After a long week at the ELFA Annual Convention, I sat down with Michelle Julia, founder of Orium, to talk about something we don’t discuss enough — what it really takes to pivot, take risks, and build something new. Michelle’s journey is incredible. She’s a Stanford-trained AI engineer who helped build products millions of people use every day — from AirPods to Find My — and became one of Apple’s youngest patent holders along the way. But what stood out most wasn’t her résumé. It was her willingness to step out of engineering and into sales, learning how to tell the story behind her product and lead with connection. We talked about: 💡 How curiosity and humility fuel innovation 💡 The mindset shift from technical expert to entrepreneur 💡 Why relationships matter more than resumes 💡 The courage to start something new — even when it’s uncomfortable This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles or perfection — it’s about learning, adapting, and staying human through it all. #FiresideChat #Leadership #Innovation #AI #Entrepreneurship #ConsultDisrupt #ServantLeadership #LongGame

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