ABOUT JULIE TRESKA

My father raised me on three things: faith, discipline, and the idea that your name is the only thing you actually own.

I spent the rest of my life finding out how true that was.

I was born in Cleveland in 1977 into a steel family. My father built several steel companies and was a millionaire by twenty-one. He was the most important person in my life and he taught me almost everything I know.

By twenty-three I had been through the Coast Guard, a stage 3 cancer diagnosis, and a layoff that arrived the same week. I've spent nearly three decades in sales since then — insurance, mortgages, and eventually steel and aerospace. Industries that weren't built for women and don't pretend otherwise.

I've raised two children, survived more than one marriage, lost my father, lost jobs, and rebuilt my life more times than I can count.

I'm still in the industry. Still building. Still walking into rooms and betting on myself.

I live in New York with my wife and family.

I'm writing the book about all of it. It's called FORGED.