Meet Julie Kiefer a performance & mindset coach, digital marketer, writer, and founder of the Diabetic Travelers Network. Dedicated and committed to guide people into their highest potential.
Julie Kiefer left her corporate job as a brand manager for a Fortune 500 company in London to pursue her vision and design a life of freedom, meaning, and purpose that allows her to operate at her full potential while having time to experience life;
But, she had no idea how to:
- Build an online business – Sounded good as a word but what the hell was, she going to offer as a service?
- Use Instagram effectively
- Grow a following on social media
- Build trust with my audience and engage my community
- Create a strong digital marketing strategy that generates leads AND sales
Julie Kiefer hired a coach, enrolling in courses, and after 3 months she built her first organization that helps people with diabetes to live a life of freedom (The DTN) and launched her coaching business. This gave her the stability to quit her full-time job and go full in on her business.
Julie Kiefer’s mission is to help you do the same, increase performance, and (finally) design a life where you can live in alignment with your true purpose!
Tell us something about yourself
My name is Julie Kiefer, born in France. I’ve been fascinated by cultures and exploring the world from a young age and I used to dream about the day I’ll have a business that helps to reduce the gender inequality gap and brings people from different backgrounds together.
I am a swimmer, yoga practitioner and believer. I have notebooks full of ideas about how to make this world a better place. Perfectionist, I thrived to be the best. I got qualifications after qualifications thinking this was my way to freedom. I learned the hard way that this was not the case. And while I am deeply grateful for everything I learned while working for corporations, I didn’t have the freedom.
So I left my great corporate job as an international brand manager in London to pursue my vision and design a life of freedom, meaning, and purpose that allows me to live my dream of being my own boss, design my own schedule and operate at my full potential while having time to experience life.
I have traveled in 28 countries in the past 5 years. Met with women from all around the world. I am a business & mindset coach, digital marketer, copywriter, and the founder of the Diabetic Travelers Network. I help women to scale impact and build an online business that allows them the financial freedom they deserve to live life on their own terms.
I work with high achievers, solopreneurs, side hustlers, and freelancers. As their coach, I help them manage their time effectively, be confident, and build meaningful businesses that bring in money AND freedom.
From a qualification point of view: I have a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing (Dip DigM), an MBA, an MSc Food Sciences and Nutrition from the French Grandes Ecoles, and I own a yoga RYT certification.
I’ve worked with a range of 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 figure businesses, including some of the top brands in the field.
In a few lines words, what do you do?
I am a business & mindset coach, digital marketer, copywriter, and founder of the Diabetic Travelers Network.
I help women to scale impact and build an online business that allows them the financial freedom they deserve to live life on their own terms.
My clients are high achievers, solopreneurs, side hustlers, and freelancers. As their coach, I help them manage their time effectively, be confident, and build meaningful businesses that bring in money AND freedom so they can experience life to its fullest.
What drove you to set up your own companies?
This inexplicable need for FREEDOM.
I used to think that my qualifications would give me the freedom I wanted. However, after several years working for Fortune 500 companies, learning as much as I could and growing, I realised that being in an office all day and working very long hours wasn’t for me. I had the money, challenges and responsibilities but something was missing.
I didn’t feel myself in this “work is your life” culture. I was tired, unfulfilled and not free. I felt I was meant for something bigger and more aligned with my values.
This need for equality, freedom, meaning, and purpose is what drove me to start my businesses. I am now helping other women to free themselves from the corporate rat race and transform their passion into a meaningful business.
What are your top three tips for success?
My top 3 tips for success are:
- Know your audience
Understanding your target audience is a success key factor in any business. Focus on your target audience, understand who they are, the life they live, their pain points and their aspirations. Create genuine relationships with them.
People buy when they believe that your products or services help them solve their problems. Thus, your services or products need to be strategically positioned as is. This will ensure you attract and present your product/service to people that truly love and want to support what you do.
A lot of entrepreneurs skip this part and spend a lot of time and money developing a product they have not tested and it does not sell. When you know your audience, you serve them better and you are able to provide them with what they need.
- Be consistent
Consistency is key to success. There is no secret. If you want it to work you have to show up consistently and authentically. And by this I also mean ensuring you have a strategy in place to optimise your time and promote your business.
No strategie = No sale. You can’t expect people to buy from your business when you are not out there promoting it.
In business and entrepreneurship there are times when motivation is just not enough, and you need strong discipline and commitment to keep going.
Work on building empowering habits and rituals that keep you focused on your goals and priority every single day. Believe that your time will come, be consistent and it sure will.
- Ask for help when needed
When you start or have this amazing product idea you might want to keep it for yourself. The truth is that there is so much you can do alone and it will quickly be limited.
Your ability exponentially increases when you ask for support. Yes, you can do it all alone, but the truth is it will take you time.
You can prevent yourself from making a lot of mistakes if you find someone that has accomplished what you want to do, is where you want to be and who has been where you currently are.
They have done it and know how it works. It will make you grow and develop faster. Ask for help, network, reach out. You’ll be surprised how many people genuinely want to help you.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
- Start something you are passionate about
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, we can market absolutely anything but it won’t work if you’re not passionate about it. Start something that is bringing you joy. Be clear on the reason WHY you are starting this business. It must be different than money. Money in itself is not enough to keep you going on the long term.
So make sure you are crystal clear on the reason you are starting this business in the first place and let this energy and passion fuel you.
- Build a brand
Successful businesses have strong brands.
Your brand is what will differentiate you from the rest of the market and build a loyal customer base. Your brand should be at the centre of your business and affect every decision you make.
