Julie Smolyansky on Resilience, Gut Health, and Leading Lifeway Foods
Julie Smolyansky
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit. Take a break, recharge, and then come back stronger. Wellness is the greatest wealth.”
When Julie Smolyansky became CEO of Lifeway Foods at the age of 27, she entered the record books as the youngest female leader of a publicly traded company. The circumstances that led her there were tragic, shaped by the sudden death of her father, Lifeway’s founder Michael Smolyansky. Yet out of that moment of heartbreak came one of the most enduring leadership stories in modern business.
Two decades later, Lifeway Foods has grown from a small immigrant family enterprise into a global leader in probiotic foods, generating nearly $185 million in annual revenue in 2024. The company has helped bring kefir, a 2,000-year-old fermented dairy drink, into mainstream American culture while expanding distribution across North America, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.
Julie’s story is not simply one of business success. It is a story about resilience, family legacy, and the role of wellness and mindfulness in leadership. It is also about the ability to see patterns, spot trends early, and continuously innovate in a competitive and rapidly changing marketplace.
From the Soviet Union to Chicago
Julie was born in the Soviet Union in 1975. Her father, Michael, was an engineer who dreamed of freedom and opportunity. He resented the restrictions of life under communism, where even something as small as owning a Beatles or Led Zeppelin album could lead to arrest. On the day she was born, he promised her that she would grow up in a different world.
That promise became reality one year later. The Smolyanskys defected in the middle of the night, spending several months in exile in Rome before landing at O’Hare Airport in Chicago in 1976. They had only $116 in their pockets, no English language skills, and no social connections. Julie’s mother learned English by watching soap operas on television. Her father repaired discarded electronics found in Chicago alleys and resold them to make ends meet.
Eventually, her mother opened a delicatessen in Rogers Park. The store quickly became more than a place to buy pierogi and smoked fish. It became a hub for new immigrant families who needed advice about everything from finding an apartment to enrolling their children in school. Julie grew up behind the counter, observing the hard work and determination that defined her parents’ lives.
This resourceful spirit led to the founding of Lifeway Foods in 1986. At a trade show in Germany, Michael discovered kefir on the shelves and felt an immediate connection to his childhood. America had every imaginable food, but it did not have kefir. With his engineering background, he designed a production process, while Julie’s mother used her distribution network to get the product into stores. Lifeway Foods was born, and within two years the company went public with just $800,000 in revenue.
For Julie, childhood was inseparable from the business. Vacations often meant time spent at the warehouse. Dinner conversations revolved around growth, distribution, and customers. She was absorbing the rhythms of entrepreneurship long before she understood their meaning.
From Psychology to Business
Julie did not set out to follow in her parents’ footsteps. She studied psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and entered graduate school with plans to become a counselor. She worked with vulnerable populations, serving as a rape crisis counselor and supporting children in foster care.
But a traumatic incident changed her path. While working in a Chicago neighborhood one evening, she was caught in the middle of a gang conflict. Shaken and fearful for her life, she reassessed her future. She called her father and asked if she could work at Lifeway part-time while finishing her studies. He welcomed her without hesitation.
At first, Julie resisted her father’s encouragement to take business classes. She believed that business was at odds with her desire to help people. Yet as she listened to her father talk about kefir’s benefits for immunity, digestion, and overall wellness, she realized that this work was psychology too. It was about behavior change, lifestyle decisions, and helping people live healthier lives.
What began as temporary work turned into a calling. Julie decided not to return for her second year of graduate school. She worked side by side with her father for five years, learning every detail of the company.
Becoming CEO at 27
In 2002, tragedy reshaped Julie’s life. Her father died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 55. Almost immediately, people around her doubted that the company could survive. Some even advised her to sell her stock before the funeral.
Instead, Julie stepped into leadership. At just 27 years old, she became the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded company. The skepticism from outsiders was intense. Many assumed she lacked the experience to manage a business in a competitive food market. But those who had worked with her since childhood knew better. They had seen her dedication on weekends and holidays, packing boxes and learning operations from the ground up.
Most importantly, Julie had her father’s belief in her. He had told her repeatedly that she could do anything she set her mind to. He often said she would put kefir into every refrigerator in America. That belief became her source of confidence when others dismissed her.
Her father had also prepared her for the adversities she would face as a woman in business. In unconventional ways, he taught her to fight, to withstand criticism, and to push back when underestimated. Those lessons proved invaluable as she navigated a male-dominated business landscape.
Lessons on Family Business and Succession
Looking back, Julie is clear about what would have helped in those early years. She stresses the importance of involving family business consultants or coaches who can mediate difficult conversations and bring structure to succession planning. She also advises families to put agreements in writing, no matter how close the relationships may seem.
