Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julianna Hynes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Julianna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

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.

The biggest, unexpected challenge I have faced, like everyone else (especially women), has been managing my personal and professional lives. I’ve experienced losses, unexpected life events, and unplanned surprises alongside the everyday demands of having a family and attending to their various needs. The difference, as a small business owner, which connects back to the business challenges, is that, early on, there was no sick or vacation time I could use. As my business has grown, I’ve been able to set aside funds so that I can take time off when needed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

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 enables my clients to be stronger leaders of their teams and 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. My business is based on the 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.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Anything on mindset has been helpful. My favorite book, written in 2009 (and Ted Talk), 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.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The results clients achieve after working with me have built my reputation. I’ve helped many people receive promotions and raises, take their careers to the next level, and achieve overall career and life satisfaction. These results have built my brand. Clients share their experiences of working with me, my ability to support them, and the goals they achieve and often exceed, which has continued to strengthen my reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: juliannahynes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjuliannahynes/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjuliannahynes/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeKPUX7OH1hcohDfBIOf8A