Entrepreneurship isn’t a highlight reel. It’s long nights, hard pivots, and the willingness to bet on a vision most people can’t see yet. For Ryan Rearden, the path hasn’t always been linear, but it’s always been driven by grit, clarity, and a deep belief in the power of people.
From leading sales and hospitality teams in Las Vegas to launching tech ventures from scratch, Ryan brings a unique blend of operational discipline and creative agility to everything he does. His approach? Stay relentless. Stay human. And build with integrity.
From Georgia to the Vegas Strip
Born and raised in North Carolina, Ryan walked on to the University of Georgia football team while earning dual degrees in Consumer Economics and Housing. The balancing act of Division I athletics and academics built a resilience that would serve him through the pressure-cooker environments of nightlife and high-stakes hospitality.
At ARIA Resort & Casino and later as VP of Sales & Hospitality at Drai’s Las Vegas, Ryan led massive teams, orchestrated data-driven customer strategies, and created unforgettable guest experiences—including during headline events like the Mayweather-McGregor fight weekend. But even in the flash of Vegas, his focus remained simple: people.
“It was never just about bottle service,” Ryan reflects. “It was about understanding what makes someone feel seen and valued—and delivering that consistently.”
The Hard Way In
Ryan’s first startup journey came with a crash course in everything that can go wrong. A natural disaster, team betrayals, and a traumatic brain injury from a drunk driver threatened not just the business, but his entire trajectory.
“That season was brutal,” he says. “But it taught me how to lead when there’s nothing left to prove, only people to protect and problems to solve.”
Rather than step back, Ryan used the experience to redefine his leadership: Less ego. More empathy. Clearer priorities. Stronger boundaries. He began to lead not just from the front, but from within, shaping company culture, refining systems, and putting people first.
What He’s Building Now
While Ryan remains involved in ventures across tech, real estate, and entertainment, his focus is always on aligning purpose with product. He’s a systems thinker and a team-builder, someone who doesn’t chase hype but refines the engine behind the scenes until it runs clean.
Now, Ryan is channeling that precision into his next venture: applying aerospace and drone technology to solve real human problems. From disaster relief logistics to infrastructure monitoring, the mission is clear—use innovation to support vulnerable communities and drive large-scale impact. It’s an ambitious leap, but one grounded in the same values he’s always held: solve problems that matter, and do it with integrity.
He’s also a continuous learner, studying Six Sigma frameworks, international market trends, and emerging AI applications. “You’ve got to outgrow your own limitations if you want your company to scale,” he says. “That starts with being relentlessly curious.”
The Rules He Lives By
Ryan’s philosophy of entrepreneurship is lived, not theorized. A few truths he’s picked up along the way:
- “Trust is great. Contracts are better.”
- “Burnout doesn’t build anything. Rest is strategy.”
- “Your work ethic will win—if you’re still showing up after others stop.”
- “Learn like your livelihood depends on it. Because it does.”
Still Showing Up
For Ryan Rearden, success isn’t a single product or viral moment. It’s about persistence, precision, and the kind of leadership that gets stronger under pressure. Whether he’s launching the next venture or advising a startup in stealth mode, one thing is constant:
He’s not just building businesses. He’s building better ways to do business.