Verbal promises, she explains, often collapse under the pressure of success and growth. Contracts protect both the family and the business. Early planning may seem unnecessary for a small operation, but once a business grows, the stakes rise quickly. The absence of clear agreements can lead to painful conflicts and costly legal battles.
Her experiences underscore the emotional cost of entrepreneurship, particularly for immigrant families who operate under constant pressure. Success often comes with personal sacrifices and unhealed trauma. Julie’s message to others is to seek guidance early, protect relationships, and build systems that will endure.
Wellness as a Foundation for Leadership
Julie credits her ability to lead through adversity to her commitment to wellness. From her early days as a figure skater to her current marathon training, movement has been her anchor. She insists on daily exercise as a non-negotiable part of her life, even when her schedule is packed with travel and meetings.
“Wellness is the greatest wealth,” she often says. For her, physical activity is not simply about fitness but about mental clarity, stress management, and resilience. Completing her first marathon gave her the conviction that the word “can’t” had no place in her vocabulary.
She also emphasizes rest. Burnout is real for entrepreneurs, but quitting is not the only option. Rest, recovery, and self-care allow leaders to return with fresh energy and perspective. Therapy, community, and mindfulness practices are also part of her toolkit. She encourages other women in leadership to find what practices bring them joy and strength, whether it is nature, reading, or time with loved ones.
The Science of Kefir and Gut Health
Lifeway’s mission is deeply connected to Julie’s belief in wellness. Kefir is not just a product but a vehicle for improving lives. Its history stretches back more than 2,000 years, consumed by communities in the Caucasus Mountains who attributed their longevity to it.
Modern science supports these traditions. Kefir replenishes beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can be depleted by antibiotics, stress, or modern diets. A healthy microbiome is now recognized as essential for immunity, mental health, and even skin health. Research has linked kefir consumption to reduced inflammation, improved digestion, and decreased anxiety and depression.
Julie often shares customer stories that highlight kefir’s impact. One woman canceled a major surgery after two weeks of drinking kefir, finding relief from her Crohn’s disease symptoms. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy have reported that kefir was the only food they could tolerate. These stories remind Julie that Lifeway’s products are more than commercial goods; they are tools for healing and comfort.
Innovation and Staying Relevant
One of Julie’s greatest strengths is her ability to see patterns and spot trends before they become mainstream. This skill has kept Lifeway ahead of larger competitors who often imitate rather than innovate.
She introduced fusion flavors like matcha latte and ube, anticipating consumer preferences years before they appeared in major chains. She recognized the rise of collagen as a wellness ingredient and launched collagen-infused kefir before competitors could react.
Her early embrace of social media was another example of forward thinking. Lifeway was among the first brands on Twitter and Facebook, long before businesses recognized the platforms as marketing tools. Vogue credited this early adoption with creating a cult-like following for the brand.
Julie sees innovation as the marriage of old-world traditions with modern culture. By introducing kefir to music festivals, yoga events, and social media trends, she has made an ancient product relevant to new generations.
Advocacy, Storytelling, and Leadership Beyond Business
Julie’s influence extends far beyond Lifeway Foods. She co-founded Test400k to address the backlog of untested rape kits in the United States, bringing attention to a critical issue of justice and women’s rights. She has produced documentaries such as The Homestretch, Honor Diaries, and The Hunting Ground, amplifying stories that matter.
Her book, The Kefir Cookbook, blends recipes with stories of entrepreneurship, showing how food connects culture, family, and innovation. She continues to use her platform to advocate for wellness, resilience, and social change.
Her recognitions, including Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, reflect not just her business success but also her creativity and impact as a leader.
Lessons for Women in Leadership
Julie’s story offers powerful lessons for women in business and leadership:
Believe in your abilities even when others doubt you.
Formalize family business arrangements early with contracts and advisors.
Prioritize wellness and self-care as foundations for resilience.
Use mindfulness and movement to manage stress and prevent burnout.
Innovate by marrying tradition with modern trends.
Recognize that leadership is about impact beyond profit.
Her journey demonstrates that resilience and wellness are not soft skills but essential strategies for sustainable leadership.
Why Julie Smolyansky’s Story Matters
Julie Smolyansky’s leadership of Lifeway Foods is both an immigrant success story and a blueprint for intentional leadership. She turned a family legacy into a global brand, faced skepticism with determination, and used wellness practices to sustain herself along the way.
Her story reminds us that resilience is built not only in boardrooms but also in moments of personal challenge. It is reinforced by belief, community, and the daily habits that protect our health and spirit.
Listen to the Episode
To hear Julie Smolyansky’s full story, including her journey from refugee to CEO, her thoughts on resilience, innovation, and the science of gut health, listen to the Badass Women in Business Podcast.
