This Is What A Leader Looks Like: Julie Bernard
One of our favorite things about Girl Talk is getting to watch our alumni grow into incredible individuals and leaders in every aspect of their lives…and welcoming them back to Girl Talk with open arms! We are thrilled to introduce Girl Talk alumna Julie Bernard and grateful for the incredible leadership and spirit she has brought to the Girl Talk office!
Name: Julie Bernard
How have you been involved with Girl Talk (and how long): At Girl Talk, I was on the National Teen Advisory Board, ran a Chapter and worked as a camp Counselor for two years. I was a part of Girl Talk for about 4 years actively, but I occasionally come into the office to help the organization grow.
Favorite Girl Talk memory: My favorite Girl Talk memories were never big things but the days I would go into my Chapter and the middle school girls told me they stood up for themselves or at camp when girls were so shy at the beginning and I saw them turn into stronger girls had to be the moments that come to mind.
Where did you go/what did you do after graduating from Girl Talk? I left Girl Talk in 2014 and began college at the University of Georgia. In July of this year, I graduated from the University of Georgia with two degrees and more experiences. Currently, I am at the Girl Talk office helping support an organization that taught me to be an advocate for myself and others.
What are you doing now? (and how did you decide that that was what you wanted to do?) I am helping out at Girl Talk right now and pursuing a job in the media industry. I want to go into this industry because I want to make people’s day a little bit brighter. I want to tell stories that are informative and comedic.
What are you most proud of? I am proud of myself. I am not saying that to diminish other things but I am proud of myself. I worked on myself throughout college and I am continuing to evolve and now I am really embracing my strengths and weaknesses (which I try to look at as new opportunities to learn).
What is your current dream job? I want to be an Executive Producer for Late-Night Television.
What does leadership mean to you? If I had to define leadership I would say from experience it is different for everyone. People think leadership means you run an organization but I believe leadership means progress. Leaders want to progress and turn their word into action. Leaders are strong. Leaders are confident. Leaders are kind. Leaders push ideas forward and support peers. I think a leader is anyone who wants society to be better.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? I have received a lot of advice in my life but two things have popped into my head as I write these answers. My granddad always told me, “If a task has once begun never leave it till its done, be the labor big or small, do it well or not at all.” He said this is what makes a strong man and a weak man. If you say you are going to stand for something stand for it. Stand by your convictions. The other piece of advice I was told was by my high school volleyball coach she said “If you’re early you’re on time, If you’re on time you’re late, If you’re late that is unacceptable” Life happens but respect people’s time. Time is precious and the people who got to the gym early were better off by having that 10 more minutes of practice than the late or on time people.