According to a Nielson survey, 59% of consumers prefer to buy new products from brands familiar to them. Think about it, why are you buying what you are buying?
Aren’t you more attracted towards brands that you know and trust?
To build a strong brand follow the steps below:
- Define the purpose behind your brand (why do you exist? What difference do you have against the competition? Which problems do you solve? Why should people be interested?)
- Determine your ideal customer target and understand their pain points
- Define a clear mission for your brand
- Write a strong and compelling brand story (including your why, core values and messages)
- Determine the tone of voice you want to communicate with (fun, friendly, professional, relatable, confident, etc)
- Create a strong brand story and key messages you want to communicate with your audience
- Make sure your brand is relevant to YOU. No one is you and that is your power. Believe in yourself
- Create a brand logo, tagline and identify your brand colours/fonts. The more consistent you are the more people will be able to recognise you quickly.
- Define success
What does success mean to YOU? Whether it is making $10K a month, quit your 9-5, retire your parents or be able to work from a beach, it is important that you make yourself crystal clear on what success means to you. A confused mind cannot take action so be clear on what you want, write it down and then identify what needs to be done to get there.
- Believe in yourself
When starting a business, your confidence might take a hit. Especially if you’re moving from a high responsibility position or have confused your job title with your value for a while.
This is totally normal and part of the process. Surround yourself with people that have done what you are trying to do and that have positive energy. Right now, is not the moment to let anyone make you doubt yourself. Take some distance from negativity and practice self-love and self-worth. Include meditation, positive affirmation, visualisation and self-care in your daily routine.
- Be consistent
Plan, Do, Evaluate, Adjust, Repeat.
What is your secret to being an effective CEO in terms of building the company culture and values you need to make the company successful?
In my opinion, the secrets of being an effective CEO are:
- Create a clear vision and purpose for the company that makes stakeholders want to join in and be part of the growth
- Set clear high goals, we are not playing small.
- Lead from the head and the heart not with your ego
- Learn from your mistakes and step up
- Focus on adding stakeholders’ value and serving others. People are at the center of everything that I do and they are key for the company to succeed. Employees, partners and consumers. I focus on driving value and supporting them to grow and develop. This is a key component of the company culture. People work best when they feel valued.
- Be the gatekeeper. Delegate and trust your leadership team while remaining the ultimate gatekeeper in the company.
- Create a safe and open place for discussion where decisions can be made.
- Inspire trust and be transparent.
Busy startup entrepreneurs have lots of demands on their time and are often pulled in lots of different directions, do you have any tips for effective time management and what to focus on first?
Yes! Time management is gold when starting a business and a key skill to master!
I teach the key of effective time management in my FREE Do Less Get More Done Ebook that I use with my 121 clients.
My top tips for time management are:
- Set SMART goals
Your goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bounded.
- Prioritize
Write under each goal the tasks you need to complete to achieve it in chronological order. Focus your time on the critical and necessary tasks, they are the ones that will make you move forward and therefore the ones you should invest the most energy in.
- Plan ahead
Organise your day the night before and cancel anything that is not necessary for you to move forward (ex. Meeting with no objective). Focus on the areas you are adding the most value in.
- FOCUS
Remove all distractions: phone, emails, computer notifications, navigator tabs, etc. Set time for each task, you can use a timer. Invest all your energy into the completion of this UNIQUE task. Once done, take a small break, reply to emails, and do the next one.
- Manage people expectation
Be clear on the time you have and when you will be able to come back to them.
Tell people when and how they can access you. Set clear boundaries for yourself and stick to them.
Get my FREE Ebook, Do Less Get More Done to learn how to get the most done with your time.
How do you stay motivated?
I honestly love what I do and I am deeply grateful for it! It keeps me motivated every day to know that I am helping other women and that I am building a life that is aligned with my values.
I mediate, practice gratitude and prioritise time for myself on a regular basis.
Any advice for entrepreneurs on moving beyond a failure?
Look at your failure as a teacher. Be grateful for the opportunity it gives you to learn. Without failure there is no learning and no progress and we all fail at some points of time.
Look at your failures as opportunities to grow and to do better next time.
Work on developing a growth mindset where you know that your capabilities are expanding and failure is nothing else than a part of the process.
Share us some tips for women who are in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting their own businesses.
Definitely. First I’d like to say to all women out there looking to quit their 9-5 that I hear you. I’ve been there. Before I decided to leave my safe, comfortable corporate job, I had lots of doubts and insecurities. It is scary and it is normal to feel the way you do.
But for me, the idea of regretting years down the road that I didn’t give my dream a go was stronger than the comfort zone.
Truth is you will never know until you take the leap. So why not?
Now, before you go ahead and quit your job let me share with you some advices from what I learned:
- Be crystal clear on why you want to do this and that starting a business comes from you
- Write down your worst-case scenario, then find a solution for it
- Make a plan and budget (e.i where are you going to live, costs of living, how are you going to run your business, how much revenue are you expecting to get and by when)
- Before you quit, make sure you have 6 months in savings or that your side hustle bring you enough to cover your expenses
- Invest in yourself and get a coach that has done it. It will skyrocket your success.
The chance is that if you’re reading this you are already borderline to give your notice. And if you dislike your job, staying will only increase this feeling and you’ll stay stuck in the same burnout cycle until you are in front of the wall and can’t take it anymore.
Believe in yourself and if this is what you feel is right (entrepreneurship is not for everyone) then go for it. You have everything you need already in and around you to succeed.
Website www.juliekfr.com
Social media: www.instagram.com/kfr.julie/ ; www.facebook.com/kfr.julie/
Free Ebook: Do let get more done: https://www.subscribepage.com/i3n1m0
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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