Julie Condliffe: How the Comeback Queen Helps Women Rise and Reclaim Themselves

She’s been publicly shamed, deeply betrayed, and emotionally broken—but she rose anyway. Today, Julie Condliffe stands tall as a four-time bestselling author, former solicitor, property investor, and the unapologetic founder of the Unbreakable movement. Known by many as “The Comeback Queen,” Julie has transformed her most painful chapters into a global mission: to help high-achieving women reclaim their voice, visibility, and value after life’s most public and private storms.

Through her transformational retreats, the ARISE reinvention course, and her bold speaker mentorship programme, We Listen. We Judge. Julie is rewriting what it means to heal, lead, and rise. As she prepares to launch her most personal work yet—Unbreakable, part memoir, part movement—Julie is calling women everywhere to own their story, stand in their truth, and rise again, stronger than ever.

Your story has inspired so many—can you take us back to a pivotal moment that helped shape who you are today?

One of the most defining moments of my life was standing outside a red telephone box in the UK—homeless, cold, and carrying nothing but hope. I had just left Zimbabwe, where I’d grown up in generational poverty, and found myself in a foreign land with no money, no roof, and no one to call. That night, something in me shifted. I wasn’t just determined to survive—I made a quiet vow to myself that I would rise, not only for me, but for every woman who had ever been silenced, shamed, or sidelined. That moment taught me that our greatest pain can become the birthplace of our greatest power.

What inspired you to create the Unbreakable movement, and what does being “unbreakable” mean in your experience?

The Unbreakable movement was born in the ashes of public shame and deep betrayal. I went from award-winning solicitor to headline scandal, losing my title, my income, and nearly my voice. But I refused to lose my soul. For me, being unbreakable isn’t about being untouched by pain—it’s about refusing to let pain define your future. It’s rising through ruin. It’s rebuilding after a breakdown. And it’s finding beauty in the cracks. I created Unbreakable to be a lifeline for others navigating their darkest seasons, showing them that you can bend—but you do not have to break.

You help women rebuild their voice, visibility, and value—why are these three pillars so central to your work?

Because silence is a strategy the world has used to keep powerful women small. Voice is about reclaiming your narrative. Visibility is about being seen without shame. And value is about knowing your worth even when the world tries to discount you. After I was publicly dragged through the mud, I realised how easily society erases women who fall. So I now help women not just rise—but rise loudly, visibly, and unapologetically. Because when women own their voice, step into the spotlight, and walk in their worth, entire generations are transformed.

“I was homeless, heartbroken, and humiliated—but I made a vow to rise, not just for me, but for every woman who’s ever been silenced. Unbreakable isn’t just a movement—it’s a mirror reminding us that we can bend, but we do not have to break.” — Julie Condliffe

Your new book Unbreakable is launching in June 2025. What can readers expect, and how is it different from your previous work?

Unbreakable is my most personal, powerful, and painfully honest work to date. It’s not a guidebook. It’s a roadmap for the woman in the rubble—part memoir, part manual, all heart. Unlike my previous books, which were focused on property and law, this one bares my soul. It walks the reader through betrayal, burnout, public breakdown, and ultimately, breakthrough. It offers not just inspiration but structure—an 11-step Unbreakable Roadmap to help readers rise from rejection and reclaim their power. It’s for the woman who’s been through the storm and is ready to rewrite the story.

What legacy do you hope to leave through your work with women around the world?

I want women to say, “Because she didn’t give up, I didn’t either.” I hope to leave a legacy of boldness—of truth-telling, healing, and reinvention. I want my life to be proof that your past does not disqualify your purpose. My vision is that every woman who encounters the Unbreakable movement realises that she is not broken—she is building. And that her voice, once buried under shame, can become the very sound that sets others free.

What mindset shifts were most critical for you when reinventing your life after setbacks?

The biggest shift was this: my failure was not the end of me—it was the beginning of something deeper. I had to unlearn the need for external validation. I had to move from asking, “Why me?” to declaring, “Watch me.” I also stopped seeing visibility as a threat and began seeing it as an act of service. If my story could help even one woman rise again, then it was worth being seen—scars and all.

As a mentor to many, who has been a key mentor or influence in your own life?

My late mother was my first and most powerful mentor. A single mother raising eight children in rural Zimbabwe, she was the embodiment of strength, sacrifice, and spiritual grounding. She called me Gotwe—her beloved last-born—and she taught me that no matter how hard life gets, you keep showing up. Her voice still guides me, especially in moments of doubt. And in my adult years, I’ve also been fortunate to have a few mentors who stood with me in silence when the world grew loud with judgement. Their belief in me helped me believe again.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the global impact of your work—especially with the Unbreakable movement expanding?

I see Unbreakable as a global call to rise. From red telephone boxes in the UK to women’s circles in Soweto, I envision healing spaces, speaker trainings, and high-impact retreats where women are reminded that their voice has value. We’re expanding into corporate platforms, educational spaces, and digital communities—anywhere women have felt unseen or unheard. My dream is to build a world where no woman has to shrink after shame. And I believe the movement has only just begun.