The Amazing Authorities Podcast

Episode: The Corporate High-Achiever Who Walked Away: Julia Rock’s Powerful Reinvention Story
Host: Mitch Carson
Guest: Julia Rock
Date: December 5, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Mitch Carson sits down with Julia Rock—executive coach, TEDx speaker, and Substack specialist—to explore her dramatic shift from a global finance leader overseeing $23 billion in expenses to an entrepreneur focused on leadership coaching and career reinvention. Julia shares her personal story of burnout, workplace trauma, and rediscovering her purpose. The episode is a candid, inspiring look at the high-achiever’s journey through adversity, cultural adaptation, and building authentic leadership, offering invaluable lessons for established and aspiring authorities alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Julia’s Early Career and Entry Into Leadership (02:05–05:41)

• Helping Others for Free: Julia began her career coaching journey in college, assisting peers and friends using skills gained in her business school’s career center. She refined her coaching—without pay—for seven years.

  “I started my business while I was still in college and helping people for free… I did it for free for seven years before I started charging people.” – Julia (02:05)

• Corporate Climb: She entered financial services, working in credit cards, then moved to finance roles in the energy sector, eventually leading large teams and significant budgets.

  “My last job, I was responsible for about $23 billion in operating expenses as a global finance leader.” – Julia (04:56)

• Turning Points: A friend successfully landing a six-figure job thanks to Julia’s coaching made her realize her work was worth charging for (04:05).

The Leap From Corporate to Coaching (04:56–07:53)

• Full-time Entrepreneur: Julia left her corporate role in March 2024 to focus on coaching, citing client demand and the desire for greater impact.

  “I had to either serve my clients or stick with my corporate gig… So I just decided to bet on myself.” – Julia (05:01)

• No Regrets: Julia emphatically states she doesn’t miss corporate America, highlighting the freedom entrepreneurship allows, especially with her family living internationally.

  “Not one [regret].” – Julia (05:42)

• Defining Freedom: The ability to live and work from anywhere—and spend time with loved ones in Barbados—was a key motivator.

  “My parents, they live in Barbados so I can pick up and go be with my parents. And I can still coach clients from there.” – Julia (07:11)

• Money vs. Meaning: Julia values freedom and fulfillment over higher corporate pay.

  “Going back just for money, it’s just not a good enough reason. It’s just not.” – Julia (07:53)

Growth as a TEDx Speaker & the Power of Vulnerability (09:22–13:11)

• Pursuing TEDx: Always aspiring toward public speaking, Julia sought out TEDx with the help of a coach—emphasizing transformation not just in product, but in herself.

  “For me, it wasn’t just the TEDx product that came out. It was the process of transformation that I personally went through.” – Julia (09:52)

• From Polished to Raw: TEDx helped Julia drop the “mask” and embrace vulnerability, which now deepens her keynote speeches and connects with audiences on a personal level.

  “The stories I’m able to tell on stage, they’re… more poignant and they relate better because I’m not putting on a mask.” – Julia (12:12)

• Audience Connection: Mitch shares his own story on stage—overcoming addiction—affirming the power of vulnerability to create lasting impact and connection.

Julia’s Personal Story of Burnout and Reinvention (14:18–19:06)

• Workplace Trauma: Julia openly discusses hitting rock bottom due to severe burnout, depression, and suicidal ideation caused by toxic work environments and an over-identification with her job.

  “I went through some workplace trauma that caused me to get severely depressed and suicidal… and I gained 25 pounds in two months.” – Julia (14:32)

• Turning Point: Her breakthrough came via a moment of self-reflection, realizing her responsibility to her loved ones, and making a conscious choice to fight for a better life.

  “If you’re not going to off yourself, what are you going to do about it then?” – Julia (16:29)

• Small Wins: Julia’s recovery began with celebrating tiny achievements, rediscovering her self-worth beyond career achievements.

  “I found small things to start to rebound before I was able to kind of fully recover.” – Julia (17:08)

• Purpose Through Pain: This experience was essential for her new direction; it pushed her toward work that truly aligns with her mission to help others avoid similar suffering.

  “As much as it was painful, I think it was absolutely necessary for me to connect with people and share this message around leadership and, and, and avoiding burnout.” – Julia (18:26)

Expat Leadership and Cultural Adaptation (20:25–28:23)

• Argentina During COVID: Julia describes moving to Argentina in late 2021 during a pandemic, not speaking fluent Spanish, and leading a local team as a Black American woman.

