73. Food Network Champion Julia Chebotar: From Burnout to Dream Career
JULIA CHEBOTAR — SECRETS OF THE CAREER GAME — EPISODE 73
Julia Chebotar, a Food Network Chopped champion and celebrity private chef, walked away from the high-pressure restaurant industry and a failed meal-prep business to build a thriving career cooking for high-profile clients. From burnout at 27 to serving celebrities like Ryan Seacrest, Julia shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, entrepreneurship, and redefining success.
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Kendall Berg dives into Julia’s unconventional career path—from making rotisserie chicken quesadillas on private yachts to winning Food Network competitions. Julia opens up about embracing uncertainty, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why she ultimately chose solo entrepreneurship over scaling a team. They also break down the myths around restaurant food, the rise of private chefs, and why knowing your ingredients matters more than ever.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How do you know when it’s time to completely change your career path?
- Are private chefs actually a healthier alternative to restaurant dining?
- What’s the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when trying to scale?
- Does being on Food Network actually help a chef’s career?
- How can you overcome imposter syndrome to take career-changing risks?
- Why do some entrepreneurs succeed better solo than with a team?
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Key Takeaways
Julia Chebotar’s Journey into Private Chef Career (00:00 – 11:07)
- Julia started in the restaurant world with family, and felt burned out at 27
- Joined a women’s networking group in NYC, initially sought corporate job
- Transitioned to private chef career after brief corporate experience
- First client was Ryan Seacrest, leading to other celebrity clients
- Appeared on Food Network shows like Chopped and Kitchen Crash
- Prefers autonomy and flexibility of private chef career over corporate structure
Entrepreneurship and Business Growth (11:07 – 19:35)
- Julia initially struggled with building clientele, emphasizes importance of humility
- Attempted to scale business by managing other chefs, found it overwhelming
- Realized solo entrepreneurship suited her better than managing a team
- Participated in TV cooking shows like Chopped, boosting her authority in the field
- Encourages others to overcome imposter syndrome and take risks
Healthy Eating and Whole Foods (19:35 – 28:20)
- Discusses the importance of whole foods and vegetables in diet
- Criticizes over-elaborate restaurant presentations (e.g., foam, unnecessary garnishes)
- Highlights the disconnect between high-end restaurants and healthy ingredients
- Emphasizes importance of knowing food sources and ingredients
Health Consciousness and Cooking (28:20 – 35:57)
- Julia Chebotar discusses growing popularity of private chefs due to health consciousness
- Emphasizes connection between diet and immune system health
- Suggests scanning products with apps like EWG and Yuka for ingredient awareness
- Recommends healthier alternatives and easy recipes on her social media
- Promotes cooking as a way to control ingredients and improve health
That Career Coach
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Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_
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Julia Chebotar
Health Chef Julia Chebotar, is a New York City-based private chef who turns healthy eating into an exciting adventure. As a Food Network Chopped Champion and winner of Kitchen Crash, Julia
knows how to bring bold flavors and creative flair to the table. With over a decade of culinary
experience, she crafts unforgettable dishes using clean,wholesome ingredients—proving that
nutritious food can be both delicious and enjoyable.
📲 Follow Julia Chebotar:
Instagram: @healthchefjulia
Website: https://www.healthchefjulia.com/
Podcast produced by: Dany Albertina
