Co-Founder, SoulCycle & Peoplehood
Julie Rice is an entrepreneur best known for co-founding the fitness phenomenon, SoulCycle. Rice's life's work has been about building community and she served as Co-CEO at SoulCycle from 2006 to 2015 before serving as a Partner at WeWork from 2017 to 2019.
She is also the Co-Founder of Peoplehood. Peoplehood offers facilitated "talking experiences" in an effort to make the world a more connected and empathetic place, one conversation at a time.
Rice lives in NYC with her husband, Spencer, and their two daughters, Phoebe and Parker. She is a board member of the Public Theatre and WeightWatchers.
Business leader and community-building expert Julie Rice explores the transformative power of fostering genuine connections among employees, especially in the evolving remote and hybrid work environments. Drawing on her extensive experience and research, Rice presents a compelling case for why intentional community-building is essential for employee satisfaction and company success.
Rice delves into the significant impact that having just one friend at work can have on employee investment, productivity, and retention. She provides actionable insights and practical strategies for companies to enhance relational wellness among their teams. From creating virtual social spaces and encouraging collaborative projects to implementing mentorship programs and fostering inclusive cultures, Rice offers a comprehensive guide to nurturing a sense of belonging and connection in the workplace. Rice's insights underscore the importance of human connection in the professional realm and provide a roadmap for companies to cultivate an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and connected. Through real-world examples and expert advice, Rice demonstrates how intentional community-building can lead to a happier, more committed, and ultimately more successful team.
Visionary entrepreneur Julie Rice shares her expertise on leveraging community building as a powerful marketing tool to reach and engage consumers in a crowded marketplace. Drawing from her experience in sparking the trillion-dollar wellness trend with SoulCycle, Rice reveals how a community-based approach can not only disrupt existing industries but also create entirely new ones.
Rice provides actionable insights and strategies for businesses to build vibrant, loyal communities around their brands. She demonstrates how fostering a sense of belonging and connection among consumers can lead to unparalleled engagement, brand loyalty, and market differentiation. Through a mix of real-world examples and expert advice, Rice illustrates how companies can harness the power of community to drive growth and innovation. Rice’s message is clear: in today's congested market, the key to standing out and thriving lies in the ability to create and nurture a dedicated community. This conversation provides an essential guide for entrepreneurs, marketers, and business leaders across various industries to build authentic connections with their audiences, turning consumers into passionate advocates and paving the way for lasting success.
Julie Rice shares the inspiring story of her and her cofounder's quest to navigate the business world without a female mentor who had paved the way before them. Determined to succeed, they turned to a business coach and forged a partnership that has thrived for over 20 years.
Rice recounts their journey of self-funding a business that led to a massive exit, scaling multiple ventures, and learning the hard truths about work and life not always being in balance. Through perseverance and innovation, they built brands that resonate deeply with women, creating highly attractive and empowering products and services. This conversation reveals a powerful narrative for women business leaders and entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights and lessons learned from Rice's experiences. It's a testament to the strength, resilience, and creativity of women in business, showing how they can break through barriers, build successful enterprises, and lead with impact. Julie Rice’s story is an inspiration, encouraging women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and create their own paths to success.
How did SoulCycle go from a simple idea to a massive company that is disrupting an entire industry? The story of SoulCycle is packed with teaching moments that every entrepreneur can apply to accelerate the growth of their own business. Julie takes audiences through her entrepreneurial journey, breaking down exactly how to uncover valuable customer insights, tap into the world’s most powerful marketing strategies, create magnetic customer loyalty, and build a disruptive brand from the ground up.