Julia Durand

Julia Smith is a Transition Consultant, author, and the founder of Bridgeway36 Inc., where she helps individuals navigate the often-overlooked emotional and strategic challenges of retirement, career pivots, and life reinvention. With over 25 years of experience in the Retirement and Pension industry, she has guided thousands through the complexities of financial security—and now focuses on what comes next.

Her books are crafted for those in transition—retirees, mid-career professionals, and the recently unemployed—offering practical tools and powerful reflections to turn endings into new beginnings. Julia believes that transitions are not detours, but doorways.

A former retirement system director and lifelong advocate for personal growth, Julia leads a life of intentional curiosity. Her encounters and observations often find their way into her writing, adding texture and insight to each book.

Whether you’re seeking a business reboot, emotional healing, or clarity in your next chapter, Julia’s work will walk with you—bridge by bridge. She is available for speaking engagements of all sizes, sharing her message of personal reinvention, resilience, and the dignity of starting over. She’s only beginning to discover her full voice as an author and invites readers to walk alongside her in that journey.

"In a world that measures success in dollars and deadlines, I help people measure it in dignity, direction, and the freedom to choose again."