Interview with Julia Rivard Dexter
Julia Rivard Dexter
OCTOBER 30, 2024 | 00:39 | Episode 43
From Olympic Dreams to Entrepreneurial Success—An Inspiring Journey
In 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.
ABOUT MY GUEST
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
Julia Rivard Dexter's journey from Olympic athlete to impact-driven entrepreneur is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of innovation in education. Growing up in North Bay, Ontario, Julia faced significant challenges, including a speech impediment and struggles with reading. These early experiences fueled her determination to succeed, ultimately leading her to the Olympics in 2000 as a canoeist. Her transition from sports to entrepreneurship began when traditional job opportunities eluded her, prompting her to harness her graphic design skills to create a small business. This initial step into the entrepreneurial world laid the groundwork for her future ventures, including the establishment of Shoelace Learning, an innovative edtech company that utilizes the engaging nature of video games to promote literacy among children. Julia's insights into the intricacies of building a startup, the importance of community, and her commitment to addressing educational challenges reflect her passion for making a meaningful impact. With over 7 million users globally, Shoelace Learning is a prime example of how creativity and technology can revolutionize learning, providing students with the tools they need to thrive.
Takeaways
Caity Craver emphasizes the importance of building what users actually need, not what you think they want.
In the nonprofit sector, retaining existing customers is just as important as acquiring new ones.
Successful marketing for nonprofits requires a combination of creativity and analytical strategies to maximize impact.
Caity’s journey through entrepreneurship highlights the necessity of learning from failures and iterating quickly.
The concept of 'do less better' helps nonprofits streamline efforts to achieve greater good effectively.
Building a strong team and surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial for success.
Sound Bites
"It's a marathon, not a sprint."
"Just start, just get it up."
"You don't need to boil the ocean."
Links
Julia’s Shoelace Learning: https://shoelacelearning.com/
Please leave us a review: https://podchaser.com/DesigningSuccessfulStartups
Tech Startup Toolkit (book): https://www.manning.com/books/tech-startup-toolkit
Jothy’s website: https://jothyrosenberg.com
Who Says I Can’t Foundation: https://whosaysicant.org
Jothy’s TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNtOawXAx5A
Chapters
00:04 - Introduction to Julia Rivard Dexter
00:43 - Julia's Early Struggles and Turning to Sports
03:19 - The Journey of an Olympian
08:50 - Founding Shoelace Learning
11:19 - Transition from Education Tools to Gaming for Learning
12:23 - The Unique Approach of Shoelace Learning
13:06 - Building a Global User Base
35:21 - Work-Life Balance as a CEO and Mom
24:34 - Reflections on the Olympic Journey and Confidence
38:58 - Conclusion and Outro
