I could easily share that Julie Kantor is the founder and owner of TwoMentor, which helps companies build mentoring and sponsorship cultures with a passion for elevating women and millennials in the multi-generational workforce. She elevates women in STEM workforce, and is strategy driven. Her leading belief is “a mentor speaks to you; a sponsor speaks about you behind closed doors.” However, the secret behind the strength of her company is, Julie.
Julie Kantor is the owner of TwoMentor, a serial entrepreneur, a contributing writer for Huffington Post, and the author of “I Said Yes: Youth Entrepreneurship in America’s Schools”, “Million Women Mentors & BP’s 20 Hour Mentor Action Guide”, and “Youth Entrepreneurship in America” for The Aspen Institute, but these are the least of her accomplishments. However, I was lucky to see Julie behind all the accomplishments and titles. I met Julie Kantor, as a person.
Julie has become an inspiration and role model in my life. While naturally being a mentor in her personality, I observed many things about her during my time working with her, that maybe she doesn’t even know she portrayed.
Here are five reasons why every young female entrepreneur should know Julie Kantor:
1. She gains people’s trust
One of the amazing qualities Julie possesses is the ability to gain your trust. Her kind and patient nature allows you to believe that she will take your words and never forget them. She listens intensively, and her smile calms your nerves when you seem like you are afraid to share something personal about yourself. Sometimes in business, we forget that we are all human, and we all have a story. Julie doesn’t forget that.
2. She’s not afraid to be herself
As women, we are taught to wear a mask. We are taught to look pretty, stand tall, and fight for a place in a male dominated society. Julie? That doesn’t seem to bother her. If anything, she intimidates the men around her. Why? She’s herself. The confidence, high heels, and endless knowledge would make anyone take a step back and let her lead a room. Whether it’s in a conference room, or one on one at lunch, Julie doesn’t change her demeanor because there is no one she rather be but her. Carrying this quality as a female leader is so vital in reaching the levels of success Julie has and beyond. Being your own kind of beautiful is the best kind of beautiful.
3. Family matters
The Friday office hours are coming to a close, the ringing phone of Julie’s children is repeating over and over. To watch her kids excited to greet her for “girls night” and pick their favorite restaurant and movie is worth seeing the gentle smile in Julie’s face. Knowing your loved ones are anxiously waiting is one of the biggest rewards after a long weeks’ worth of work. As a young woman, like myself, it’s hard to imagine your husband ready to meet you at your office, your kids wanting to spend time with you, because, well, you are single. The single life is great, but what would it be like to have what Julie has? From the look on her face, and her excited walking pace leaving the building, I can guess it is pretty great.
4. Picking the right man for you
I will never forget the story she told me during my own incident of heartbreak. Julie explained a time when the person she was in a relationship with, she could no longer imagine a future and took all of her courage to move on. Like anyone, she was scared and confused but it was also the perfect time to meet what would be her husband in a Washington, D.C. traffic jam. This new man expressed patience, support in her career, and a value in family time. Seeing them interact, you knew they were best friends, teammates and had each other’s back every step of the way. There was no tension, jealousy, and they were open in their family life and career journey only making it easy to look up to them and yearn for what could be. It solidified the image and visualization of what success truly means, a balance between health, love, and business. Julie ran away from the man that she didn’t grow with, and found a man that is with her every step of the way. From observations of Julie, a man for a fighting female entrepreneur is there letting her chase after every one of her dreams and goals. That’s the kind of partner everyone needs.
5. She helps you believe in your future, and she will help in any way she can
Julie understands everyone has a story, she does too. Through the bonding of what is different in the each of you, she tells you it will be alright. Sometimes it takes one person to remind you of your strength. That is who Julie was for me. I was there, sitting and shaking, sharing my story and she knew that I would be okay. Julie knew because she understands people. Whether it is her everlasting knowledge or her credible network, Julie helps mentor someone to be a better person, or accomplish their goals. Julie is in no way selfish. She takes her mistakes and life lessons and shares them as a guide to help others as best she can. She is not an entrepreneur who is worried about “competition” and instead she elevates and pushes everyone to be the best version of themselves. This is a quality that is hard to find in people as most crave the “power” for themselves.
I was honored to get to know Julie Kantor this summer. She taught me that life at any age continues to be a struggle, but no matter what you will be okay. Whether it is conversations with her, or reading her articles, Julie has a voice, and it speaks loudly. Thank you Julie for being an inspiration to me but also so many companies, women, and people out there. Your character mentors more than you think.
To learn more about Julie Kantor and her company visit http://www.twomentor.com or read her Huffington Post bio at https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/julie-kantor.