Julie Averill
(She/Her)
Seattle
As seen in:
The New York Times,
The New York Times en Español,
Yahoo Life,
Bloomberg News,
Forbes,
TIME,
Aol,
Yahoo Finance,
Yahoo Finance Canada,
Milenio
and
Covers:
retail, leadership, organizational transformation, AI strategy, future of work, workplace culture, psychological safety, board governance, women in tech
Doesn't Cover:
Technical implementation, software development, cloud/DevOps, data engineering, network architecture, coding
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I've never actually held the title journalist. I've been a CIO. The first time I held that title was at REI.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
YES!! Old school and that's what I was trained on. My wife cant sit next to me when I type because I still bang for impact.
How is social media changing news?
It's forcing everyone to have a point of view. You can't just report 'both sides' anymore - audiences want to know where you stand. That's good when it produces honest analysis, dangerous when it produces performance.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Reading fiction is a luxury I haven't afforded myself yet. I digest all the news I can, all day long.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I love finding out what resonates, what's current, what matters to people.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
RTO wars
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email or text. I will respond quickly.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Every one I can get my hands on.
What's your favorite social network?
Substack or LinkedIn
Who do you wish followed you?
HBR, Fortune, Fast Company, Forbes...and Michelle Obama
Why did you become a journalist?
I am a writer and have always loved to write. It's my outlet. Writing a book was a lifelong goal (it comes out in June 2026)
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
no, I was a debate nerd. Got a lettermans jacket with a letter on it even.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm very excited about Chief Impact Officer: Real transformation comes from human, not artificial, intelligence (Microsoft 8080 Books, June 2026)
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
What I've learned on my very short journey is vulnerability resonates, truth matters, and people need of stories they identify with.
When's the best time to pitch you?
mornings are best - catch me with a cup of coffee and my laptop
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Short, direct, no bullshit
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I hear from a lot of companies that are looking to work with me to "leverage my network."
What's your favorite drink?
a good red
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
on a pickleball court anywhere in the world. I bring my paddle everywhere I travel. It's a great way to get some exercise and meet people.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
early morning binge of all my substacks - I wake up at 4am and hear from the voices I trust
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I cover how to build AI systems, when I actually cover how to lead organizations through AI-driven change. The tech is the easy part - the people and culture are where transformation succeeds or fails.
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