We recently connected with Julia Lewis and have shared our conversation below.
Julia , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
For years, I have always been the only person in the room that looks like me, in VARIOUS industries. Whether it was my Speech Pathology class in college, or my role as a Marketing Strategist for a large business, I was the only Black Woman in the room/company.
With that, I always advocated for myself and for others. Even though I was alone, I never isolated myself. It was important to me to still be a resource, to still fight for things I believe in, to use my voice and over communicate if necessary.
I show up as my authentic self daily and that’s the key. I measure success through providing space/opening doors for other people. As long as I am doing that, there’s growth.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In 2019, I started Black Women In Marketing — with just the idea of creating a space for a few marketing internships to exist and help college students. Little did I know, it would be a sought after agency and resource organization.
Black Women In Marketing believes in the power of culture and creativity to inspire change and create meaningful connections between people and brands.
Our mission is to empower our clients to tell their stories through creative and innovative branding and marketing strategies.
We believe in building a culture of collaboration, diversity, and inclusion that fosters creativity and empowers our team to deliver exceptional results. We envision a future where our work inspires positive change and contributes to the betterment of society.
Our vision is be the impactful leaders of the future — inspiring other to create a world where brands and people connect through culture, creativity, and shared values.
On the agency side – we offer various of services to help your business and on the organization side, we are connecting 500+ black women in marketing all over the world.
We have our annual Blessed & Branded Brunch June 2nd, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Innovation Audacity
Selflessness
I embody innovation with audacity and selflessness, constantly pushing boundaries for the greater good.
That’s it.
I didn’t go to school for marketing or psychology, yet here we are, exactly where I should be.
Black Women In Marketing is just getting started.
My advice:
Innovation: Embrace new ideas and perspectives; Experimentation and continuous learning are key; don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo and think outside the box.
Audacity: Develop confidence in your abilities and convictions. Take calculated risks and push past your comfort zone; Trust your instincts and be willing to stand up for what you believe in, even if it means going against the grain.
Selflessness: Practice empathy and compassion in your interactions with others. Look for ways to contribute to the greater good, whether through volunteering, mentorship, or simply lending a helping hand whenever possible.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother had me very young. Although she was around, she was also in nursing school — so with that, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and my aunt.
They all collectively instilled independence and morals in me. As Jamaican immigrants, they helped me see the bigger picture of why we all in here in America…. for OPPORTUNITY.
They taught me to TRY and to not live in FEAR. They taught me to be KIND-HEARTED in such a cruel world.
They taught me to figure things out because I was left alone to do so.
I thank them.
This world is so chaotic and mean but I feel like a light sometimes…. it’s scary. But GOD.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackwomeninmarketing.co
- Instagram: @juliashardae
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/juliaslewis
- Other: Instagram: @blackwomeninmarketing_
