Some women rebuild because life gives them no other choice. They wake up one day carrying grief, responsibility, fear, and an entirely new version of life they never asked for — and still, somehow, they keep going.

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For Jullianna Johnson, that moment came on January 24, 2019, when she lost her husband of 20 years in a tragic accident. In an instant, the life she had known changed forever. She was grieving the loss of her partner, helping her children navigate their own heartbreak, and trying to find a way forward when everything felt heavy.

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But even in the middle of unimaginable loss, Jullianna kept moving. She returned to school, completed her Bachelor’s degree, later earned her Master’s degree in Accounting, and continued building a 21-year career in banking and financial services. Today, she is working toward passing the CPA Exam and building the foundation for her future CPA firm.

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Her fire is The Comeback — and her story is a reminder that grief may change your life, but it does not have to cancel your purpose.

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Tell us your story. What have you overcome, rebuilt, created, survived, or stepped into?

Jullianna Johnson: For the past 21 years, I have built my career in banking and financial services, starting as a teller and working my way up to branch manager.

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Four years ago, I made the decision to transition into fraud. My experience in branch operations gave me a unique perspective and helped me better understand how fraudsters think, allowing me to approach fraud prevention with both knowledge and intuition. My educational journey was just as demanding as my professional one. While working full-time, raising two children, and managing a household, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business.

 

Near the end of that journey, my life changed forever. On January 24, 2019, I lost my husband of 20 years in a tragic accident. That loss brought unimaginable grief and changed everything for my family. While navigating my own heartbreak, I also had to help my children through theirs. My daughter coped by staying busy with school and travel volleyball. My son struggled deeply and took the loss of his father especially hard. As a family, we learned to carry a pain that never truly disappears. You do not move on from a loss like that. You learn how to live with it and keep going.

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Despite the weight of grief, I remained committed to my goals. After taking a semester off from the University of Florida, I returned and completed my Bachelor’s degree in December 2020.

I continued pushing forward, and in 2024, I graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Master’s degree in Accounting.

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Every challenge I have faced has shaped the woman I am today. My struggles taught me resilience, strength, and just how powerful I truly am.​ Since losing my husband, I have also built a strong network of incredible women who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me in ways I never expected. Their wisdom and strength have helped me rebuild and grow.

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Today, I am driven by purpose. My ultimate goal is to pass the CPA Exam and open my own CPA firm, where I can help small businesses grow, thrive, and build strong financial foundations.

My story is one of perseverance, resilience, and transformation. I am proud of everything I have overcome, and I know my journey is still unfolding.

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At your lowest point, what did life feel like for you emotionally and mentally? When did you decide to make a change?

Jullianna Johnson: My lowest point was after losing my husband on January 24, 2019.

Emotionally, I felt shattered. It felt like the life I had built for 20 years disappeared overnight. I was overwhelmed by grief, sadness, fear, and uncertainty.

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Mentally, I was exhausted from trying to process such a devastating loss while also staying strong for my children. I remember having thoughts like, “How am I supposed to do this without him?” and “How do I keep going when everything feels so heavy?”

 

There were days when just getting out of bed felt difficult. I was grieving not only the loss of my husband, but also the future we had planned together. At the same time, I felt a huge responsibility to be present for my children because they were grieving too, especially my son, who took the loss very hard.

 

The moment I decided to make a change wasn’t a single dramatic moment. It happened gradually.

I realized that while grief would always be part of my life, I had a choice in how I carried it. I could let it consume me, or I could honor my husband by continuing to live, grow, and move forward. I knew my children needed to see strength, healing, and hope, even in the middle of pain.

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Choosing to return to school, continue my education, and pursue bigger goals became part of my healing.

Every step forward — finishing my Bachelor’s degree, earning my Master’s, building meaningful relationships, and working toward becoming a CPA — was my way of reclaiming my life. I decided that my pain would not define me. Instead, it would strengthen me and shape the woman I was becoming.

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Which fire best describes you?

