Today’s guest is creative hotelier Julia Ashwood - someone who has built an extraordinary career by trusting her instincts, even when the path ahead wasn’t clear.
Julia’s career is glorious zigzag. It began in marketing, moved through TV journalism and advertising, and eventually took her to New York, where she talked her way onto shoots just to be in the room, soaking up everything she could. New York expanded her world, but eventually it stopped feeling like home, so she returned to Byron Bay.
Not long after, she and her husband made a decision that would change everything. Instead of spending their house deposit on a new home, they bought a 125-year-old country pub. That became The Eltham, where Julia discovered the joy of creating spaces that make people feel something - starting with the five guest rooms she lovingly designed upstairs. Together, they went on to co-create Sun Ranch Byron Bay and, most recently, co-found Room Service, an online course for aspiring hoteliers who want to build spaces with soul.
In this conversation, we talk about what it takes to back yourself when the future feels uncertain, how grief reshapes the way you understand your own story, and why the most meaningful careers are often the ones that unfold in ways you could never have planned.
Julia has the most beautiful, infectious energy, and I know you’re going to love this conversation.
Follow Julia @the_vista
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