Central to WashU IT’s Organizational Change Management (OCM) team is an individual whose leadership transcends the professional realm and touches people’s lives in ways that are profound, lasting, and deeply meaningful. Julie Szaj, Director, PPMO OCM team, was nominated by multiple peers as a 2024 Person of ImpacT. The nominations are a tribute to Szaj’s exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to WashU IT, and genuine care for the people she works with and supports.
Szaj noted her leadership is driven by purpose and intention. When reflecting on her nomination, she said she was surprised, adding: “I’m shocked. I just see myself as a small part of our whole team at WashU IT. I’m just one little person trying to do my best.”
However, for those who work with her, Szaj’s efforts to make a difference are anything but small. Some nominators have expressed her authenticity, empathy, and emotional intelligence shine through in everything she does.
“Julie is, by far, one of the best managers I have ever had the pleasure to have. She is personable, empathetic, and a genuinely caring person. In addition, Julie embodies WashU IT’s guiding principles, values, and vision throughout everything she does professionally,” said Larissa Bray, Change Management Specialist, who is a member of Szaj’s team and one of her nominators.
Another nominator, Ahmad Ali, an IT Learning and Development Specialist on Szaj’s team, praised her exceptional leadership, adding: “She motivates the team with a clear vision, provides individualized support, ensures equal opportunities, and navigates interpersonal dynamics with empathy and grace. Her exceptional qualities make her an ideal leader, fostering a positive and motivating workplace environment.”
With nearly nine years of experience at WashU, Szaj is now focused on preparing the next generation of leaders. “One of my big goals is to mentor and help the next generation take over for me and to do better than I did,” she said.
She said her journey, marked by resilience and perseverance, has shaped her into a mentor who leads with intention and compassion. Szaj spoke candidly about the challenges she overcame growing up and experienced in foster care, and how those experiences have driven her to be a positive influence in the lives of others.
“It’s always been my goal to do better, to break the cycle, and be a positive impact in people’s lives,” she said.
Grateful for the mentors she had, Szaj feels proud to have broken the cycle of hardship and become a positive influence herself.
“I could have easily been a negative one,” she said. Instead, Sjaz inspires others with a leadership philosophy that is both simple and profound, grounded in active listening and self-awareness. “I try to stay very aware of how I’m presenting myself, making sure that I’m listening to other people, and that I’m not just reacting. I check myself often—why am I reacting this way? Is it a bias, or is it something I need to understand more?”
Szaj plays an essential role in WashU IT’s Organizational Change Management (OCM) team, leading a change management, training, and communications group of experts. She noted, “I get to be the director of an amazing, wonderful, smart, and talented group of people.”
Throughout her time at the University, Szaj has witnessed the OCM team’s transformation from basic communications and training to a more sophisticated practice rooted in cognitive science and adult learning principles. Today, she finds it fascinating to explore with her team how adults learn and absorb new information and how different parts of the brain respond to stimuli.
Under Szaj’s leadership, the team is committed to continuous learning and applying this knowledge to all aspects of their work.
“My focus now is on moving our OCM team forward with a center-of-excellence approach,” she said. “We’re building trust, credibility, and rapport, and I’m excited to see how we continue to grow and evolve.”
Szaj is dedicated to ensuring people in WashU IT feel seen, heard, and valued.
“There’s always room for improvement, and I see WashU IT shifting toward a better understanding of the importance of investing in the human side of our work,” Szaj said. She noted, this progress has been the result of a long journey, one that has required building trust and fostering open, honest conversations.
Szaj’s commitment to fostering growth extends particularly to her support of the Apprentice Program. Originally created by Regina Sykes, Director, Enterprise Systems and Solutions, with senior leadership backing, Szaj played a pivotal role in expanding and refining the program. Her ultimate vision is to have it certified by the Department of Labor, transforming it into a nationally recognized, federally regulated apprenticeship opportunity that attracts motivated participants and serves as a model for others in the University.
Szaj also extends her leadership influence beyond WashU IT through her active participation in the Danforth Staff Council. There, she collaborates with WashU staff to advocate for the needs of employees across the institution, and works to build a stronger connection between IT and the rest of the University, ensuring the voices and viewpoints of the IT team are heard and understood. In doing so, Julie fosters a greater appreciation for the integral role IT plays in WashU’s success.
Szaj said she thinks a Person of Impact should be someone who embodies both empathy for people and business effectiveness. She noted, they should care about people and ensure that human connection remains at the core of their work without losing sight of the work that needs to be done. She added it’s a balancing act of navigating difficult choices with compassion, while delivering results, knowing that it isn’t just about what gets done, but how it’s done and who it affects.
Szaj believes that engagement starts with knowledge, transparency, and an authentic invitation to the table.
“For engagement to happen, you need some knowledge,” she said. “You need to be invited to the table. You need transparent communication. You need people asking for your opinion and wanting to hear it (…) It’s not enough to give someone a chance to speak; they need to feel their contributions are valued.”
For Szaj, engagement and belonging are deeply connected. People thrive in spaces where they feel wanted, not just present. As she reflects, this aligns with a simple but powerful message Melinda Schmidt, Chief of Staff, delivered to the team she leads at a recent team meeting: You belong here.
“This is so important because so much has changed—not just with the pandemic but with the outside world coming into work,” Szaj said. “There’s higher stress and more anxiety. We need more opportunities for open communication (…) Silence lets everybody’s brains go in weird directions. Let’s talk about it, even if we don’t have all the answers.”
Szaj’s vision for her legacy at WashU is clear: she is dedicated to developing her team, mentoring new leaders, and ensuring the OCM team’s work continues to drive positive change. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I want to leave our team in a good place, and I want to continue contributing to a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable institution.”