Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Phillips.
Hi Julie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t set out to be a producer, but every turn on my winding path prepared me perfectly for the job.
I was born and raised in Stone Mountain, GA where my mom was a professional musician (harp and piano) turned elementary school music teacher and my dad was a retired Marine-turned-teacher. Because we didn’t have a lot of money, they taught me and my 3 siblings to focus on the important stuff – love, family, health and something that’s free and available to everyone – imagination. I started singing before I could talk and grew up doing musical theater. I was sure I’d be on Broadway one day!
At 16, I got my first job – filling water balloons at the water balloon toss event for a local theme park. Two weeks later I was offered the opportunity to build a live entertainment division for the park since I was the only one with any theater experience. The new position came with a $1M budget to develop and launch shows! Talk about the right place at the right time. My new boss, Gerald Rakestraw, would become a trusted mentor who would help shape my career for many years to come.
I continued to work at Stone Mountain Park even while in college across the country at Pepperdine University in California. After five years, Gerald recommended me for a coveted summer marketing internship at SeaWorld/Busch Gardens in order to broaden my experience. I also worked many jobs during the school year in college, but one job in particular set me on a new path. While nannying for Jane Seymour, she was kind enough to educate me on life in Hollywood and suggested that I combine my business skills and creative passion as a film and TV producer.
After a few internships in the industry, I planned to pursue producing full time upon graduation, when my path took an unexpected left turn into government defense finance. Raytheon Company had recruited me for their prestigious Financial Leadership Development Program, which would expose me to international business and provide a solid foundation in finance and strategy.
Defense was fascinating, but I missed the fun of entertainment. A number of top executives that I admired in the entertainment industry had gone to Harvard Business School, so I decided to apply, and miraculously got in! That opened the door for a consulting opportunity working directly for the Co-Chairman of NBC, which gave me a crash course on how the business works.
With the goal of straddling the business and creative sides of entertainment, I later accepted a position with Miramax where I was able to wear multiple hats. After a few years, I was married with a new baby and the 24/7 work environment became unsustainable. My husband asked me, “When was the last time you were truly happy in a job” and I told him it was when I worked in theme parks.
I called Gerald, who was still with theme park giant Herschend Family Entertainment, and pitched the idea of developing a media business for the company back in Atlanta. Now, as Vice President of Development and Production, I have the privilege of developing and producing incredible stories for kids and families that build new growth opportunities for the company through expansion into television, film, publishing, digital media, licensing and more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life’s journey would be boring if the road was always smooth. My journey has been more like an off-road adventure.
One of the biggest challenges for me was my definition of success. Without family connections or financial resources, I have always had to work hard for everything I achieved. But it was never enough since the goal post was constantly moving. Getting married and having children forced me to reevaluate how I defined success. It turns out happiness is a much better metric. Giving myself the freedom and grace to change my definition of success was life altering and, funny enough, it led to even more success in my career, as well as in my personal life.
Today, my biggest struggle is finding the balance as a working parent. If anyone has figured it out, I would love to know their secret. But until then, I’m lucky to have such a supportive partner in my husband. We juggle kids, split responsibilities, and take turns sleeping.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a film and television producer, I am first and foremost a storyteller, but also a therapist, business executive, and jack of all trades. I’m really proud to lead a group of incredible individuals who want to inspire others and change the world by infusing it with positivity. We’ve developed a creator-friendly environment that is a safe place for all involved to share opinions and develop innovative content. We’re also kind to each other and our partners, while at the same time having high standards and expectations for what we create. The key is to always keep an open heart and open mind.
Always believing it was important to give back, I currently serve on the board of The Lane Thomas Foundation, which focuses on pediatric organ donation. My sister has suffered from kidney failure since childhood and was lucky to receive multiple kidney transplants, but not every story ends happily. Most people don’t think about organ donation until it affects them personally, which is why I continue to spread awareness and create hope for other families.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Big picture, look for people you admire, not just for their success but for who they are as a person. There is a difference. For networking, always be open to meeting new people and learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you think they make you look stupid. Chances are, someone else has the same question. Always be kind to everyone! It’s the right thing to do! And you never know what someone can teach you or where the connection will lead.
A different way to think about mentorship is building your own personal advisory board. This was an idea I got from a professor in college. Come up with a list of 7-10 people – some you know, some you don’t know, some who are living, some who have passed, and even some who are characters in stories and not real. Have a variety that cover different aspects of life and career. Then, when you are presented with a challenge or a crossroads, you can think about what those people on your advisory board would do in that situation and how they would advise you. My personal advisory board has been surprisingly helpful and anyone can create one!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://herschendenterprises.com/
