We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Lechner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Like many millennials, I have been fortunate to pursue multiple careers over the years as I follow my curiosity, develop my skills, and hone my strengths.

This has involved taking risks that left family, friends and colleagues scratching their heads:

– deferring college for a year to be an exchange student
– moving across the country in my 20s
– career pivots that make sense for me (but maybe not for them)

In each of these moments there have been times when others have questioned why I have made the decisions I’ve made. In the end, only you know what is best for you.

If you remain true to your values and your “why,” every risk is worth it. I’ve learned and grown from each risk I’ve taken in my life and career, whether it has led to success or failure, and I know I have many more ahead in my future.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a storyteller at heart, both professionally and personally.

By day, I build and lead high-performing editorial, social media, and creative teams who specialize in generating dynamic content that elevates brands, engages consumers, and makes companies money. My work has moved the needle at companies like Gannett, Earwolf Media, E! News, Paramount, and Nextdoor.

Throughout my career, I’ve sought out different mediums and fields to hone my storytelling skills:

– newspaper reporting
– podcasting
– social media
– entertainment journalism
– editorial
– content marketing
– tech

I am proud that my work has led to many wonderful and unique opportunities, including creating and hosting a podcast featured on the top homepage carousel of Apple Podcasts, writing online content that’s generated millions of clicks online, and leading a team that was awarded the title of Best In-House Content/Brand Studio by the Digiday Content Marketing Awards. This year I was even fortunate enough to stand on stage at the New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell Ringing to celebrate the success of a record-setting campaign that involved cross-functional collaboration across teams to make it happen.

As I’ve moved into leadership roles in my career, I’ve been fortunate to lead and coach both IRL and virtually-distributed multidisciplinary teams. I am so grateful to the mentors and colleagues who have impacted my career, and I seek out and welcome the chance to pay it forward. Coaching a mentee or colleague and watching them thrive has been one of the greatest gifts of my career.

Beyond my professional roles, I am also an award-winning storyteller and comedian. For more than a decade, I’ve performed at live improv comedy and storytelling shows around the Los Angeles area. I’ve performed on a house team at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, co-hosted an improv show at The Clubhouse for five years, and have won⁠ The Moth StorySLAM and The Moth GrandSLAM storytelling competitions.

I believe my ability to blend my creative expertise and abilities with the deadline-driven execution of a former journalist is a part of what makes me successful in my pursuits.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I believe everyone (and every brand) has a unique story to tell. My goal is to help discover and cultivate those stories, create dynamic content around those stories, and also coach and empower others to share their stories with the world.

In my first career, as a newspaper reporter, I interviewed hundreds of people — government officials, community leaders, artists and entertainers, local business owners, law enforcement, librarians, scientists, teachers, and the list goes on. It was fascinating hearing their stories, asking the right questions to facilitate those conversations, and reporting and sharing their stories with a wider audience.

Since then, I have followed my love of storytelling by telling stories in many forms (long-form writing, punchy social media posts, podcasting, public speaking) and in several sectors (news, entertainment, tech.)

Careers are long, and I believe if you love something, it’s natural to continue to evolve and adapt as you learn new skills and information, and as the markets and preferred platforms change.

I enjoy seeking out new challenges to stretch my abilities, while remaining true to my purpose, values, and the gifts where I believe I can help the most.

I aim to make others feel seen and heard through storytelling. There’s a reason it has been around for thousands of years; it brings people together.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I believe in the value of continuous personal growth as a leader. It’s important to seek out mentorships, coaching opportunities, and a circle of trusted advisers to support you as you evolve as a leader.

My management style aligns with servant leadership, where I see myself as a support system for my team. My primary role is to remove any roadblocks, provide guidance through coaching, and assist them in achieving their goals.

Building trust, open communication, and recognizing their contributions are vital for maintaining high team morale. Most importantly, team members need to feel safe, set up for success, and empowered to do their best work and feel proud of their contributions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliaevelechner.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialechner/

Image Credits
Andy Forsberg, Frank Traynor, Johnny Lechner