Julie Giles PhD

Julie is the founder and leader of Growth Minded Parents & Now Growth Minded Teachers.

Julie has worked with children and families for more than 30 years and lives into her calling to encourage individuals wherever they are in their journey.

About Julie

Master of the weekend road trip, connoisseur of maple-bacon doughnuts, creative party planner, and enthusiastic lover of life, Dr. Julie Giles has never been particularly interested in doing things simply because “that’s how they’ve always been done.” She loves bringing perspective to complicated ideas, finding possibilities others may have missed, and dreaming really big. A Colorado native, Julie met her husband, Isaac, more than three decades ago, and together they have four grown children, a grandson, and a small farm that keeps life interesting.

Julie is an educator, author, speaker, applied researcher, and creative problem solver with a PhD in Performance Psychology, a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her work spans educational leadership, adolescent education, college teaching, parenting research, mentoring, and professional development. She currently leads an innovative Christian Montessori adolescent program, teaches as an adjunct professor, speaks and facilitates workshops, writes books, and continues finding ways to challenge assumptions about what education can and should look like. Through her books, assessments, workshops, and work with parents and educators, Julie helps people understand why they do what they do, recognize what is working and what is not, and grow with greater intention.

At the heart of all of it is something remarkably simple: Julie loves helping people get “it.” Whether “it” is understanding themselves, seeing a child differently, discovering a better way forward, or realizing they are capable of more than they thought, she believes a little perspective can change almost everything. And she is usually ready to talk about it over coffee, preferably with a maple-bacon doughnut nearby.