“I became really enamored not necessarily with the technology but with the people hosting the events and bringing people together. That was just the root of our mission.”
In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Stephanie and Courtney sit down with Julia Hartz, co-founder and former CEO of Eventbrite, to unpack her extraordinary 20-year journey from aspiring ballerina to one of the few women to found and take a company public as CEO. Julia shares how a chance meeting with her future husband and co-founder led to the creation of Eventbrite, the lessons learned from 27 consecutive investor rejections, and how relentless curiosity, resilience, and customer obsession fueled the company's growth.
Julia opens up about navigating some of the toughest moments in entrepreneurship—including leading Eventbrite through the COVID-19 pandemic when the company's revenue effectively disappeared overnight. She discusses the mindset shifts that helped her grow as a leader, the realities of raising capital, taking a company public, and the emotional process of stepping away following Eventbrite's acquisition.
What We Talked About:The Journey of Julia Hartz [2:17]Building Eventbrite: Idea to Execution [15:31]Navigating Challenges During Covid [22:08]Leadership During Crisis [29:27]Taking Eventbrite Public [37:45]Life After the Sale [45:52]
Connect with Julia:@juliahartz on Instagram
Julia Hartz on LinkedIn
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