Go with your gut

Lifeway Foods is a leading US producer of kefir and other probiotic foods. The company is passionate about promoting people's physical and mental health, and protecting the environment. "My father founded the business in 1986," said Julie. "As a family, we were immigrants to the United States from the former Soviet Union."

From those early days, Julie's father taught her strong morals and values: "He was an inspiration – entrepreneurial and powerful. So was my mother, but she also had a strong feminine spirit."

Julie joined the growing company in the late 1990s: "I worked side by side with my father for about five years, until he had a sudden heart attack at the age of 55 – the prime of his life. One day he was there, then a few minutes later, he was gone."

Overnight, Julie – aged just 27 – took the reins of the business. Immediately, the weight of the company's responsibilities fell on her shoulders. She needed to find her voice, navigate complex dynamics, reinforce the company's values and convince investors the business was in safe hands.

"One of the biggest challenges has been finding my own voice as a leader, and being able to speak truthfully about things that are really important. I think that, especially for women, there are challenges associated with speaking up. I still have to fight cultural bias every day. There's a lot to navigate and it isn't always easy."

For Julie, two big ingredients have gone into becoming a successful leader: confidence and courage: "It's taken bravery on my side. I've spent years working on finding my own voice. Navigating business and family dynamics requires a lot of effort and strategizing. The time is now for business leaders like me to speak up, lead and scale our values."

Julie also feels compelled to empower women leaders and create inclusive working environments. And not just because it's the decent thing to do: "Research shows that businesses with women in the boardrooms are more profitable. They just do better."

Having experienced the pressure of instant leadership, Julie believes there's another vital ingredient for family businesses: "Investors need to know a business will continue successfully when the founder isn't around anymore. So, it's important to have a succession plan that empowers the next generation to lead."