Meet Noah Kline

We recently connected with Noah Kline and have shared our conversation below.

Noah, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

My optimism comes from a mix of early influences and lived experiences. Growing up, I was extremely lucky to have people around me such as my parents and friends, who were an inspiration and always showing a forward-looking mindset. When I started working at Loveland Laser Tag as a teenager, I didn’t think of it as the start of my career, but I quickly learned that showing up with energy, saying yes to challenges, and looking for solutions instead of problems opened doors I didn’t even know existed. That attitude led to my partnership with Jeff Willy and eventually to building Time Emporium, Looking Glass and many other ventures.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in 2019 reinforced that lesson for me. It’s a physical reminder that the hardest parts of the journey often lead to the best views. In business, it’s the same, there have been moments where the easiest choice would’ve been to play it safe or step back, but optimism pushes me to lean in instead.

For me, optimism isn’t just a personality trait, it’s a habit. It’s choosing to see possibility where others might see roadblocks and trusting that even when the path changes, the destination is still worth reaching. My favorite part is trying to pass that mindset onto the team we’ve created, creating memorable and immersive experiences is where our energy sets the tone for the guest experience.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the co-owner of Time Emporium Escape Rooms, Looking Glass Escape Lounge, and Polaris Entertainments, and my focus is on creating unforgettable, story driven experiences. We design and operate award-winning escape rooms that have been recognized on an international level for their set design, innovation, and storytelling. What excites me most is the blend of all aspects in creating an escape room. Crafting worlds that people can step into, where every detail from the lighting to the soundtrack draws you deeper into the adventure.

Looking Glass Escape Lounge is our whimsical, immersive bar where guests can enjoy cocktails inspired by the upcoming breakthroughs of mixology, and Polaris Entertainments allows us to share these escape rooms to others that may want to add them in their own facilities. Along with a whole marketing company to help promote, design and manage any aspect of a family entertainment business. Two years ago, I personally installed one of our rooms in Ukraine, which was a surreal and humbling reminder that immersive experiences can connect people across cultures, even in challenging times.

Right now, we’re focused on expanding our presence in Colorado, developing new concepts, and continuing to raise the bar for what immersive entertainment can be. We want every guest, whether they’re playing an escape room, relaxing with a cocktail, or visiting one of our installations in another location, to walk away feeling like they’ve been somewhere extraordinary.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

For me, three qualities have been the most impactful: adaptability, relationship building, and creative problem solving.

Adaptability has been key because nothing in business ever goes exactly as planned, markets change, projects evolve, and unexpected challenges pop up. Being able to pivot without losing momentum has kept our team moving forward.

Relationship building has been just as important. My career started because someone I worked for saw potential in me, and every big opportunity since has been tied to trust and collaboration. No matter how talented you are, you can’t do it all alone, your network can become your greatest asset.

Finally, creative problem solving has shaped both our escape rooms and our business decisions. Whether it’s figuring out how to bring a complex set design to life or finding a way to launch a project on a tight timeline, thinking outside the box keeps us innovative.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple: put yourself in situations that stretch you. Seek out work that forces you to adapt. Be intentional about building relationships, not just connections. And look at problems as creative challenges instead of roadblocks. Those habits build over time and can completely change your path.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Simon Sinek’s books have had a huge influence on how I approach leadership and business, especially Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last.

Start With Why helped me clarify that the most successful projects aren’t just about what you do or how you do it, they’re fueled by a clear, compelling purpose. That idea pushed me to define the deeper ‘why’ behind our escape rooms and immersive experiences: creating moments of connection, wonder, and shared stories that people carry with them.

Leaders Eat Last reshaped how I think about team culture. It reinforced that leadership isn’t about being in charge, it’s about taking care of the people in your charge. The takeaway for me was that if I prioritize my team’s well-being, growth, and sense of purpose, they’ll bring that same passion and care to our guests.

Those lessons, leading with purpose and serving your team first, have shaped everything from the way we design experiences to the way we build relationships within our company and with our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: lookingglassbar.com and time-emporium.com
• Instagram: @lookingglassbar and @time_emporium_escape
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Looking-Glass-Bar-and-Escape-Lounge-100075696709769/ and https://www.facebook.com/TimeEmporiumEscape/

Image Credits

Hayden Frye
Cambree Hall