For the last 35 years, our VP of Conferences, Julie Groshens, has been a shining jewel in Training magazine’s crown. So when she called to tell me she was retiring in June, my first thought was, “Oh, no, say it ain’t so!” Talk about a turn of events (literally)!
Julie passionately believes in the power of training, extolling our mantra of “Training matters!” wherever she goes. She pours her heart and soul into every event, fiercely determined to make each conference better than the last. When COVID-19 hit, Julie immediately began researching live virtual options and led the charge to ensure Training’s virtual conference would engage and inspire attendees (as it did!). Like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat, Julie always finds a creative solution, a last-minute breakout session replacement, a one-of-a-kind keynoter. She’s a big-picture thinker who rolls up her sleeves and delves into the nitty-gritty details, too.
Julie is empathetic and caring, curious and optimistic (“Almost done!” is her famous catchphrase), hard-working and forward-looking. It has been a privilege to work with her over the last 15 years. She has been a terrific mentor and role model for me— encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone and onto the event stage as the “face” of Training magazine.
Julie is exactly the type of leader every organization needs. In keeping with our cover story (see p. 18), she’s certainly a leader who has always made me want to stay! Do you know any Learning and Development professionals who are on the way to becoming a leader like Julie? Nominate them for our Emerging Training Leaders awards program at: https://trainingmag.com/nominate-a-2022-emerging-training-leader-today/
