The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Business with Zechariah Thomas
Emotional intelligence often shows up when leaders choose purpose over convention.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we welcome Zechariah Thomas, Founder & CEO of Swift Hockey, a performance hockey equipment brand built without venture capital.
A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former minor professional hockey player, Zechariah launched Swift Hockey with a mission to make high-performance equipment more accessible to players and families. Inspired by growing up in small towns where many young athletes could not afford premium gear, he set out to challenge one of the most traditional industries in sports.
Zechariah has built Swift Hockey into a competitive consumer brand driven by player insight, innovation, and a deep commitment to the hockey community. His entrepreneurial journey has also been featured on Dragon’s Den, where he secured three investment offers.
In The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Business, we explore:
• How emotional intelligence helps founders overcome skepticism
• What athletes bring to leadership and entrepreneurship
• The mindset required to challenge legacy industries
• How purpose-driven brands build authentic communities
• Why accessibility and inclusion matter in youth sports
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa 🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
Leadership today requires more than strategy. It requires purpose, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
Founder
Zechariah Thomas is a 23-year-old entrepreneur, retired minor pro hockey player, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and the founder of Swift Hockey, a performance hockey equipment brand built without venture capital.
Entering one of the most traditional and exclusive sports industries, Thomas launched Swift Hockey with a mission to make high-performance equipment more accessible to players and families. Navigating limited access, high barriers to entry and early skepticism, he has built Swift Hockey into a competitive consumer brand driven by authenticity, player insight and a deep connection to the game.
Drawing on his own experience as a competitive player, Thomas combines an athlete’s perspective with entrepreneurial grit, proving that innovation in hockey doesn’t have to come from legacy brands or big budgets, but from those willing to challenge the status quo.
