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Julia Gabor
Julia Gabor
01:36

Julia Gabor

kid-grit

Costa Mesa, CA USA

"I don’t ever want a kid to feel the way I felt. I don’t need to change the whole world, I just want kids to see themselves as valuable folks."

Career Roadmap

Julia's work combines: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

Mindful Founder

I craft learning experiences, weaving creativity and holistic health into education's fabric.

04:12

Day In The Life Of An Education Start-Up Founder

My Day to Day

Days vary when building an education start up. If at the home office, I'll do Zoom meetings, answer emails, or do a Zoom interactive professional learning workshop for schools or afterschool programs across the nation. If on the road, my days look like six-hour training sessions, building and supports requests for culture improvements in schools or for non-profit organizations, skipping across states on airplanes, and hustling at conferences to inspire future partners to work with kid-grit.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

Society perpetuates this idea that we all should follow the same predetermined formula in regards to education and career in order to find success. I don't agree with that at all. I think the world is changing and that you're better prepared to find success and fulfillment by being passion-driven in your journey.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Theater Arts

    SUNY Fredonia

  • Graduate Degree

    Educational Leadership and Change

    Antioch University Los Angeles

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    Raised by artist parents in New York City, I learned early on the value of self-expression and resilience.

  • 2.

    At age 11, I was given my own space—without much parental supervision or guidance, I started engaging in a lot of high-risk behaviors.

  • 3.

    I moved out of the city for college, and while I didn’t particularly enjoy the college experience, I stayed and earned my bachelor’s degree in theater arts with minors in technical theater and dance.

  • 4.

    I decided that I wanted to use my experience and education to help other kids learn how to express themselves through improvisation and theater games, all while pursuing acting in New York City.

  • 5.

    After about 10 years, I moved to California aiming for stardom, but found my true calling in youth development.

  • 6.

    I started volunteering in South Los Angeles, connecting deeply with my roots and the community’s needs.

  • 7.

    I joined the Tiger Woods Foundation at age 36—it was my first stable job and the first time I felt that sort of relief and security.

  • 8.

    I continued to build my career in youth development, ultimately co-founding kid-grit whose mission is to equip educators and students with the tools needed for success.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    You need to follow a predetermined formula for success: go to college, get a job, get married, find success.

  • How I responded:

    Society perpetuates this idea that we all should follow the same predetermined formula in regards to education and career in order to find success. I don't agree with that at all. I think the world is changing and that you're better prepared to find success and fulfillment by being passion-driven in your journey.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I didn't have much guidance growing up, so I participated in a lot of high risk behaviors from a young age. The experience fueled my desire to dedicate my career to helping kids in similar situations.

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