Meet Julie Pelikhova

We recently connected with Julie Pelikhova and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

through my work with student-athletes

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Dr. Julie Pelikhova has dedicated over two decades to serving students supporting their academic success, personal growth, and life choices with compassion and purpose. A proud double Bruin and professor in the Transformative Coaching and Leadership Master’s program at UCLA, she teaches courses on mental health and leadership and is the author of Mindset Champion: Winning the Inner Game for Student-Athletes. Dr. Pelikhova’s work bridges the fields of education, sport, and mental health, empowering students to build resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of purpose both on and off the court. Widely recognized as a mentor and champion for student wellbeing, she continues to prepare emerging leaders to thrive holistically in their studies, their sport, and their lives.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities have been particularly impactful throughout my professional and personal journey: confidence, openness to change, and the ability to trust the process rather than conform to social expectations.

First, confidence served as a foundation for growth and self-efficacy. It allowed me to take initiative, speak with conviction, and step into spaces where representation or certainty were limited. Confidence, I’ve learned, is less about the absence of doubt and more about the willingness to act in spite of it.

Second, resisting the pressure of social expectations was essential to finding alignment with my authentic goals and values. Early in my career, I realized that external definitions of success often conflict with personal purpose. Allowing my path to unfold according to my own timing and direction created space for greater fulfillment and creativity.

Finally, openness to change and trusting the process have been crucial in navigating uncertainty. Growth rarely occurs in linear or predictable ways. By embracing change as an opportunity rather than a disruption, I was able to discover new perspectives, expand my skills, and stay grounded through transition.

For those early in their journey, I would offer three pieces of advice:

Cultivate confidence through action. Every step, even small or uncertain ones, builds internal trust and capability.

Define success on your own terms. Clarity about one’s values and intentions protects against external noise.

Embrace adaptability. Change often signals progress, and the most meaningful paths are those that evolve over time.

Ultimately, the journey is not about perfect planning, but about developing the inner stability to grow through each phase of transformation.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

In the past year, my biggest area of growth has come from finishing a book I co-authored—an entirely new process that stretched me in ways I didn’t expect.

Writing a book is both exhilarating and humbling. It tested my patience, discipline, and persistence more than anything I’ve done professionally. There were long days of editing, moments of self-doubt, and times when the finish line felt far away. But through it all, I kept showing up—one page, one paragraph, one idea at a time.

Collaborating with my co-author added another layer of learning. We had to navigate different writing styles, creative visions, and schedules, all while staying focused on our shared purpose. That process taught me how powerful collaboration can be when it’s rooted in trust and respect.

Looking back, the greatest growth came not from the final product, but from learning to stay persistent through a brand-new process. It reminded me that real growth often happens in the moments when we’re unsure, uncomfortable, or simply trying to figure it out as we go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drjuliecoaching.com/
• Instagram: dr.julie_p
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-pelikhova/