Her Story
About Julianne
Julianne Yuhas serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of a nonprofit organization based in El Paso, Texas, a position she assumed in 2024. In this role, she works closely with the CEO to manage programs and the marketing department. Her career path began with an Associates for Medical Assisting, followed by a pivot to administrative and accounting work where she earned her bachelor's in accounting, and later a master's in Business Administration. Prior to her current position, Yuhas spent four years at another nonprofit and gained experience at a community health center in Fairbanks, Alaska. She has also volunteered extensively with the local AYSO chapter, progressing from coach admin to division coordinator and serving as assistant regional commissioner for a year, which included regional commissioner training that enhanced her leadership skills. Yuhas credits her professional growth to strong support systems and leaders who believed in her and pushed her to continue learning without stopping. She values relationships in both her work and personal life, emphasizing enjoyment in her work and commitment to the people and mission she serves. In the nonprofit sector, she notes that funding remains a persistent challenge, but opportunities arise through diversification, adaptability, and helping others understand the importance of community support and volunteering.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Julianne
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say good support systems and leadership that believed in me previously, so at that first nonprofit I worked at, the CEO there, I worked really well with her, and she encouraged me to go back to school and to not stop learning, so I went back for my bachelor's, and then she told me, just make sure to continue on. And then eventually I circled back and got my master's, and I had another role with a supportive supervisor that helped push me so that I could complete my master's, and I think that that belief from upper management and that push can support somebody in their growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Not to stop learning, so there's always opportunities to grow or learn, no matter what point you are in your career, or how high up you are. There's always something you can learn, and a way you can grow, and always become a better person.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to continue to learn and be adaptable in the nonprofit world. Adaptability is key, because, again, funding opportunities, things change, so be willing to pivot. take on new roles, learn new things is gonna, help you strive, I feel, in the nonprofit world. Because it is an ever-changing demand on community needs.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges for most nonprofits are always going to be funding, but the opportunities are if you diversified and look outside the box, there's always Other ways to, combat the funding portion to still be able to contribute or give back. I think it's just make making other people see the or helping other people understand the missions and the support of volunteering and giving back to the community.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think I just value the relationships, so they're different dynamics, but when I have, at work, Regardless. of pay or anything else. I think you just need to enjoy what you're doing and value the people and the mission that you're working for.
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