In a world where small talk rules and safe bets get applauded, Jeff Rosenthal is living proof that going big isn’t a slogan—it’s a lifestyle.
Jeff didn’t follow a playbook. He didn’t wait for permission. He started where many visionaries do: with a big idea, a few close friends, and absolutely no blueprint. At just 23, he and three co-founders launched what would become Summit, a global community and event series that brought together the future leaders of industries before the world even knew their names.
They had no experience. No formal strategy. No backing. Just bold ideas, belief in each other, and a relentless drive to make it happen.
Their first event? A ski trip with 19 people. Their third? At the White House. Their fourth? A chartered cruise ship—complete with a 100-foot banner unfurled on the side that read: Make No Small Plans.
That moment became their mantra. Not because it sounded good on a t-shirt, but because it defined how they approached every decision. They weren’t interested in doing what had been done. They were after ideas that stirred souls, pushed limits, and demanded courage.
Going big doesn’t mean going reckless. Jeff is quick to distinguish between boldness and bravado. In the early days, the Summit team made decisions that would terrify most founders—putting events on credit cards, building a $3 million lodge before they had the funding to close a deal, betting everything on vision over guarantees. But each decision was rooted in deep trust, shared values, and a belief in long-term impact over short-term comfort.
That belief led them to acquire Powder Mountain, where Jeff is co-owner and co-developer. It’s now the largest ski resort in the U.S.—not just as a business venture, but as a permanent home for community, creativity, and collaboration. They didn’t just buy a mountain. They built a platform for culture to thrive.
Jeff is also the co-author of Make No Small Plans, the book that captures the philosophies and hard-won lessons behind the Summit journey—an anthem for those who want to lead with courage and build with meaning.
But Jeff didn’t stop there.
Today, he’s the founder of CIV, a next-generation venture firm investing at the intersection of AI, energy, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure. With a $210M fund and a mission to support founders solving civilization-scale problems, Jeff’s playing a long game—focused not just on returns, but on reshaping the future of prosperity, security, and human flourishing.
His message to this generation? Stop thinking you need to be a genius. Stop assuming you’re not ready. The hidden truth of the world, he says, is that nearly everything around you was built by people who are just a few IQ points away—or maybe not at all. The difference isn’t brilliance. It’s action.
Jeff’s not shy about the importance of partnership either. He credits trust, character, and shared mission as the glue that held Summit together. “Reputation,” he says, “is built in drops and lost in buckets.” And while the world celebrates lone founders and celebrity entrepreneurs, Jeff knows the truth: you can’t go big alone.
He’s candid, too, about imposter syndrome. His advice? Show up with curiosity. Lead with value. And don’t be a fan—be a friend. The best relationships are built on mutual contribution, not hero worship.
So what does it actually mean to go big?
It means betting on your friends. Building what doesn’t exist. Starting before you’re ready. Taking risks when others play it safe. And understanding that if you want to lead something that lasts, you need to build the community before the company.
It also means knowing yourself. Jeff doesn’t pretend to be a perfect CEO—he’s a builder, a co-founder, a culture-shaper. And he’s leaned into that with full confidence, refusing to play roles he doesn’t fit, and instead surrounding himself with people who complement his strengths.
The takeaway?
If you’ve got a dream, stop waiting for permission. Stop overanalyzing. Stop playing small.
Start with the people you trust. Listen harder. Move faster. Think bigger. And when in doubt—go to the mountain.
Because the world doesn’t need more polished plans. It needs more people who are willing to make no small ones.
