Coffee and Alani Nu fuels most of my leadership conversations | I’ve photographed over 4,000 babies and yes, I still love newborn cuddles | I believe clarity solves more problems than motivation ever will | Former newborn photographer who built a business around tiny humans and big dreams.
Decades in the Room. Here's What I Learned.
I'm a leadership coach, communication strategist, and business mentor helping women leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs lead with clarity, confidence, and stronger communication. If you are overwhelmed, stuck in indecision, or tired of miscommunication slowing down your growth, you are in the right place.
My work is built to help you cut through the noise, make aligned decisions, and lead your business and team with greater purpose and direction. With decades of experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, branding, and team development, I bring practical insight that goes beyond generic business coaching and surface-level advice.
I help you strengthen the way you communicate, develop greater self-awareness around how you lead, and build healthier team dynamics, stronger business foundations, and lasting momentum. Whether you are growing a business, leading a team, or stepping into a new level of influence, I am here to help you do it with strategy, decisive leadership, and confidence.
If you are looking for honest, encouraging leadership coaching and communication support that helps you move forward, I would love to connect with you. Through one-on-one coaching, online courses, and the Leadership Clearly Podcast, I help women leaders across the U.S. grow with intention and become the kind of leaders people trust, respect, and want to follow.
2001
2003
2007
In 2001 I landed my first “big girl” job at a major telecommunications company. I quickly worked my way up into a director-level role and gained invaluable experience early in my career. Those years taught me many lessons about leadership, especially how powerful good leadership can be and how damaging poor leadership can be. It was the beginning of a lifelong curiosity about what truly makes a leader effective.
In 2003, I graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in Business, a minor in Marketing, and my MBA. Education has always been important to me, and those years helped build the foundation for my future work in business, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
By 2007, my entrepreneurial spirit was fully alive. I launched my first business while simultaneously going back to school to become a Holistic Healthcare Practitioner and licensed Massage Therapist. During this time, I specialized in Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute. That same year I also started my photography business, focusing on newborn and birth photography, which would become a major part of my life for nearly two decades.
2008
2011
2013
In 2008 I launched an online dropshipping company called Luvmybub, a “BOYtique” which was a boutique for boys. Around the same time I also ran a small batch mineral makeup company. Our home was often filled with the sparkle of loose pigments floating through the air during mixing days. Entrepreneurship during these years was scrappy, creative, and full of learning.
In 2011 life shifted dramatically when I became a single mom to my two amazing kids, who were five and two at the time. Like many parents navigating big life changes, I leaned into my work and purpose. I began working as a doula while throwing myself fully into growing my photography business and serving families during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
In 2013 our family moved from Orange County to Puyallup, Washington. During this season I stepped into a leadership role with a major beauty retailer where I led teams and developed my management skills while also rebuilding my newborn photography business in a brand new community. I also made sure to find a new church that we could plant our feet into deeply for community.
2019
2024/2025
2026
By 2019 I realized something important. My heart was pulling more toward coaching and leadership development. I shifted my photography work to part time and began investing deeply in leadership training and education, including executive education courses from Yale and Columbia University focused on women in leadership. I also felt the God pulling me into a new season of uncomfortablness- I became a worship leader after many years of serving part time.
In 2024, I became the worship pastor for Celebrate Recovery ministry at my church. In 2025 a new chapter officially began. I launched the Leadership Clearly Podcast and started Julie Wagner Coaching and Consulting, focused on helping leaders communicate clearly, lead confidently, and build strong teams. That same year I closed my photography business after 18 incredible years and the privilege of photographing more than 4,000 babies.
In 2026 I launched this new website and began expanding my leadership work through The Clarity Code Bootcamp, a program designed to help leaders understand communication styles and lead their teams more effectively. I am also exploring the possibility of writing a book around these ideas, and we will see where that journey leads. ]
Remember this friends- God will ALWAYS equip the called. Listen to HIS calling for you. It's a wild ride.