Levy founded The Forty Company at just 15 years old, as he was entering high school and searching for a summer job. With an early appreciation for print media and Hamptons living, he saw an opportunity to enter an industry that can be notoriously difficult to break into: Hamptons real estate. Media became his way in. Through offering free media services, Levy began building relationships with some of the largest developers across the Hamptons and Long Island. Within two years of founding the company, he was managing and overseeing media operations for nearly 30% of Long Island’s developers.

As the company grew, Levy oversaw its expansion into two distinct divisions: Real Estate and Social. The move allowed The Forty Company to serve two industries closely tied to the Hamptons—luxury real estate and the events and culture surrounding it.

Despite the company’s growth, Levy credits much of its success to the people behind it. “A lot of people wonder how I was able to succeed in media at 19, and my answer is always the same: because of my team.” That philosophy continues to shape the way he leads. Levy believes a founder’s role is not to simply direct from the sidelines, but to remain involved in the work—whether that means being on set, supporting a client, or taking on the tasks no one else wants to do.

“A lot of young founders get caught up in an online mindset and begin to think certain tasks are beneath them,” Levy says. “As a founder, your role is to do the work no one else wants to do and to always put your team and your clients ahead of your own interests.”

Now 19 Years Old- For Levy, leadership has never been about the title.

It is about being present, doing the work, and building a company around the success of the people it serves.