From Olympic Dreams to Entrepreneurial Success—An Inspiring Journey

Bio

Julia Rivard Dexter is an impact tech entrepreneur, one of Canada’s top 50 Women in STEM she has been recognized as a leader in Global Growth and Innovation. Julia is CEO of Shoelace Learning, recognized in the top 20 innovative EdTEch platforms globally. Shoelace delivers learning through video games kids love and reaches over 6 million users in over 100 countries. She is an Olympian (2000) and mother of 4. 

Outside of Shoelace, she has been an associate for Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic and on the Prime Minister’s Economic Round Table for the Digital Industries. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Nova Scotia Power.

Summary

n this engaging conversation, Jothy Rosenberg reconnects with Julia, an accomplished entrepreneur and former Olympic athlete. They discuss Julia's journey from sports to startups, her experiences in building successful companies like Sheepdog and Shoelace Learning, and the importance of community and support in entrepreneurship. Julia shares insights on navigating the EdTech landscape, the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nova Scotia, and the lessons learned from her Olympic journey. The conversation also touches on the challenges of work-life balance as a mother of four and the values instilled in her children through her entrepreneurial journey.

Takeaways

• Reconnecting after COVID is vital for personal and professional growth.
• Transitioning from an athlete to an entrepreneur can be challenging.
• Building a community is essential for startup success.
• Understanding your customer is key to product development.
• Navigating the EdTech landscape requires adaptability and innovation.
• The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nova Scotia is supportive and growing.
• Lessons from sports can translate into business success.
• Work-life balance is crucial for family and personal fulfillment.
• Guilt can hinder performance; letting go is important.
• Success is a journey, not just an outcome.

Sound Bites

"It's so great to be reconnected."

"I couldn't get hired anywhere."

"It was a financial disaster."

Links

Julia’s Shoelace Learning: https://shoelacelearning.com/

Please leave us a review: https://podchaser.com/DesigningSuccessfulStartups

Tech Startup Toolkit (book): https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Startup-Toolkit-launch-strong/dp/1633438422/

https://www.manning.com/books/tech-startup-toolkit

Site with all podcasts: https://jothyrosenberg.com/podcast

Jothy’s non-profit:  https://whosaysicant.org

Jothy’s TEDx talk:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNtOawXAx5A

Chapters

00:00 Reconnecting After COVID

01:58 Julia's Journey from Athlete to Entrepreneur

06:06 Building Sheepdog and Early Successes

07:59 The Birth of Shoelace Learning

12:06 Navigating the EdTech Landscape

18:05 The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Nova Scotia

22:04 Lessons from the Olympics

35:03 Work-Life Balance and Family Values