Sheldon Yellen

Sheldon Yellen has built himself a robust reputation for his unconventional management style. From his childhood hustling for a buck in the poorest neighborhoods of Detroit, he learned the critical value of relationships and trust. As CEO of BELFOR (parent company to BELFOR Restoration), he used these leadership values to grow a small construction company with a couple of million dollars in revenue into a $1.5 billion dollar industry pioneer. His story became one of the most popular episodes of Undercover Boss, earning an Emmy nomination.

Imagine that your house catches on fire, and you have just enough time to grab your kids and run out of the house. Hours later, after the firemen, police and maybe the insurance adjuster have gone, the only people by your side for the next few months are the professionals at BELFOR Restoration. They not only spend time rebuilding your home, they take the time to hold your hand as you rebuild your lives. The stories of everyday heroes at BELFOR helping people restore their lives are too many to recount. But it takes special people with special leadership skills to create this kind of work culture in the rough-and-tumble world of construction.

For Yellen, this is his family. Abandoning traditional business proceedings in order to put more stock in his greatest asset - people - Yellen admits hating meetings, committees and layers of corporate hierarchy, preferring instead to constantly grow his business in order to expand his family, which today includes over 6,500 men and women in more than 250 offices spanning 30 countries. He professionalized an entire industry, growing his company by capturing one heart at a time.

Sheldon Yellen has developed an influential following of decision makers who love his unconventional management style. His presentations reflect his management philosophies through managing the ups and downs of his industry, his personal journey as a leader and his intense belief in the people who execute his business every day.