Entreprenista

How Julia Haart Reinvented Her Life at 42 from Restrictive Upbringing to Fashion Leader

February 9, 2026

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  • Embracing 'ignorance' by remaining an eternal student who asks questions and seeks knowledge is crucial for innovation and success, as demonstrated by Julia Haart's rapid achievements after leaving her restrictive community. 
  • The perceived ceiling to one's potential is often a self-imposed mental construct, similar to the African elk tricked by a half-pipe, meaning courage comes from refusing to acknowledge non-existent limitations. 
  • For product-based businesses, especially complex ones like footwear, having a production head who is fully employed and invested (e.g., given equity) is vital to ensure product quality and brand alignment over factory convenience. 

Segments

Entreprenista League Invitation
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The Entreprenista League offers founders access to a private community, special discounts, exclusive content, and founder Office Hours.
  • Summary: Steph invites listeners to virtual info sessions for the Entreprenista League community, promising giveaways for live attendees. The League is positioned as a supportive network for women founders focused on real business results. Details for joining are available via a link in the show notes.
Julia Haart’s Background
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(00:01:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Julia Haart left her orthodox community at 42 to become a fashion leader, documented in ‘My Unorthodox Life’.
  • Summary: Julia Haart’s journey began with leaving her ultra-orthodox community at age 42, leading to her starring role in the Netflix series ‘My Unorthodox Life’. She quickly built a successful shoe brand, served as Creative Director for La Perla, and launched her shapewear brand, +Body by Julia Haart. The episode promises insights into her brand building and TV show origins.
Ignorance as an Advantage
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(00:05:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Not knowing industry norms allows for asking fundamental questions and innovating beyond established practices.
  • Summary: Haart credits her initial success in the shoe industry to her ignorance, as she didn’t know what was supposedly impossible. This lack of knowledge led her to ask ‘why’ things were done a certain way and simply implement her own methods. Being an eternal student who learns as they go is presented as the key to success.
Courage from Surviving Trauma
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(00:10:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Surviving the extreme transition from an 18th-century lifestyle to the 21st century provided the courage to believe she could achieve anything.
  • Summary: The courage to be limitless stemmed from the near-impossible feat of leaving her fundamentalist community and surviving, especially after witnessing others who left commit suicide. Her daughter’s simple logic regarding responsibility for sins was the catalyst that made Haart realize the system’s flaws, prompting her eight-year plan to leave. Her first night of freedom was spent at the W Hotel, which she interpreted as a sign.
Shoe Brand Production Lessons
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(00:21:38)
  • Key Takeaway: In shoe production, employing a dedicated production head who cares about the brand’s success, perhaps through equity, is more critical than using external liaisons.
  • Summary: The hardest part of the shoe business is production, requiring pristine product quality because shoes are engineered items. Production personnel whose loyalty lies only with the factories will prioritize factory happiness over the brand’s needs. Haart suggests giving key team members a percentage of the company so their success is tied directly to the product’s success.
Overcoming First Production Failure
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(00:26:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The fear of returning to her former life fueled Haart’s determination to succeed after losing a million dollars on a disastrous first shoe production run.
  • Summary: After realizing her first large order of shoes was unusable, Haart experienced intense panic but resolved that failure was not an option because it meant returning to her old life. She convinced the factory to produce the next run by promising a discount on future payments, leveraging the existing large orders as collateral. This crisis reinforced that success was mandatory, equating failure with death.
Pitching ‘My Unorthodox Life’
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(00:28:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Julia Haart pitched her Netflix show directly to the network after a potential deal for another project fell through, selling the show before her book.
  • Summary: Haart pitched her personal story to Netflix after an attempt to create a show about Elite World Group failed due to existing contracts. A contact advised her to focus on her own journey, which she was initially hesitant to publicize. She and her producer, Jeff Jenkins, pitched directly to Netflix, securing the deal after a two-year process.
Navigating Public Scrutiny
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(00:32:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite facing severe, fabricated accusations following the show’s release, Haart remains committed to the positive impact the series has had on women globally.
  • Summary: The publicity brought intense personal attacks, including accusations of theft and being a con artist, which took over two years to resolve legally. However, the show has inspired hundreds of thousands of women worldwide to share their stories, with over a thousand women reporting they left abusive relationships because of the series. This positive impact helps Haart contextualize the personal attacks.
Support System During Adversity
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(00:37:04)
  • Key Takeaway: During overwhelming adversity, relying on family, friends, and practicing Dr. Joe Dispenza’s meditation practice were critical for managing panic.
  • Summary: Haart learned the necessity of seeking help, contrasting with her initial self-reliance after leaving her community. Meditation, specifically Dr. Joe Dispenza’s teachings emphasizing control over one’s destiny, helped her realize that most perceived disasters exist only in her mind. She quotes Charles Dickens: ‘My life has been filled with so many travails and tragedies. Some of them actually happen,’ highlighting the energy wasted on imagined fears.
+Body by Julia Haart Launch
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(00:41:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The +Body by Julia Haart brand was inspired by Bridget Jones’s Diary to create shapewear that looks and feels like beautiful lingerie, solving the problem of ugly, restrictive undergarments.
  • Summary: The brand was created to eliminate the shame associated with traditional, unattractive shapewear, using a proprietary coloring system that prevents distortion when the fabric is stretched. The initial shapewear collection was unique because it was sold by cup and bra size, integrating the bra structure into the garment to prevent ‘pancake boob.’ Customer feedback led to the development of ready-to-wear clothing (bodysuits, tanks) with built-in shapewear and bras, launching in September.
Entrepreneurship Defined
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(00:49:06)
  • Key Takeaway: For Julia Haart, being an entrepreneur means achieving the freedom to utilize her innate capabilities to create positive change.
  • Summary: Haart defines her biggest business secret as ‘seeing what isn’t there,’ which equates to envisioning the future and striving to be the first to reach it. Entrepreneurship, to her, is the ultimate freedom. This freedom allows her to apply her full capabilities to create positive change in the world.
Call to Action and Review Request
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(00:50:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners are encouraged to support the Entreprenista Podcast by leaving a five-star review and sharing the episode for a chance to win a one-on-one session with Steph.
  • Summary: The hosts thank listeners and ask them to subscribe and leave a review to help reach more female founders. Sharing the episode on social media or via DM enters listeners into a monthly giveaway for a private session with Steph. The Entreprenista League community link is provided for ongoing business support.