventures in Brazil which ultimately inspired him to start his own line. Jeff’s story, service and accomplishments embody the individuality, self-confidence and patriotism that he seeks to instill in others through his work. Drawing on his insights and perspectives stemming from his military experience, he will touch on an array of topics including how small brands and businesses can benefit from giving back to their communities, never giving up in the face of failure and why mentorship is crucial to veterans transitioning from service to civilian life. As a show that is focused on leadership through adversity, Jeff will speak to one of Next Step Forward’s core missions by highlighting how best to determine when it is worth persevering through adversity and when to simply pivot. As Jeff says, “Fortune favors the bold,” and his words of wisdom throughout the hour will certainly underscore why.