  “It was a very interesting experience moving to a country in the middle of a pandemic.” – Julia (20:49)

• Cultural Reset: Argentina’s relationship-centered culture contrasted sharply with the transactional US environment. Employees were more curious about personal details than career tips, highlighting their prioritization of human connection.

  “Everybody wanted to get to know Julia, and that was a resetting moment for me.” – Julia (22:46)

• Leadership Approach: Julia gained her team’s trust through approachability, advocacy, and respect for Argentine customs. She avoided imposing US management styles and instead empowered her team.

  “I stayed out of their way… my job is to make it better and to remove obstacles out of your way, but I’m going to let you run the shop.” – Julia (25:04) “I made a concerted effort to make sure they saw that I valued them and I valued who they were as people, not just as worker bees.” – Julia (25:36)

• Family First Mindset: Julia embraced the Argentine focus on family and work-life balance, supporting flexible arrangements and recognizing employees’ full lives.

  “They center their family first. They’re not working on their deathbed.” – Julia (28:23)

Lessons In Simplicity and Leadership (22:48–29:32)

• Anti-Consumerism: Living abroad made Julia less focused on accumulating material goods, shifting her priorities towards relationships and experiences.

  “I don’t buy nearly as many things as I used to, because I just don’t… I’m content with the things I have.” – Julia (23:32)

• Leadership in Context: Mitch and Julia agree that understanding and respecting other cultures makes one a better leader and broadens one’s perspective on what’s truly important.

  “What’s important and what’s not. And how did you lead there… when you show care... treating them as humans as opposed to being their authoritarian leader, that seems to not work anymore.” – Mitch (28:03)

Building Thought Leadership Online: LinkedIn and Beyond (30:43–32:37)

• Becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice: Julia explains how consistent, valuable content creation landed her an invitation to the LinkedIn Top Voice program.

  “You need to be on LinkedIn, multiple times a week, creating valuable content and starting conversations.” – Julia (31:47)

• Insider Tip: Being active, engaged, and premium on LinkedIn improves visibility and increases opportunities for recognition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I started my business while I was still in college and helping people for free… I did it for free for seven years before I started charging people.” – Julia (02:05)

• “My last job, I was responsible for about $23 billion in operating expenses as a global finance leader.” – Julia (04:56)

• “Not one [regret].” – Julia on leaving corporate America (05:42)

• “Going back just for money, it’s just not a good enough reason. It’s just not.” – Julia (07:53)

• “The stories I’m able to tell on stage, they’re… more poignant and they relate better because I’m not putting on a mask.” – Julia (12:12)

• “I went through some workplace trauma that caused me to get severely depressed and suicidal… and I gained 25 pounds in two months.” – Julia (14:32)

• “If you’re not going to off yourself, what are you going to do about it then?” – Julia (16:29)

• “If everything in my life is taken away from me, what do I still have to offer the world? And that discovery process… helped me to start to turn my ship around.” – Julia (17:08)

• “They center their family first. They’re not working on their deathbed.” – Julia (28:23)

Important Timestamps

• [02:05] – Julia’s start as a career coach and journey through financial services
• [04:56] – Decision to leave corporate America, managing a $23 billion portfolio
• [07:11] – Embracing freedom to be with family worldwide
• [09:22] – Why Julia pursued TEDx and its impact on her speaking
• [12:12] – How vulnerability transformed her keynote speaking
• [14:18] – Sharing her story of burnout, depression, and recovery
• [16:29] – The mirror moment sparking her comeback
• [20:30] – Relocating and leading in Argentina during the pandemic
• [22:46] – The importance of relationships in Argentine business culture
• [25:04] – Julia’s leadership style: empowerment, advocacy, and authenticity
• [28:23] – Adapting to family-first attitudes and supporting work-life balance
• [30:43] – Journey to becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice

Connect With Julia

• Email: juliarock@rockcareer.com
• Website: rockcareer.com
• LinkedIn: Julia Rock (Top Voice)

Julia Rock’s story is a masterclass in personal reinvention, authentic leadership, and the power of vulnerability. Her journey from corporate high-achiever to authority in career transformation is proof that a second act can be more impactful, meaningful, and successful than the first.