Julie Cortés
Julie Cortés is a business coach, speaker, and community builder who helps creative freelancers turn talent into sustainable, profitable businesses. Known as the “Freelance Rockstar,” she brings equal parts strategy, straight talk, and encouragement to professionals who are done winging it and ready to lead with confidence.
With nearly three decades as an advertising copywriter, Julie understands the realities of the freelance / solopreneur life—from inconsistent income and unclear positioning to burnout and undervaluing expertise. Her work focuses on helping freelancers clarify their message, attract better clients, and build businesses that support the life they actually want.
Julie is the founder of The Freelance Exchange of Kansas City—a leading industry organization for advertising / marketing freelancers, offering continuing education, networking and support. She also leads the Freelance Rockstars group on Facebook and LinkedIn—a thriving virtual community of independent creatives from around the globe.
After developing a college-level course, Freelancing 101, for the world-renown Kansas City Art Institute—at which she taught as an adjunct professor for many years, she opened up a business coaching practice to offer similar support to her fellow freelancers and solopreneurs to help them, too, find success.
Today, she's also a sought-after speaker who delivers real-world insights with energy, humor, and heart.
She believes visibility is power, confidence is learned, and women who own their value change the game—not just for themselves, but for everyone watching.
• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with an Emphasis in Advertising: The University of Kansas
• Small Business Superstar—given by The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
• Top 15 Coaches in Kansas City—given by Influence Digest
• Kansas Women's Buesiness Advocate of the Year—given by the Kansas Dept. of Commerce
• Top 50 KC Social Media Influencers in Business—given by Blogger Local
• Innovator of the Year—given by The Stevie Awards for Women in Business
• National Community Freelancer Award—given by The Freelancers Conference
• Top 100 Small Business Influencer Champion—given by Small Business Influencer Awards
• The Freelance Exchange of KC
• The Freelance Exchange of KC—founder, president, past president 20+ years
What do you attribute your success to?
Success for me has come from motivation, determination, and being able to roll with the punches. I am no where at all where I thought I'd be in my career, yet I am absolutely every where I'm supposed to be. My career path has come with a lot of twists and turns (I like to call them plot twists!), and I think being able to adjust to those, embracing the opportunities that came my way, and leaning in to my natural talents has really helped me come a long way.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Set office hours for yourself. Seriously. As a self-employed professional, it's been an absolute game-changer. I not only know when to go to work, yet I also now know when to leave work (super essential for that precious work / life balance). The shift in my mindset to both working on and in my business has worked wonders. And now I know exactly when to do just that!
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get a mentor. Or a coach. Find someone willing to show you the ropes and who you can bounce ideas and questions off of. Having that support system truly works wonders.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI and uncertainty (economic, world, politics, etc.). Many in my industry and feeling the effects of both. We're not trying to figure out how to pivot and keep going.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity is probably number one. I see so many copycats out there—whether it's copying the text from a social media post or flat out stealing a business idea—it's everywhere. For me, rising to the top comes with paving your own way ... and doing so with originality.
Locations
Julie Cortés Freelance Rockstar
Overland Park, KS