Today we’d like to introduce you to Julianna Hynes Ph.d.

Hi Julianna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

I started my career at a container terminal at the Port of Oakland. The leaders I worked under were primarily older men who led using a command-and-control style and used fear, intimidation, and humiliation to “motivate.” At the time, besides being Black and female, I was a young single mother, new to corporate America, who did not thrive under that type of leadership.

The exposure to that toxic environment inspired me to study leadership and leadership development in graduate school and later in my doctoral program. I was interested in learning how to support leaders in being more effective and impactful people leaders. I also wanted to help women like me develop to their full potential, elevate their careers, and get a seat at the table.

As an executive coach, I work one-on-one with leaders in diverse organizations and industries. I help them shift off autopilot into a more deliberate, purposeful mindset. I challenge my clients to test their assumptions, broaden their thinking, be accountable for their actions and decisions, and focus on achieving their goals rather than being distracted by the obstacles they’re invariably going to encounter. This approach enables my clients to be stronger leaders of their teams and in their organizations. I help people to be the leaders I wish I had in that first job. I love what I do!

I’m most proud of building my business from the ground up, with no funding but enough talent and academic credentials to gain opportunities to work with amazing people. I’ve established my company based on the professional relationships I’ve garnered and maintained over the years. Not one opportunity has come because I “applied” for it. I’ve been introduced to someone, discussed my background and skills, and determined whether working together was a good fit. I’ve found a lot of good fits.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It hasn’t been a smooth road because even the best-laid plans are imperfect, and we cannot anticipate all the unknowns. While I had a vision, goals, and strategy for achieving them, I entered my business knowing there would be twists and turns as a business owner. For example, while I can project monthly income, I can only know how much I’ll bring in until the end of the month. And if I don’t get paid promptly, as a solopreneur, I must figure out how to keep my business going. Also, not having the money to do things I wanted to expand my business was challenging when I started.

One difficulty I didn’t anticipate was having to work on the business while working in the business. There are only so many hours in a day, and I have had to wear every hat there is to wear – CEO, accountant, marketer, administrator, and business developer. I also don’t have a degree in business, so I’ve learned how to run my business as I go. Over the years, as my business has grown, I’ve been able to hire others so that I can spend some of my time being more strategic.

Like many (especially women), my biggest unexpected challenge has been managing my personal and professional lives. I’ve experienced losses, unanticipated life events, and unplanned surprises alongside the everyday demands of having a family and attending to their various needs. The difference is that, early on, I could not take sick or take vacation time. As my business has grown, I’ve been able to set aside funds so that I can take time off when needed.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

I’m an executive coach. I work with executives and other leaders to strengthen their communication and influence skills and become better leaders. I help my clients strategize their next career moves and achieve their professional goals.

My passion and expertise are in women’s leadership. As a result of my early career experiences, I especially enjoy working with Black women and other leaders of color.

Besides building a thriving coaching practice, my most significant accomplishment to date is publishing two books. The first, Living On Purpose: Keys To Discovering Your God-Given Destiny, is my account of going from being a young divorced single mother to accomplishing my career goals. The second, Leading On Purpose: The Black Woman’s Guide to Shattering The Glass Ceiling, is based on my doctoral research of Black women executives and their success strategies.

Brand-wise, I’m very proud to accomplish what I set out to do: help leaders be more effective people leaders and support Black and other women as they navigate Corporate America.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?

Anything on mindset has been helpful. My favorite book (and Ted Talk), written in 2009, is Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action.” Sinek says people don’t care what you do; they care why you do it. Knowing our why leads us to be intentional and influences everyone around us to do the same.

A few years ago, I started on a journey to financial independence. Most of the podcasts I listen to and enjoy, such as “Bigger Money Pickets” and “Choose FI,” give great tips on achieving financial goals.

I often share two app resources with clients: Blinkist and Libby. Blinkist offers audio summaries of nonfiction books. I’m able to listen to an entire “blink” in the time it takes me to get ready for work. Libby is an app that allows you to borrow electronic fiction and nonfiction library books. So, instead of spending tons of money on a book I most likely won’t read again or reference, I get to make a more informed decision about which books to add to my collection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliannahynes.com