ABOUT JULIE • SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGISTHi, I’m Julie Conant.
I adore supporting and working with small businesses. I've been in your shoes and want to help.
For more than 35 years, I've worked inside small businesses and nonprofits of every kind. I've started businesses from scratch, reorganized departments that weren't working, found new revenue when money was tight, trained teams and managed multi-million-dollar budgets. I've also had to close businesses — that process teaches you what no textbook can.
So when you tell me what's keeping you up at night, I won't hand you theory. I'll tell you what I've seen work, what I've seen fail, and where I'd start. Honestly, and kindly.
You'll get my full attention, a clear plan you can actually follow, and someone in your corner to keep you on track. And because I'm an absolute nut about customer service, we'll make the way you treat people one of your biggest advantages.
I'm not here with a magic wand. I'm here to roll up my sleeves and figure it out with you.
Think of me as your business fairy godmother…
except this isn't entirely magic; it’s us building solutions together.
Join the newsletter, and we’ll take it from there!
A virtual chat with your business fairy godmother… who would say no to that?
I believe…
You don’t need all the answers.
Nobody has them all, including me. What you need is someone steady beside you while you find them. That's what we do together.
Honesty beats flattery.
I'll always tell you the truth, kindly. You're not paying me to tell you everything is fine because sometimes it isn’t. It's important to start with truths, even if they’re hard to hear.
Customer service is key.
And, it’s your business’ secret weapon. I'm an absolute nut about it. How you treat your customers is one of the most powerful tools you have, and one of the most overlooked super powers.
Storms pass, water calms.
In a rough patch, I picture myself in the bottom of a rowboat, holding on tight. Storms pass. The water calms. Then we pick up the oars and move forward.
How I got here...
01 • ORIGINSHay, it was a phase.
I earned a degree in Animal Science from the University of Illinois and dreamed of one day having my own farm, garden, and crafting handmade soap. Then I faced facts: this girl was NOT cut out for farm-life.
The lesson? Knowing what isn't working is just as valuable as knowing what is. Changing course isn't failing. Sometimes it's the smartest move you'll make for your business.
02 • THE GROUND FLOORJust my type.
My first job was as a "clerk-typist" at an insurance company in Downtown Chicago. (Don't know what that is? I'm not surprised. The job doesn't exist anymore.) The men dictated the letters, and the women typed them. Mistakes meant starting the work over. It sounds archaic now, but there’s no better way to learn how a business operates.
The takeaway: employees on the front line see things you may not. If you want to fix customer service or a clunky process, start by listening to them.
03 • SAYING YESJulie of all trades.
For the next 30 years, I said yes to whatever came next: HR, executive search, retail, marketing and PR, two private schools, a landscape design firm and a nonprofit. I moved into manager and director roles, rewrote the policy manuals, ran multi-million-dollar budgets, and started a couple of businesses of my own. I've also had to close a couple, and believe me, that teaches you things no textbook can.
Every business is different, but the big challenges are the same: people, money and customers. Whatever's keeping you up at night, there's a good chance I've seen it before.
04 • TODAYTaking it next level.
Somewhere along the way, I became a certified coach. But what I really want is to put 35+ years of real-life lessons to work for you.
You don't need someone with all the answers. Nobody has those. You need someone in your corner who'll roll up her sleeves and figure it out with you.
What helping small business owners like you teaches me daily: The best results come from working it out together. That's exactly how we'll work.