Leading with Grit and Grace: Q&A with Julia Roberts

In a deeply personal and inspiring conversation hosted by the GES Women’s Community, Julia Roberts, Sr. EPC Manager at Qcells, shared her unconventional path into solar sales, overcoming personal and professional challenges, and her commitment to driving impact through leadership, empathy, and resilience.

A Non-Traditional Path to Solar Sales

Julia’s journey didn’t begin in renewable energy. With degrees in exercise science and criminology, and early career experience in oil and gas construction and proposal operations, she admits to following a “melting pot” path. But it was her affinity for process, connection, and solving puzzles that eventually led her to solar.

Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, Julia took on the challenge of working in a client-facing role. She gave herself pep talks before calls and celebrated small wins afterward. Her motivation? Creating a positive environmental and economic impact and finding a community where she could grow and lead.

Thriving in a Male-Dominated Industry

Solar EPC sales is still largely male-dominated with women making up just 10–20% of teams, and only 15% in senior roles. Julia candidly shared how she’s navigated this space, not by trying to conform, but by mastering her craft. Her advice to women entering sales:

Be prepared and understand the customer’s unique challenges.

• Let your confidence shine.
• Take up space unapologetically.
• Call out bias professionally but firmly.
• Build trust through results, not surface-level charisma.

Mantras for Career and Life

One of Julia’s guiding principles is: “Show up with value, not just volume.” In a field that can prize numbers over nuance, she urges professionals to prioritize meaningful relationships and deep understanding over shallow transactions.

Her second mantra: “Stay curious. Stay learning.” From industry shifts to personal reinvention, Julia sees change as inevitable and empowering. She encourages others to be flexible, open-minded, and proactive in their learning journeys.

Strategies for Peak Performance

Planning is Julia’s superpower. She maps out her days with intention, including time for deep work, follow-ups, and check-ins. Each morning starts with coffee and a question: “What are the top three things I can do today to move the needle?”

Julia also shared how personal adversity, including chronic pain from a failed back surgery, has shaped her work ethic and time management. Through openness and strategic planning, she continues to contribute fully while respecting her body’s limits.

Leadership Lessons and Emotional Intelligence

Julia believes that great leaders are first and foremost great listeners. Clear communication, emotional intelligence, and steady support are traits she values and tries to model. Management, to her, means leading through others—not just excelling individually.

She emphasized the importance of tailoring leadership styles to individual team members, especially in a post-COVID world where empathy and flexibility matter more than ever.

Finding Balance and Grace

Balancing work and life is not easy, especially in high-stakes sales with frequent travel. Julia carves out quality time for her family by being phone-free and fully present. Whether it’s snuggles with her rescue dogs or morning routines with her daughter, she finds moments of calm and connection amid the chaos.

Her perspective on balance is refreshingly honest: it’s not about perfection, but regular check-ins, adjustments, and giving yourself grace when you fall short.

The Power of Education and Personal Growth

One of the most moving parts of the conversation was Julia’s story about earning a PhD in Strategic Leadership Management during the pandemic while raising a four-year-old and working full-time. This wasn’t just an academic achievement, but a symbol of perseverance and a personal commitment to growth.

She pursued the degree to better understand leadership challenges in times of crisis, to model resilience for her daughter, and to deepen her ability to lead with strategy and empathy. It’s an investment she’d make again in a heartbeat.

Final Thoughts

Julia closed the session with gratitude and openness, hoping her story resonated with others navigating the highs and lows of their careers. Her journey is a reminder that resilience, preparation, empathy, and continuous learning aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the building blocks of meaningful impact.