Simon Sinek is the author of Start With Why. He is a thought leader and motivational speaker known for his theories about leadership and organizational success. Sinek was born on October 9, 1973, in Wimbledon, London, but grew up primarily in Johannesburg, South Africa, and later moved to the United States, where he attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural anthropology from Brandeis University. Before becoming an author and speaker, Sinek worked in advertising and marketing for several years, and his insights into consumer behavior, brand messaging, and the overall dynamics of successful companies draw on these experiences. Sinek’s “golden circle” concept, the core idea in Start With Why, emerged from his observations about what makes some organizations and leaders exceptionally successful.

Sinek first gained widespread recognition through his 2009 TED Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” In this talk, he introduced the golden circle concept to a global audience, sparking significant interest and discussions around the world. This TED Talk currently has over 18 million views, making it one of the most popular and influential talks in the history of the video series.