For more than two decades, Julie Huls has led high-impact entrepreneurial initiatives at the intersection of technology, innovation, and economic development. She is widely recognized for transforming complex, high-stakes projects by applying analytically rigorous planning, crafting visionary yet executable roadmaps, building high-performing teams, and leveraging strategic storytelling to drive measurable outcomes.

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In 2015, Julie founded Waymaker Group, a national strategy firm focused on advancing innovation economies in markets across the U.S. Under her leadership, the firm developed and deployed new economic development methodologies that directly impacted over 25 regions in the American Heartland. Waymaker helped clients raise and allocate more than $300 million for regional innovation centers, workforce development programs, and early-stage startup ecosystems. Under her leadership, Waymaker’s national team grew to include over 30 consultants, technology experts, and policy advisors, and a scientific network of more than 40 specialized advisors.

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Julie's unique approach enables cities and institutions to align their local technology assets with market opportunities, strengthen commercialization practices, benchmark their growth against top-performing innovation hubs, and forge strategic innovation partnerships with industry. ​Julie’s expertise also spans public and private fundraising, business coaching for public leaders, and board development. 

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In 2009, Julie was recruited to lead the Austin Technology Council (ATC), where she transformed it into one of the most influential tech associations in the middle U.S. There, she designed and executed scalable strategies that helped establish Austin as a premier technology hub, making it one of the first cities between the coasts to achieve that recognition at the time.

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Before her leadership roles in the nonprofit and economic development sectors, Julie spent a decade in real estate development, overseeing business development, operations, and complex contract negotiations. She began her career in public and media relations, where she specialized in positioning and promoting technology clients.

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Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and a Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She has served on the boards of numerous community and economic development organizations, including the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Tech Councils of North America, and United Way Austin.