ABOUT JULIE
WILD about LEADERSHIP
A kid from Chicago who grew up dreaming of the sea, Julie was far more likely to be found climbing a tree than making her bed. At 17-years-old, as she sat in her first corporate leadership development workshop watching her dad lead people through activities, animal examples began coming to mind that could help people better understand the concepts at hand. When she launched her career at Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium, she got the chance to lead a corporate retreat as participants learned from the sharks, eels, and a sea turtle in the iconic Caribbean Reef habitat. She was officially hooked and the rest is history.
Since that time, Julie has become the go-to speaker connecting insight from animals to re-energize and unleash leaders so they can fully own their unique impact.
Julie is the award-winning and best-selling author of Wisdom from the Wild: The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom. Embraced by leaders in industries ranging from financial and manufacturing to commercial insurance and medical, her book provides new perspectives on how to drive change, lead teams, and build resilience.
Her highly anticipated second book was written in response to university professors and high school teachers who were adapting her first book to their curriculum but craved a book more targeted to their students. Wisdom from the Wild for Youth: Leadership Tales with Tails arrives Fall 2025 and perhaps more importantly (and most special!) was co-authored by Julie’s own teenagers, Tasman and Kepler. As vastly different people and leaders, they provide sage insight, groundtruthing, and keep-their-mom-honest commentary throughout the book. As excited as Julie is to get this book out for young leaders, she treasures the time writing alongside her teens just as much.
From Shedd Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo to Mote Marine Laboratory and Busch Gardens, Julie’s years in leadership alongside animals infuse her work today.
Since then, she has amassed experience consulting and speaking to over 40 industries, in 34 states, six countries, and over one million people. Julie is fired up to continue empowering leaders to stop trying to be ‘great’ and lead unleashed. When she’s not traveling the world speaking, she can be found exploring outdoors or tucked away in the nearest hammock. Julie lives in Sarasota, FL with her two children whom she lovingly describes as her “zoo animal” and her “wild animal” due to each child’s natural inclination towards life.
MY MOTTO IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE
“WHEN PEOPLE LEAD IN THE WAY they were BORN TO LEAD, they are truly UNLEASHED.
Stop trying to be ‘GREAT’. Read the BOOKS, listen to the PODCASTS, learn from MENTORS - then trust your gut and do it YOUR WAY.”
Wisdom from the Wild:
The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom
And coming Sept 2025:
Wisdom from the Wild for Youthwith co-authors Tasman Henry and Kepler Henry
