Lain Hensley on Fox Business: How Odyssey Teams Revolutionized Corporate Philanthropy Programs

Lain Hensley, the visionary founder of Odyssey Teams, recently shared his insights on Fox Business, offering an inside look at how corporate team-building programs can combine learning with philanthropy to make a profound global impact. Hensley’s appearance highlighted the philosophy that has guided Odyssey Teams for over 20 years: don’t just tell stories, create them.

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Starting the Give-Back Activities Revolution

Odyssey Teams, co-founded by Lain Hensley and Bill John, has spent more than two decades transforming traditional corporate training into purpose-driven, philanthropic team-building experiences. Their signature program, Helping Hands, allows participants to build prosthetic hands for amputees worldwide, combining hands-on learning with giving back.

The Fox Business segment, “Small Business, Big Ideas,” provided the perfect platform to share the give-back activities revolution with a national audience. For Hensley, this was an incredible opportunity to discuss the impact of philanthropy in corporate training and to showcase how purposeful team-building can drive meaningful change.

Before stepping onto the studio floor, Hensley experienced the mix of nerves and excitement familiar to anyone sharing their passion on a live platform. From the Green Room to a glimpse of the live studio, the experience underscored both the significance of the moment and the responsibility of sharing Odyssey Teams’ mission with the world.

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Don’t Just Tell Stories, Create One

In live media, time is limited. Hensley had just three to five minutes to articulate two decades of effort, dedication, and innovation. To focus his message, he broke his approach into three clear themes:

• Head: Teach profound lessons

• Hands: Engage participants in tangible action

• Heart: Evoke emotion to drive learning and retention

At the center of this story was Helping Hands, a program that gives participants a chance to directly impact the lives of amputees. By building prosthetic hands that are distributed globally, participants not only learn about teamwork and communication but also experience the power of their actions in a real-world context.

In that year alone, Helping Hands was set to deliver 11,000 prosthetic hands to 64 countries, reflecting the program’s scale, reach, and meaningful impact. Hensley’s philosophy is simple yet powerful: the best corporate training programs create stories that participants live, not just hear.

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Just Trust Yourself

As Hensley took his seat in the studio, he recalled the advice of a mentor:

“Just trust yourself, Lain.”

Trusting his years of experience and the integrity of Odyssey Teams’ mission, he delivered his message naturally. He spoke candidly about the power of philanthropic team-building programs and the way these experiences transform participants while contributing to the greater good.

For Hensley, the Fox Business interview was not just a chance to tell the world about Odyssey Teams; it was a moment to validate the impact of combining purpose and learning in corporate environments. He reflected on walking the streets of New York afterward, inspired by the thought that their story had reached a broad audience, showing that intentional actions in business can make a real-world difference.

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The Philosophy Behind Odyssey Teams

The underlying philosophy of Odyssey Teams is simple: engage employees in meaningful work while fostering learning and collaboration. Programs like Helping Hands show that corporate training doesn’t have to be limited to lectures or PowerPoint presentations. Instead, these programs:

• Promote active participation and problem-solving

• Build trust and communication skills within teams

• Foster empathy and social responsibility

• Deliver measurable impact, both for participants and the recipients of the philanthropic efforts

By integrating hands-on action with emotional connection, Odyssey Teams ensures that participants retain lessons longer and feel personally invested in the outcomes of their work.

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Global Impact Through Purposeful Team Building

Helping Hands exemplifies the global impact of corporate philanthropy programs. Participants don’t just learn teamwork—they see the tangible results of their efforts as prosthetic hands are distributed worldwide. The program bridges the gap between corporate objectives and social good, demonstrating that companies can drive learning, engagement, and positive societal change simultaneously.

Through the program, Odyssey Teams has reached thousands of participants, helping them understand the importance of teamwork, empathy, and leadership. The philanthropic component makes learning personal, transforming participants into ambassadors for collaboration, innovation, and giving back.

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Lessons for Aspiring Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Hensley’s Fox Business interview underscores several lessons for leaders and entrepreneurs:

1. Purpose Matters: Align business activities with meaningful outcomes to inspire teams.

2. Action Speaks Louder: Create experiences that allow participants to contribute tangibly to a cause.

3. Storytelling is Powerful: Don’t just communicate your mission—allow employees to live it.

4. Trust Yourself: Confidence in your mission and experience leads to authenticity.

5. Think Global: Small actions within a corporate setting can create widespread impact.

Hensley reflects on his own journey and encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to recognize that “overnight success” is rarely immediate. Years of dedication, passion, and consistent effort culminate in moments of recognition—but the work itself is the real reward.

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Conclusion

Lain Hensley’s appearance on Fox Business highlights the power of combining corporate training with philanthropy. Odyssey Teams’ Helping Hands program is a testament to how purpose-driven team-building programs can engage employees, teach leadership and collaboration skills, and simultaneously make a meaningful difference in the world.

By sharing their story on a national platform, Hensley and Odyssey Teams have inspired companies to rethink traditional team-building approaches. The message is clear: don’t just tell stories—create them.

📩 Email: learn@odysseyteams.com

📞 Phone: 800-342-1650

For leaders looking to implement corporate philanthropy programs that strengthen teams and make a real-world impact, Odyssey Teams provides the expertise, resources, and hands-on experiences to turn vision into action.