Julie Smolyansky on Resilience, Gut Health, and Leading Lifeway Foods

At just 27 years old, Julie Smolyansky became the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded company when she took over Lifeway Foods after her father’s sudden passing. Two decades later, she has grown the company into a $185M global brand while bringing kefir and gut health into the American mainstream. In this episode of Badass Women in Business, Julie shares her journey from Soviet refugee to resilient leader, how wellness and mindfulness fuel her success, and why innovation and self-care are non-negotiables in business and life.