Checking The Room: A CEO’s Guide To Being Heard

In the male-dominated world of financial services, women still face steep challenges when it comes to establishing authority and earning influence. Julie Parisio Roy has navigated that terrain, and has carved a path for others to follow. As CEO of Seattle-based wealth management firm Badgley Phelps, Roy brings both strategic insight and emotional intelligence to her leadership, balancing the demands of a high-stakes profession with a strong commitment to mentorship and community.

In this conversation, Roy shares the mindset and strategies that helped her build credibility early in her career as well as her take on risk-taking and imposter syndrome. Her perspective offers practical insights for women looking to lead with confidence and purpose.

What strategies have helped you build confidence and credibility throughout your career, and what advice would you give to women looking to advance in similar spaces?

Being a curious learner has been key. Early in my career, I did not delay investing in myself by earning the credentials needed to get noticed by clients and employers. The CFA and CFP designations gave me street cred that is almost priceless when you are in your 20s.

I also said yes to everything. I viewed everything as a learning opportunity, so if a colleague or boss asked for my involvement in something, I always made it work and made sure I was either honing a vital skill or learning a new technique. The benefit of the multi-faceted responsibilities of working with clients and their money is that there is a lot to learn from IQ to EQ. This dynamic ensures that both education and experience come in many different forms.

Another key has been cultivating industry friends and colleagues who can provide support and camaraderie in what is already a competitive industry compounded by gender inequality. I knew I wanted to keep my career and raise kids. I needed role models and support, so I founded a group called Mothers In Finance. Meeting others in the same phase of life was invaluable, and to this day, they are some of my most treasured industry friends.

Whenever I felt I had to assert my authority to be heard, I would first “check the room.” I learned that I must ask myself, “are these people—mostly men—able to hear what I’m saying? Do they have the potential to see the value of my contribution to the conversation? How can I phrase my point in a way to help them hear my message?

If I am not being heard and appreciated, is it the circumstances or is it me—as a woman?” Unfortunately, sometimes, you just need to recognize that no amount of investment in the circumstance will yield the return you are looking for. Then, vote with your feet and “switch rooms.”

As a CEO and wealth manager, you guide clients in making informed financial decisions. What lessons from your leadership journey at Badgley Phelps would you share with women who are hesitant to take risks—whether in their careers, finances, or personal lives?

Seek out knowledge and education to be prepared, assess the current environment and then bet on yourself. Only you know what you want. Define what that is and go after it. A quote I heard from Oprah Winfrey almost two decades ago sums it up for me: “Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life. Then, let every step move you in that direction.” Some steps are tiny, and some are leaps. I have never regretted betting on myself even when the work has not paid off.

Many successful women struggle with imposter syndrome, even after achieving significant success. Have you ever experienced self-doubt in your career, and how have you learned to lead with confidence and authenticity?

I have always had self-doubt. Early in my career, the imposter syndrome could mentally derail me. Now, after establishing my career, I am much more aware of what I truly know and what I do not. When self-doubt emerges, I try to let it wash over me, identify what threads can be used for progress and improvement, and let go of any elements that are counterproductive.

Some versions of self-doubt can be helpful. Success is defined in different ways for different businesses. At its core, our clients pay us for advice. There can be many recommended solutions to a client’s problem, and as fiduciaries, we are charged with finding the best solution. This naturally creates a cycle of second guessing and checking our work to ensure we deliver our best ideas to our clients.

I find confidence in that voice in my head that—at first—sounds like doubt but is actually driving us to validate and improve solutions for our clients.

Mentorship and sponsorship play a crucial role in career growth, yet many women struggle to find the right mentors. How has mentorship shaped your own journey—whether as a mentor or mentee—and what advice would you give to women looking to build strong professional networks?

I have been very fortunate over the years to benefit from numerous individuals who have been generous with their time and knowledge. Early on, I had two female colleagues who encouraged me to seek out other job opportunities when the writing on the wall that I did not want to see was clearly closing doors for me at my former job. One of them had known me for years, but the other I sought out as a confidante within my organization. It was a risk to start that conversation, but she was open to honesty and gave me priceless advice.

Most impactful to my career growth was working alongside Mitzi Carletti here at Badgley Phelps. My first job at the firm was supporting her as an associate, and there was no better mentorship than working alongside someone who could provide guidance, not just professionally but also in life. So much of showing up to a career as a working Mom has to do with your life outside the office, and she was an excellent role model and source of endless guidance.

I believe most women are naturally inclined toward networking. We thrive on being helpful, fostering connections and building meaningful relationships. We want to watch someone we believe in succeed. Building a strong network takes consistency, authenticity and being there for others when sometimes your plate is already overflowing.

Seek out public and private groups in your industry, and if you are like me and do not see what you are looking for, create it! Watch for events that you are genuinely interested in and ask a professional friend to join you. Thinking of networking through a growth mindset will position your trajectory toward success.

As a woman in leadership guiding the strategic growth of your firm, what challenges have you faced in working to scale the business while maintaining its core mission? How do you approach setting strategic goals?

Finding the talent who shares the mission and is driven to do the work. We are in a people business. Our team consists of smart investors who excel at managing wealth, crafting strategic plans and building the support structures that help others succeed. What we do for clients is not for those who shy away from the details—it is hard work that carries a deep responsibility.

The definition of hard work was disrupted during and is being refined since COVID-19. Delivering exceptional client service is vital to the success of our business, and this is something that we are looking for ways to improve even further.

The burden of care is also something we are starting to think about. The access to us via technology and our natural care for the client means, often, we don’t get the personal mental space we deserve. We will be talking more about this in the future as I want our people to choose uninterrupted personal time when they want to.

My approach to setting strategic goals has had to grow as I have grown in my career. I was trained early on that “activity breeds activity.” Early in my career, my focus was primarily on my own growth and achievements. However, as my career progressed and I rose through the ranks, there came a tipping point where my goals shifted, and I found myself investing more in the success of others than in my own.

I now focus on my own activities that will breed activity for my teammates and for clients. Their success is now my success, and I am privileged to be let into the parts of their lives that provide me the opportunity for impact.