I asked Julie how she sees the market for her products – for her industry - over the next 90 day?
… we are doing very well in Calgary. North American wide - for example, making our products part of new hospital developments – our customers are telling our story and we are at a tipping point.
Over the next 5 years?
The construction industry is so slow to change – slowest to jump on new innovations. Competitors keep bringing our name up as a negative in their selling (a good thing!) – because we are so radically different. Our software will continue to be the game changer – much like a 3-D video game, each time you change one thing – everything changes (dimensions, components, costs) so what we build meets the designer’s needs, keeps costs down . . .
What qualities distinguish your preferred colleagues, collaborators and suppliers?
… people who readily admit their weaknesses. Why they are doing what they are doing is important to me.
What distinguishes you as a marketer – the public face of DIRTT, the messenger for your company, that causes users and their designers to choose you and what you are selling over your competitors?
… maybe because I am a terrible salesperson. I never feel like I’m making a sales call. Our products and our thinking isn’t for everyone or for every project. We believe the time is now for DIRTT, for bringing construction to manufacturing. We are interested in making buildings and cities more livable, dynamic – and we are excited to be on the cutting edge of these changes.
What do you lose sleep over, what do you worry about?
… I’m not worry free. I worry if we are getting our message across. The recycling mentality has taken hold, but not enough emphasis on reduce and re-use. Keeping what we have. The greenest building is an existing building.
How do you view BOMA Green vs. LEED?
… LEED is about ‘before you build’ and isn’t always living up to its promised potential. There is no LEED credit for using less real estate. BOMA Green is about how you deal day-to-day with what you have.
Who or what influenced you most – that has made a difference in your life, or that was a major turning point?
… Mogens Smed. And, traveling around Europe by myself when I was 20-21, I had some scary experiences!
Work life balance?
… travel, tennis, movies. Work. I have been doing the website writing for Screamfest for several years. I write about Zombies!
What are you reading?
… book club choices, lots of work related books on sustainable development – lots on my iPAD, Todd Hirsch’s ‘The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline’, Jeff Rubin’s ‘The End of Growth’
Her ride?
… KIA Optima Hybrid H2