Photos by Cait Pearson

Julie Sies

Exponential Functions


When you think about leadership skills you may have (or want to have), what comes to mind? The ability to get others excited about your vision? Knowing how to delegate? Communicating effectively across different personalities and work styles?


For Julie Sies, being a strong leader begins with self-knowledge: Who am I as a leader? What do I care about? What am I uniquely gifted and able to do that most other people are not willing and able to do? 


“With that solid foundation of who you are and what you bring to the table,” Julie says, “then we can create a strategy and action steps: What do I need to do this year, this month, to get that unique purpose accomplished?”


“Understanding who you are as a leader -- not just what your leadership type is, but the integrity of who you are -- is vital. Integrity is wholeness, being whole of soul and mind and body. To be a person of influence, that all has to come together in a congruent way.” 


As a coach and facilitator, Julie works with individuals and organizations and helps put on workshops and events around the country. She has a lot of different techniques to draw on -- but one of her favorite pathways for growth is a program called Transformational Leadership


“The Transformational Leadership program made sense to me right away because of its simplicity. No matter where you are in your leadership journey, you’re going to learn something and be able to take yourself to the next level and the next.”


In fact, the TL program is how Julie came to know Eric Freeman, the founder and owner of Urban Office (and Freeman Motors). “Eric came to a training; then he bought our online program and used that with his team. And then he sent some of them through my online TL facilitation program. So when Eric sent out the emails about this space, I just felt prompted to come check it out and see if the space would be great as a training facility.  I loved the space and was excited to become a member.”


To dip into some of the TL ethos, Julie recommends the book Relactional Leadership. “We have this term: relactional. Most people are either transactional and they just want to get the job done, or they’re relational. We try to marry those components. Relactional is developing relationships so deep that no transaction can break them. In other words, you don’t quit an organization because of the people. You might quit because it’s not in alignment with who you are. But the relationships stay strong.”


Coming to Portland was a major change in Julie’s life, as she left behind her 15-year career as the cultural arts supervisor for the city of Santa Clara. 


“The transition was awful. Awful and wonderful. What was wonderful was that we became a part of an amazing community of people through the church my husband was working for. But I was pretty lost personally, as my generation’s mentality is that our value is in what we do.” 


Over the next decade, she experimented with various career paths, working as an aerobics instructor, in independent sales, in women’s ministries … and ultimately landed at MTI, a disaster relief organization, putting on events. And then a health crisis struck. (Julie shares her story about her fight with cancer here.) 


During those harrowing years, Julie was determined to invest in her own growth and ability to serve others. She got a master’s in business and leadership from George Fox University, and that led her into the leadership development space that’s she’s found so fulfilling. 


A local leader who Julie finds inspiring is James Autry, who runs a nonprofit called Serving Our Neighbors. “What James has done tirelessly for over 20 years is connect people in the city, so business and government and nonprofit and faith leaders can work together. He helps all of us know each other and just does amazing work.”


You can get connected with Julie and find out more about the Transformational Leadership program on her website, www.exponentialfunctions.co. The next TL training in Portland is October 24-25.



The Skinny


For leadership coach Julie Sies, being a strong leader begins with a solid foundation of who you are, what you care about, and your unique abilities. “Integrity -- soul and mind and body coming together in a congruent way -- is vital to be a person of influence.” 


As a coach and facilitator, Julie has a lot of different techniques to draw on -- but her favorite pathway for growth in these areas is a program called Transformational Leadership, because of its power and simplicity. “No matter where you are in your leadership journey, you’re going to learn something and be able to take yourself to the next level and the next.”


Why Urban Office: Julie came to know Eric Freeman, the founder and owner of Urban Office (and Freeman Motors), through Transformational Leadership. “Eric came to a training; then he bought our online program and used that with his team. And then he sent some of them through my online TL facilitation program. So when Eric sent out the emails about this space, I just felt prompted to come check it out and see if the space would be great as a training facility.  I loved the space and was excited to become a member.”


Influential read:  Relactional Leadership. “We have this term: relactional. Most people are either transactional and they just want to get the job done, or they’re relational. We try to marry those components. Relactional is developing relationships so deep that no transaction can break them.”


Neighborhood rec: Pulled pork at the Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grille.


Inspiring Portlander: James Autry, Serving Our Neighbors. “What James has done tirelessly for over 20 years is connect people in the city, so business and government and nonprofit and faith leaders can work together.”