At just 27 years old, Julie Smolyansky became the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded company when she stepped into leadership at Lifeway Foods in 2002. What began as her family’s immigrant dream has grown into the dominant kefir brand in the U.S., with revenues projected at over $185 million in 2024 and distribution across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and beyond.
In this episode, Julie shares her remarkable journey from Soviet refugee to global business leader. She talks about taking over the company after the sudden passing of her father, the challenges of family business succession, and how resilience, mindfulness, and self-care sustain her as a CEO and mother. We dive into the science of gut health, the power of kefir, the innovation behind Lifeway’s product line, and Julie’s ability to spot trends years ahead of competitors. Along the way, Julie highlights why wellness, mental health, and intentional leadership are non-negotiables in both business and life.
Episode Notes
- Julie’s childhood story: defecting from the Soviet Union and starting over in Chicago
- How her parents launched Lifeway Foods and introduced kefir to the American market
- Taking over as CEO at 27 after her father’s sudden passing and proving the skeptics wrong
- Family business lessons on succession, contracts, and navigating conflict
- Why her psychology background shapes her leadership style and decision-making
- The role of mindfulness, therapy, and marathon running in preventing burnout
- Gut health explained: kefir, the microbiome, immunity, and the mind-gut connection
- Lifeway’s innovation strategy: from early adoption of social media to trend-driven flavors
- Balancing global growth with her roles as mother, author, and activist
- Julie’s advocacy work, including producing documentaries and co-founding Test400k
- Her book The Kefir Cookbook and creative ways to bring kefir into everyday meals
Contact Information
- Website: https://lifewaykefir.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julie-smolyansky-05304612
- Instagram: @juliesmolyansky
- Facebook: facebook.com/LifewayKefir
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