Jullianna Johnson: The Comeback.

 

What did rebuilding your life actually look like day to day? What was the hardest part of starting over?

Jullianna Johnson: Rebuilding my life was a day-by-day process. Some days, it simply meant getting out of bed and making it through the day. I focused on creating structure, going to work, taking care of my home, and being there for my children while grieving.

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A big part of rebuilding was staying busy with my daughter’s volleyball. Between practices, tournaments, and travel, it gave us something positive to focus on and brought a sense of normalcy during a very difficult time. The hardest part of starting over was accepting that life would never be the same.

I had to learn how to make decisions on my own and carry responsibilities that I once shared with my husband.

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Over time, I realized rebuilding wasn’t about replacing the life I lost. It was about creating a new life and discovering strength I didn’t know I had.

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What is one life lesson you learned that other women need to hear?

Jullianna Johnson: One of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned is that you are stronger than you think, even when life brings challenges you never asked for. There were moments when I doubted myself and wondered how I would keep going, but I learned that strength is not about never struggling. It’s about continuing to move forward, even in pain.

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I also learned that asking for help is not weakness. As women, we often feel like we have to carry everything on our own, but healing and growth often happen when we allow others to support us.

You do not have to have everything figured out. Just keep going, one step at a time.

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What quote, mantra, or scripture do you live by?

Jullianna Johnson: I connect most with Maya Angelou’s quote, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”

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I like this quote because it reminds me that setbacks and hardships are a part of life, but they do not have to define us. Everyone faces challenges, failures, and painful moments, but true strength comes from resilience and the ability to keep going, learn, and grow through adversity.

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It is a powerful reminder that being defeated by circumstances is a choice, and strength is often found in perseverance.

 

What advice would you give to a woman who feels stuck right now?

Jullianna Johnson: I would tell her: You are not stuck. You may just be in a season of pause, healing, or preparation. Sometimes we think we need to have everything figured out before making a move, but often the most important step is simply taking the next small step.

 

You do not need the whole plan right now. Just focus on what you can do today. I’d also remind her not to be afraid to ask for help. So many women carry the weight of everyone else and forget to pour into themselves.

 

Give yourself grace.

 

Growth is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it looks like resting, healing, setting boundaries, or choosing yourself. Most importantly, trust that this chapter is not the end of your story. Where you are right now does not determine where you will end up.

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What is one tip you would give to women building a business or career?

Jullianna Johnson: One financial tip I would give women building a business or career is this: learn to understand your money, not just earn it. It’s important to know where your money is going, how to budget, how to save, and how to invest in your future.

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Too often, women focus only on working hard, but building real financial security comes from making smart financial decisions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, learn about finances, and advocate for your worth — whether that’s negotiating your salary, charging what your services are worth, or planning for long-term wealth.

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Financial independence creates options, confidence, and freedom.

 

What are you currently building, working on, or proud of?

Jullianna Johnson: Right now, I’m working toward passing the CPA Exam, which is a major goal of mine.

I’m also continuing to grow in my career in fraud and financial services while building the knowledge and experience that will help me eventually open my own CPA firm.

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What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come. I’m proud that despite life’s challenges, I continued my education, earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and kept moving forward. More than any title or accomplishment, I’m proud of the strength, resilience, and growth I’ve gained along the way.

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​Jullianna’s story is not just about grief. It is about what happens when a woman loses the life she knew and still chooses to build a future.

 

After losing her husband of 20 years, she had every reason to pause, fall apart, and question how she would ever move forward. And for a while, moving forward looked simple. It looked like getting out of bed. Showing up for her children. Going to work. Returning to school. Taking one step, then another.

But over time, those small steps became something powerful.

 

They became degrees earned. A career advanced. A new dream formed. A future CPA firm imagined. A woman rebuilt.

 

Jullianna did not move on from her loss. She learned how to carry it with grace, strength, and purpose.

Her comeback is proof that even when life breaks your heart, it can still reveal the strength that was inside you all along.