Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1
Join Julie Riga for the most personal episode of the Stay On Course Podcast yet. For the first time, Julie steps into the guest seat to share the untold story behind the brand, the podcast, and the purpose that drives everything she does. From battling an undiagnosed illness as a child to eating lunch alone in a high school bathroom, to a life-threatening surgery that changed everything, this is the raw, real, and deeply human story of how a purpose-driven leader is made.
In This Episode:
✨ Why Julie created the Stay On Course Podcast and the father's legacy that inspired it
✨ The childhood bullying that began at age five and the identity it almost stole
✨ The quiet inner voice that protected her: "They do not know who you are. They do not know who you will become."
✨ How undiagnosed Graves disease silently shaped her childhood and adolescence
✨ The life-threatening surgery at 16 that finally uncovered the truth
✨ Why Julie chooses to see hard experiences as lessons rather than failures
✨ How her hardest seasons became the foundation of her conviction and tenacity
Key Takeaways:
📌 Your story has purpose. The hard seasons are the foundation of who you are becoming
📌 Reframing setbacks as lessons accelerates growth and builds resilience
📌 The voice of faith can carry you through seasons you cannot navigate alone
📌 Circumstance does not define you or determine your future
📌 Tenacity and conviction are forged through difficulty, not comfort
📌 Legacy starts with the courage to share your truth
📌 You do not have to have it all figured out to stay on course
Memorable Quotes:
"If the world falls down on your shoulders, brush it off and keep going your way. Stay on course. Have faith." - Julie Riga
"They do not know who you are. They do not know who you will become." - Julie Riga
"I am a person of conviction and I am a person of purpose." - Julie Riga
"I like to see things as lessons rather than failures." - Julie Riga
"It is because of those lessons that I became the unique individual that I am today." - Julie Riga
Perfect for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, like they do not belong, or like life has knocked them down one too many times. This episode is proof that your story is not over.
Connect with Julie:
🌐 julieriga.com/lead
🎧 Stay On Course Podcast
📱 LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
🔗 https://stacklist.app/julieriga
Services:
💼 One on One Coaching: Purpose discovery and leadership development
🎨 Brand Building: Design support to build your authentic brand
👥 Leadership Programs: Team development and organizational growth
📚 Training Programs: Skill development for your next level
🎧 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations about leadership, purpose, and transformation!
💡 Share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded that their story is not over.
#StayOnCoursePodcast #FoundersStory #PurposeDrivenLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipMindset
