by Anitra Budd

Since 1999, social entrepreneur Julie Hellwich (M.S.W., '94) has inspired women and girls to be informed, engaged leaders through a growing array of Smart Women products. With creative inspiration from her 10-year-old daughter, Hellwich combines retro graphics and clever wordplay on items such as “Smart Women make changes” erasers or “Smart Women protect freedom of speech” lip gloss. The products all reflect her desire to unite women around issues of community, service, and social equality.

Q: What’s an average day like for you?
A: A large part of it is the day-to-day business of staying in business, of course. But I’m particularly focused on helping the business become more proactive about building links between people and organizations. For example, there’s interest in creating a network of Smart Women clubs on college campuses, where women could form mentoring relationships, share resources and expertise, and just learn from each other in general.

Q: You measure success in terms of the impact Smart Women has on society. Why is it important for a business venture to bring about social change?
A: I wouldn’t say that businesses are responsible for bringing about social change so much as social stability. Take the area of economic justice, for example. Businesses, in my opinion, should examine salaries closely. Is there a huge gap between executive and employee salaries? Are women and men in similar positions paid equally? Are employees generally paid a fair, livable wage? Addressing questions like these is what businesses should do as good social citizens.

Q: You received masters’ degrees from the School of Social Work and the School of Public Health. How has your education influenced your work?
A: Both of my graduate degrees are in fields that value community outreach, which is a very large part of Smart Women’s guiding mission. I’ve also found that many of our customers are women who tend to come from nonprofit, academic, and social work backgrounds. My background in these areas helps me create linkages between these women.

Q: What was the biggest influence on your academic success?
A: I owe a huge debt to the personal attention, investment in my education, support, and guidance of Bruce and Sharyn Schelske, who direct Upward Bound (one of the Trio programs now part of CEHD). As an undergraduate just entering the University and a single mom, they worked with my school and childcare schedule. They supported my application to graduate school, counseled me on personal goals, wrote in support of my research grants, and also employed me as a graduate assistant.

They are the best, most dedicated and tireless advocates for high-school and college students I know.

Q: What advice would you give someone starting a business?
A: First, ask yourself why you want to be in business and write those reasons down. Then, take time to learn the most common reasons why businesses fail. Finally, and this is so important, identify a support network of people you can turn to when you need help, because it will happen. Starting and sustaining a business is all about anticipating obstacles before they happen.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I’d like to be living in some kind of intentional community where people live lives of service. I imagine it being similar to a convent or a monastery but without the basis in religion. It would simply be a community where people share a belief that service to others, in whatever form it takes, is the highest calling.

PHOTO: Leo Kim