Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Lock.
Hi Julie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I basically started at IBM after playing on a women’s softball team for two years. I sucked at softball but was a great cheerleader team member. I worked my way up in multiple roles in multiple marketing offices for 11 years starting in Detroit, then Pittsburgh, then in NJ and CT. I gained a lot of experience as a first-line manager in my last 4 years at IBM. I was fortunate to work with great mentors and hard working team members and I received a ton of formal and informal management training. I worked in Alumni & Development at Washington University in St. Louis for the School of Law and Brown School for almost 9 years. All of my formal and informal development training was from WashU. In between those organizations I worked part-time at Trader Joe’s in its first STL location in Brentwood for a few years while my daughter was small. What a great experience it was learning about grocery retail, more about customer service and getting a fantastic physical workout every day I went to work! I’ve been in my role at Food Outreach for six years.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
l think that work, like life, has its ups and downs. It took me a long time at IBM to accept that I had to get organized and to accept the feedback that I kept receiving about how this could impact my productivity and enjoyment of my work. For some reason that was a hard lesson for me. But it’s amazing when I do manage to stay organized at work and at home can be improved by organization. I’ve had my share of “Me Too” moments. I’ve worked for lots of people who had their best interests in mind rather than their team members. I’ve seen a fair share of dishonesty. I’ve had lots of challenges around a lack of confidence in myself which I’ve had to work through over many years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I don’t think my personality sets me apart, but I strive to build genuine connections with people and listen to what they are sharing instead of worrying about what I’m going to share about me. Have you learned this already…what people will reveal to you when you are driving with them in a car…? Wowsers. I think I’m known as someone who has a lot of positive energy and optimism. I laugh a lot and I’ve stopped apologizing when I cry. I also ask for help when I need it – THAT lesson was years in the making!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve been working for decades so this is a big ask!! I’m going to talk about my current role at Food Outreach. I’m successful because I am a part of a team of hundreds of caring, capable, committed volunteers and staff members who come to our agency every day to serve our clients. I think we all bring the best in us – the beauty of our humanity in so many ways of expression – in service to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: foodoutreach.org
