Worcester Business Journal

F O C U S OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN BUSINESS Julianne Hertel Founder and financial advisor Dream Big Wealth Strategies, in Worcester Residence: Shrewsbury Education: Bachelor's degree from Providence College How are things changing for professional women? More women are actively lifting each other up through mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship, creating pathways for growth helping to level the playing field. There is still important work to be done: The number of women in the C-suites of publicly traded companies remains terribly low, and societal norms too often set women up to compete with each other. If we intentionally focus on these things, we can continue to create pathways for success for women moving forward. Hertel leverages her financial services success to benefit others BY ADRI PRAY Special to WBJ W hen you walk into Ju- lianne Hertel's office, there's more than spreadsheets and portfolios. You see a person committed to liing others, driven by deeply-rooted values born of her upbringing and sustained by a fierce belief in community, compassion, and mentorship. "I've always believed in Worcester," she said. "I built my business here. I champion this community." Hertel's story began in Brooklyn, New York. "I grew up in a working-class household there," she said. "My mother emigrated from Ireland, and my father worked on the railroad until he retired. ey are humble, generous, salt-of- the-earth people. ey taught me that kindness matters and that you always look out for others." Aer earning her undergraduate degree at Providence College in 2001, Hertel started her professional life in higher education. In 2007, she transi- tioned into financial services, seeking a path where she could combine expertise with meaningful relationships. She relocated to Worcester where she made her commitment to the city clear and, in 2015, established her financial management firm, Dream Big Wealth Strategies. "Julianne is a natural leader," said Karen Pelletier, the executive vice president of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Com- merce, who first met Hertel 20 years ago while they were col- leagues at Assumption University in Worcester. "She has made Dream Big Wealth Strategies a trustworthy resource and has fostered a healthy culture with her team. People love working with her and for her." Over nearly two decades in financial services, Hertel has weathered the ups and downs of business partnerships, market disruptions, and the challenge of being taken seriously in a male-dominated industry. "Early on, people would mistake me for someone's assistant, even though I held all the requisite licenses," she said. "I heard colleagues say, 'Oh, women in finance always leave when they have kids.' I believe those assumptions are falling away, but not fast enough." Her philosophy toward adversity? Use it to mentor others. "I would never have reached where I am without some key mentors," she said. "I see it as both a privilege and duty to be that person for others. I've mentored women and men, in finance and beyond … When [a mentee] puts in the work, I push them, connect them, help their name be known in the right rooms." In the financial services sector, she is a sought-aer speaker, having addressed multiple conferences for the Million Dollar Round Table and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, where she previously served on the board. From 2023-2025, Forbes named her one of its Top Best-In-State Financial Security Professionals. As for work–life dynamics, Hertel prefers harmony to balance. "Balance implies everything is equal all the time. It's unrealistic," she said. "I believe in harmony: sometimes business takes precedence, sometimes family, sometimes self-care. at's how the full-person model works. Success in life isn't just professional achievement." In her firm, she encourages the same mindset. "I tell my team: Work is important, but not most important. Family, faith, health; they come first. If you get a call that your child is sick, there's no ques- tion about what you'll do. at's your priority," she said. At her office, she lives what she preaches. Tuesdays through ursdays are client-heavy: meetings, strategy ses- sions, crisis calls, celebrations. Mondays and Fridays are for buffer: planning, continuing education, industry commit- tee work, and giving back. e team she has surrounded herself with are more than staff; they are co-owners of the relationships she builds with clients. Hertel completed a three-year term on the board of trustees for the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation, an Illinois-based organization allocating nearly $2 million annually to nonprofits worldwide. In Central Massachusetts, she is active with the Safe Exit Initia- tive, which helps survivors of human PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT 14 Worcester Business Journal | October 6, 2025 | wbjournal.com

• Cover