Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1

Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1 What You Will Learn: Four years into hosting the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga steps into the guest seat to share the story she has never fully told before. From honoring her father's legacy to surviving Graves disease, from eating lunch alone in a high school bathroom to becoming a leadership coach and transformation catalyst, Julie's journey is proof that our hardest seasons carry our greatest lessons. Key Topics: The Heart Behind Stay On Course: Why Julie created the Stay On Course Podcast four years ago How her father's words of faith became the soul of the brand The meaning behind "Stay on course" and why it carries so much weight Lesson One: The Kid Who Had Lunch in the Bathroom: Being bullied from age five and the identity it almost stole Spending high school years eating lunch alone due to isolation and illness The quiet inner voice that carried her through: "They do not know who you are. They do not know who you will become." The Surgery That Changed Everything: Undiagnosed Graves disease discovered at 16 after a life-threatening surgery Being rushed to the ICU and the doctor's warning to her mother How her senior year marked the turning point toward becoming herself Memorable Quotes: "If the world falls down on your shoulders, brush it off and keep going your way. Stay on course. Have faith." "They do not know who you are. They do not know who you will become." "I am a person of conviction and I am a person of purpose." "It is because of those lessons that I became the unique individual that I am today." Key Takeaways: Your story has purpose. The hard seasons are the foundation of who you are becoming Reframe every setback as a lesson and watch your growth accelerate Faith carries you through seasons you cannot navigate alone Circumstance does not define you or your future Tenacity and conviction are forged through difficulty, not comfort About Julie Riga: Julie Riga is a leadership coach, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Stay On Course Podcast. She helps leaders and business owners discover their true purpose, build authentic confidence, and break through to their next level of success. Services: One on One Coaching | Leadership Programs | Training Programs | Brand Building Explore all of Julie's resources here: https://stacklist.app/julieriga Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts Share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded: your story is not over #StayOnCoursePodcast #PurposeDrivenLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipMindset Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.