What do you do when you’re dissatisfied with your current contract manufacturer? If you’re like Julie, you take charge and become your own.

In 2007, Julie founded PhytogenX, a skin care manufacturing company. The journey has not been easy. She started operations from her garage, then leased a 15,000 sq ft building in 2007 — just in time for The Great Recession. Regardless, Julie persevered.

By 2014, she expanded to a 110,000 sq ft facility, then added another 45,000 sq ft space by 2020. Her commitment to a strong team culture, through celebrating monthly awards and pop-up events, has fueled growth from 50 to 200 employees. Since 2017, she has achieved 250% growth and hit 43% of their 2023 revenue against a goal of 15%.

Julie’s Leadership Lessons:

• Cultivate a strong culture to build a great team.
• Quality is important for sustainability and growth.
• Build alignment and transparency with your team.