428: Rewrite Your Narrative - The RealReal Founder Julie Wainwright on Resilience, Reinvention, Starting Over At Any Age

hat does it take to bounce back from public failure and start a billion-dollar company in your 50s? In this deeply honest and inspiring episode of Dreams In Drive, Julie Wainwright—founder of The RealReal and current CEO of Ahara—gets real about her unconventional journey through entrepreneurship, personal reinvention, and the power of owning your story.

Julie opens up about her childhood shaped by her mother’s chronic illness, and how that early responsibility lit the fire for her fierce independence and creative drive. We dive into the rise and fall of Pets.com, how she survived the media fallout, and more. From bootstrapping The RealReal to getting fired from the very company she founded, Julie shares the hard-won lessons that every entrepreneur—especially women—need to hear. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, risk-taking, and rediscovering purpose at any age.

You'll learn:

• How Julie’s upbringing with a sickly mother shaped her ambition
• The behind-the-scenes of Pets.com’s infamous fall—and how she recovered
• Her personal “pivot moment” that led to founding The RealReal at 52
• The shopping trip that sparked a billion-dollar idea
• What it really takes to build a company later in life
• Why you only need to be “51% right” in business
• How to handle getting fired from your own company
• The biggest hiring mistake most founders make
• Why knowing your values is essential as a leader
• The powerful advice Julie gave me for leveling up Dreams In Drive

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, bouncing back from failure, or dreaming of launching something new, Julie’s story will remind you: it’s never too late to bet on yourself.

Guest Bio:

Julie Wainwright is an entrepreneur and e-commerce pioneer with over two decades of experience building transformational consumer and tech businesses. She is currently the CEO and co-founder of Ahara, a precision nutrition company. Julie previously founded The RealReal, the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated luxury consignment, which she led to over $1 billion in revenue and took public in 2019. Her accolades include Entrepreneur’s 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs, Fast Company’s Most Creative People, and Forbes’ 50 Over 50.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Ahara
• Follow Julie on LinkedIn
• Connect with Rana: @rainshineluv
• Subscribe to the Dreams In Drive newsletter for exclusive updates
• Leave a review and share the episode with a friend chasing a dream!