At just 27, following the tragic loss of her father, Julie Smolyansky took the reins of the family business, Lifeway Foods. Under Julie's leadership for the past 20 years, Lifeway's annual revenues have grown from $12 million to more than $140 million in 2022. She created these results slowly and steadily by following her gut instincts, relying heavily on organic, strategic marketing tactics and with the support of an amazing team that has grown right along with the company's success.

Julie shares her insights on the genuine power of word-of-mouth marketing and how she leveraged strategic partnerships. By authentically connecting with communities, from expectant moms to athletes, she has amplified the awareness of kefir as a wellness product and Lifeway Foods brand. Lifeway was early in organic social media marketing, and it still heavily leverages social media influencers and organic brand advocacy to be in front of the health and wellness aware community.

There is so much to learn from this episode, highlighting the importance of following your passion, making intuitive decisions, and building strong relationships within your industry. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the power of slow and steady growth, the benefits of organic marketing, and the significance of creating a supportive and passionate team.

Key Takeaways:

• Slow and steady growth can lead to long-term success.
• Passionate employees are key to a successful team.
• Delegate as much as you can to others so that you can do what you are uniquely qualified to do.

Quotes:

• "My goal is really to make Lifeway to kefir or what Tropicana is to orange juice or Hershey's is to chocolate - really build a global iconic brand that really heals people's bodies from the inside out." (27:08 | Julie Smolyansky)
• "I keep everyone who's super passionate. I think passion trumps everything else. When I see somebody who's passionate, I want them on my team." (39:27 | Julie Smolyansky)
• Don't give up. I mean, number one, don't give up. There are going to be challenging days, but that just comes with the territory." (51:51 | Julie Smolyansky)

Connect with Julie Smolyansky:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lifewaykefir

Instagram:http://www.instagram.com/juliesmolyansky

If you like what you're hearing, please leave a rating or review at https://ratethispodcast.com/dearfoundher 

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