Julian Guthrie

A word geek.

That is how Julian Guthrie describes herself. A love of words, language, and storytelling has taken her from a childhood spent devouring books (and reading the dictionary!) to a 25-year career in daily journalism, where she won numerous awards and had her work nominated multiple times for the Pulitzer Prize. Guthrie has written five non-fiction books including "Alpha Girls," which explores the traits of bravery, kindness, ambition, and optimism in successful women. She has interviewed some of the world's most successful and interesting people, from Steve Jobs to Elon Musk, and her books, "Alpha Girls" and another title, are being adapted for television. Guthrie has spent years researching how men and women succeed – and it is not the same.

Driven by an understanding of how stories can open minds, change lives, and jumpstart industries, Guthrie founded a 501c3 national nonprofit, The Alpha Girls Institute, to support and spotlight the lives and stories of women and girls across the globe. She discusses the impact of diminishing language on women's communication and offers strategies for more effective communication, applying her insights in various settings including startups, nonprofits, and corporate environments.

Guthrie is also the founder and CEO of Alphy™, a venture-backed SaaS (software as a service) company focused on supporting women and allies in the workplace through AI-powered tools like Reflect, which serve as a personal communication coach. Alphy™ is poised to change the game for women across industries, and aims to expand its influence to colleges and universities in the U.S.

Guthrie's personal story shows how a love of something — whatever it is — can take you far in life. "Going from a little girl who loved to read to journalism to author to the founder of a tech company actually feels like a continuum," Guthrie says. "I just took my love, my skills, and pivoted into new mediums. At its core, though, I'm still telling stories."