Dreaming Big: A Founder’s Guide to Celebrating Milestones

Join Molly Baker, founder of Indie Consulting, and Julia Parsons who shares her journey from corporate success to entrepreneurship, offering a candid look at the founding of her company and the transformative power of timing. She also opens up about a pivotal moment early in her career that had a lasting impact on her life. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will encourage you to pursue your dreams and celebrate every milestone along the way! 

MB (Molly Baker): What is top of mind professionally today?

JP (Julia Parsons): I’m focused on inspiring women to set and celebrate big milestones and dreams. On a micro level, I’m balancing taxes, P&L, margins, and jewelry design, like setting a five-row pave ring with a perfect curved edge. Family is always part of the equation.

MB: Brag about yourself. What are you most proud of?

JP: I love this question because it pushes women to own their strengths. I’m great at building community, making women feel seen and empowered, and creating things people love. I’m a builder at heart, whether it’s a product or a piece of jewelry.

MB: What was your first professional job?

JP: I was recruited from UCLA to work for Shepard Fairey’s creative agency. It was a dream job on paper, but mentally overwhelming. I ended up having a complete breakdown and had to quit. That experience taught me the importance of mental health and self-awareness.

MB: How did you handle that difficult period? What tools helped you cope?

JP: Therapy was vital. It helped me unpack the rigid path I had set for myself. Meditation also played a major role. Two books were pivotal: 'Passages' by Gail Sheehy, which framed my crisis as a normal life transition, and 'Loving What Is' by Byron Katie, which taught me to accept reality.

MB: How did that experience influence your career path?

JP: It shifted everything. I moved to San Francisco, joined a startup focused on marketing and advertising, and met my now husband, the founder. That job set me on a path in marketing and partnerships, which led to roles at major companies like Lyft.

MB: How did the idea for Incredible Rising come about?

JP: After Lyft IPO’d, I wanted a piece of jewelry to commemorate the milestone but couldn’t find anything that felt powerful. The shopping experience was dismissive — as though my career milestone wasn’t significant. That frustration planted the seed for Incredible Rising. When my husband got a job in Paris, I enrolled in jewelry school at Van Cleef and started the brand.

MB: What's been the hardest part of transitioning to entrepreneurship?

JP: Adjusting to the lack of structure. Corporate life provides clear goals, schedules, and a reward system. As an entrepreneur, you’re setting your own goals, building systems, and self-motivating. It’s a big shift but also incredibly freeing.

MB: How do you find design inspiration?

JP: My design process is intuitive. I get quiet, tune out the noise, and focus on what feels missing from my own collection. For instance, my latest collection was inspired by the plastic beaded bracelets my kids made, reimagined as luxury pieces. The vision often comes fully formed, and then I execute.

MB: What advice would you give to a woman thriving in her corporate career but wanting to strike out on her own?

JP: I asked myself five key questions: What do I really want to do? If success were guaranteed, what would I pursue? If I knew it would fail, what would I still do? Who do I want to serve? How do I want to feel daily? Getting clarity on these gave me the conviction to go all in.

MB: How do you leverage partnerships, given your experience at Lyft?

JP: Partnerships are powerful. The best ones align in both values and audience, creating that perfect overlap. At Lyft, I scaled partnerships that drove revenue and brand awareness. I still apply those principles at Incredible Rising, focusing on collaborations that elevate both brands.

MB: What was the tipping point that pushed you to make the leap to jewelry design?

JP: Moving to Paris was a big catalyst. We had been fantasizing about leaving San Francisco, but when my husband got the job offer, it felt like the universe was giving us permission to take a leap. During the year it took to sell our house and move, I kept thinking about jewelry and how I’d regret not pursuing it. Once we arrived in Paris, the universe kept nudging me. The CEO of a major jewelry brand offered to mentor me, and the head of jewelry for another brand became a close friend and advisor. I took these signs as confirmation to go all in.

MB: What’s a typical day like now?

JP: It’s a mix. I designed my life to integrate work and family. I work over coffee meetings, design jewelry, meet clients, and handle admin tasks. My mantra became 'success without stress.' If something feels overwhelming, I reassess. The goal is to grow the brand without compromising my well-being.

MB: What’s been the most rewarding part of your work with Incredible Rising?

JP: Being part of women’s milestone moments. When a woman reaches out to tell me she achieved a goal and wants to commemorate it with a piece of jewelry, it’s incredibly fulfilling. Knowing I helped her mark that moment is a huge honor.

MB: Any final words of advice?

JP: Embrace collaboration over competition. Working with others can open doors and bring unexpected opportunities. Also, stay open to mentors — they can come from unexpected places and provide invaluable guidance.

Visit Incredible Rising to see their beautiful collections and find Incredible Rising on Instagram!

As for us, follow @namedrop.pod on Instagram & LinkedIn and@molbakes on Instagram for all future episodes and insights.