The Words of Wisdom (W.O.W.) blog series highlights local Sacramento executives who are making an impact in the Sacramento community so they can share valuable career advice with Metro EDGE young professionals!
In honor of Women’s History Month, we're highlighting a woman in leadership—Julie Hirota, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish® Northeastern & Central California. Read Julie’s interview below to learn more about her and her advice to young professionals.
What are three things you wish you’d known as you embarked on your career?
1. I wish I had learned to trust my instincts sooner. As a recovering engineer, I’ve spent years overanalyzing and crafting plans A, B, C, D… and beyond. While caution has its place, being overly risk-averse can slow down growth and learning. At the same time, taking too many risks comes with its own challenges. Finding the right balance has been a journey—but one that’s taught me the value of both intuition and strategy.
2. I wish I had learned to set my ego aside sooner. It took time to understand how much it can stand in the way of progress. Thirty years ago, as the first female engineer in my company in a male-dominated field, I felt I had to hide my vulnerabilities, fearing they would undermine what was so hard to earn. But over time, I’ve come to see that true confidence comes from self-reflection. No matter what I do or say, people will form their own opinions—and I’ve realized that often has more to do with them than with me.
3. I wish I explored more opportunities in college. I curated my path very carefully to graduate in four years. I don’t know why I rushed it to finish. I missed out on a lot of experiences. And, I missed opportunities to explore other exciting areas of learning.
Did/do you have a mentor? If so, what was the most important advice they gave you?
Yes, many. Though my mentors don’t always know they are mentors. The best advice has been, “don’t make a life changing decision when you’re struggling.” That said, I haven’t always listened, and I’ve experienced the consequences.
How did/do you handle work/life balance?
This means something different to everyone. I love to work, run, and create art—not because I have to, but because they bring me genuine joy. I don’t see my career as just hours spent “doing a job”; I truly enjoy what I do. But when I’m feeling exhausted or frustrated, I recognize the importance of stepping away and taking the breaks I need. I never want to show up disengaged. For me, burnout isn’t about the number of hours worked, miles run or projects completed—it comes from the weight of challenges that demand a lot of energy and focus.
What do you think are the biggest obstacles women face on the path to leadership, and how can other young professionals overcome these obstacles as they advance in their careers?
Women can (and some want to) “do it all.” Though I think we can, it’s hard to “do it all” well. I think the biggest obstacle women face is wanting leadership quickly – especially since we can and do learn quickly and well. But, a leader isn’t something that comes by checking all the boxes and doing everything well – if that were the case, we’d be leaders very early in life! A leader comes through experiences – failures and successes, mindset, slowing down, listening and learning. It comes from letting others go first, knowing when to go first, knowing when to walk away, and knowing when to speak up and when not too. For myself, I put a lot of effort into checking all the boxes as quickly as possible, that I didn’t learn about myself (which started shaping in my forties). And, once I started learning about myself I was able to understand others much better. With those combined, I could lead.
How do you advocate for other women in the workplace, whether as a mentor, sponsor, or colleague?
As I broke barriers in the male-dominated field of engineering in the early ‘90s, later served as CEO of a homeless shelter for women and children, and held office as an elected school board member, I remained committed to empowering women at every stage of their journey. Whether by creating pathways for young women to pursue careers in STEM, helping women transition out of homelessness, or providing the tools and mentorship needed to build self-sustaining futures, I have worked to ensure that opportunities for growth and success are within reach for those striving to overcome obstacles.
Can you share an experience where you’ve seen significant progress in advancing women in leadership positions, and what do you think needs to be done next?
I’ve seen significant advancement of women in elected offices! Elected women officials can advance women by designing and advocating policies for women. Their presence also creates visibility and representation, inspiring the next generation while fostering strong professional networks and supporting women-led voices.
How important is it to be involved in organizations outside of work (church, networking, philanthropy, community-based, alumni, athletics, etc.)? Why?
It’s extremely important for women to be intentional about their involvement where their skills, expertise and personal fulfillment match. Again, their presence and voice add a necessary component to shaping the future of community.
Do you have any suggestions for books, articles, websites, podcasts, etc. that might help a young professional?
Here are my 3 most transformational books (I listen to them on my drive):
1. 10% Happier – How I Tamed the Voice in My Head (Dan Harris)
2. The Courage to be Disliked (Ichiro Kishimi)
3. Can’t Hurt Me & Never Finished (David Goggins)
What do you love about Sacramento?
It’s a generous and talented community where everyone is actually “all in” – not out of obligation, but because they truly want to be.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the 40-and-under business professionals in our region?
Don’t be in a rush – enjoy the place you’re at because you’ll never get this moment back.
To connect with Julie, you can reach her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Julie Hirota Social Media:
Learn More about the Make-A-Wish Local Chapter on Instagram and Facebook.
