Real transformation comes from human, not just artificial, intelligence.

Speaker, Author, Board Director

Julie Averill

I help leaders build the trust, culture, and capabilities that turn technology investments into lasting change. I also ensure that technology and company strategy work together to drive real business results. Former CIO of lululemon.

Coming May 2026

Chief Impact Officer

Real transformation comes from human, not just artificial, intelligence

Every organization claims they're "doing AI," but many are just burning money on technology while ignoring the human intelligence required to make transformations stick. This isn't a polished case study - it's the messy, honest story of what actually happens when you try to transform a company. Because real transformation requires human, not just artificial, intelligence.

Praise for Chief Impact Officer

"We take it for granted today that technology is the strategic imperative in almost all businesses, but it wasn't that long ago that technology was treated like a cost center to be managed for efficiency. Leaders that are successful at managing this evolution in their business focus on culture first, and Julie has had an instrumental role in building winning cultures across multiple companies. There are so many great leadership lessons from those experiences, and Julie does a great job of telling an inspiring story that is relevant to anyone who wants to build a winning culture."

— Jamie Nordstrom, Chief Merchandising Officer, Nordstrom

"This book is the leadership dopamine we all need in the AI era. Julie's authentic reflections provide a precise blueprint for people-first transformation. By drawing on her legacy of building an inclusive, people-powered enterprise during Lululemon's mega-transformation, she proves that culture is the new currency. An essential, high-impact reckoning for the modern leader."

— Venki Krishnababu, ex CTO Premera, ex CTO Lululemon & CTIO Dutch Bros

"This book provides a comprehensive roadmap from a seasoned industry leader who fully understands how to make this mandate for sustainable excellence in an ever-changing world a reality."

— Mike Richardson, former Nordstrom CIO

"In Julie's story, I saw my own: the power that came when I finally brought my full self into the room. Her book makes clear that even in the age of AI, high performance and trust only emerge when leaders stop hiding and start leading from their whole selves."

— Kathryn Henry, Independent Director lululemon & Author "A Dime to Say I Love You"

From the Book

Stories from two decades of transformation

Introduction

"You can approve funding. You can set priorities. But results only happen when people trust the direction, feel ownership in the work, and can speak up when the truth is uncomfortable."

Chapter 1

"Three days before I officially joined lululemon, the website went down for twenty hours. Those twenty hours told me everything I needed to know."

Chapter 2

"The best leaders aren't the ones with the answers. They're the ones who can see the whole field when everyone else is focused on the ball."

Read More Excerpts
$2B → $10B+ lululemon revenue growth 8 Years leading transformation 4 Continents global teams built Forbes CIO Next 50 Innovative Leaders

Let's Connect

Whether you need a keynote speaker, board advisor, or strategic guidance on AI transformation, I'd love to hear from you.