107. The Barrier-Busting Immigrant CEO Who Brought Kefir to the U.S. with Julie Smolyansky

Because we are Hamil-nerds, sometimes we start with a quote: “Immigrants, we get the job done” basically tells the story of Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, who moved from Russia to Chicago as an infant. Her parents brought with them a centuries-old tradition used in their homeland for generations — kefir, the hard-to-pronounce probiotic that does wonders for the gut — and began to share it in the community. A business was born, and in 2002, Julie became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm when she took over the company at the age of 27. Since then, Julie has continued the company’s growth trajectory, bringing an Eastern European product into the U.S. mainstream and boosting annual company revenues to over $120 million in 2017 from $12 million when she took over. She has been named to Fortune Business ‘40 under 40,’ Fortune’s 55 Most Influential Women on Twitter and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 1000.

Today, Lifeway is working to promote their BioKefir product line, which supports immunity, which could not be more timely given the current state of our global health!

Julie talks about...

• What kefir is and how it impacts our health--and it's not just about the gut
  
• Bringing mental health into the mainstream conversation
• The struggles of being a young female immigrant entrepreneur
• Clearing obstacles for the next generation

Resources:

• lifewaykefir.com
• https://www.instagram.com/lifewaykefir/
• Visit earthandstar.com and use code HTW for 15% off at checkout

Highway To Well is a production of Crate Media