Julia
I was raised in a military family of six, just above the poverty line. We moved frequently and each move taught me something new about resilience, adaptability, and finding strength in unfamiliar places. I also learned that the most valuable things in life aren’t material—they’re the people who stand beside you, the beliefs that guide you, and the character you choose when no one’s watching.
At eighteen, my life changed forever when I survived a near-fatal head-on collision caused by a drunk driver.
A few years later, I was a divorced single mom at rock bottom—no job, no education beyond high school, and no clear path forward.
Refusing to stay at rock bottom, taking one step at a time, I made a way through.
I worked full-time, raised two daughters, earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, eventually becoming the CEO of a multimillion-dollar organization. Not because the path was easy, but because I learned how to shift the power I was already fueling toward building confidence, courage, and perseverance.
Today, I’m giving the next generation the shifts they need to move forward stronger no matter what challenges they face.
The power you need is already inside you. Sometimes, you just need someone to show you how to use it.
The power you have isn’t something you find, it’s something you direct.
Julia’s Story
Life’s hardest experiences taught me the most valuable lessons.
I learned that confidence and courage aren’t things you have to find. We’re born with them. The problem is we unknowingly use the sources of power we have to strengthen the very things that hold us back.
Instead of building your confidence, you strengthen your insecurity.
Instead of increasing your courage, you strengthen your fear.
Instead of growing your resilience, you strengthen the impulse to give up.
You’re always fueling something with your power.
The question is: Are you using your power to build yourself or break yourself down?
The preparation…
The delivery…
The gratitude…
TEDx Talk —“What If the Power You Trust Most Is Working Against You”
Memorable Moments…
POWER Is Strengthened by Overcoming Challenges
Confidence, courage, and resilience aren't just about getting back up—they’re strengthened with each experience, shaped by how you rise and what you do next. Success doesn't happen despite setbacks; it’s achieved when you use what you've learned to face the next challenge.
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Change starts with an awareness of your auto-pilot assumptions. Tear down the myths about power and replace them with the truth—you're not lacking power, it's just turned in the wrong direction.
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Julia emphasizes the positive, but only as it relates to the very real and difficult challenges we face every day. No oversimplifying life’s challenges, just powerful tools to process them with strength and purpose, gleaning valuable life-long skills from them.
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Explore the truth from a proven expert on the subject about what causes some people to get stuck, frustrated, when facing challenges and change, and how others use them to their advantage, driving greater personal and professional success.
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Unwanted things happen daily—it's part of life. But with every challenge, you have a choice: let it defeat you, carry the burden, or get something valuable from the experience!
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Building a habit of resilient thinking and behavior is proven to be one of the greatest indicators of life and career success.
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When Julia speaks, people feel motivated and inspired, but she goes beyond those to offer real, research-based tools that lead to life-changing actions long after her speech is over.
Why Book Julia?
You have power…
even if it doesn’t seem like it. You’re most likely using it in a way that’s fueling stress, self-doubt, and overwhelm instead of confidence, clarity, and resilience.
Julia’s program, "POWER Shift: Use What You Have to Get What You Want," challenges the mainstream thinking.
She shows audiences how to redirect the power they're already fueling in ways they don't even realize so they can move forward stronger with greater confidence, courage, and clarity to face challenges, seize opportunities, and create the future they want.
Whether you're a student building your future or an adult guiding the next generation, Julia delivers practical strategies and tools that you can put into action immediately—starting right where you are.
"Julia’s presentation style was a perfect mix of educational and dynamic. Her closing keynote gave our participants an unexpectedly fresh view of the topic. She did a great job at our event and would bring positive energy to any program. I highly recommend her as a speaker."
- Melanie Thomas, Communications Department, Texas Municipal Retirement System
"Julia has been a speaker for us for over 15 years, consistently being rated as ‘excellent’ by our audiences. She displays phenomenal energy and is both dynamic and passionate about her subject. Attendees find her both articulate and engaging which is especially important because of the training and lessons she shares in her presentations."
- Cathy K. Zacher, CEBS Director, Educational Programs-U.S. International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
“Having seen Julia in action before, I had great confidence that she would be a success. Her pre-meeting work to understand what we wanted to accomplish was very helpful in creating an experience that felt unique for our group. She quickly got all of our members engaged and actively participating. Her high energy level and passion came through and the result was a very positive session. Julia exceeded our expectations and I highly recommend her to deliver an energetic and impactful session."
- Doug Anderson, Executive Director, Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association
