Julie Waton, CEO of Ultimate Tech.
Julie has exceptional leadership skills and is deeply committed to women in technology. It’s a male-dominated field.
I didn’t hold myself back. I just went for it. Through the process, I realized that the rules of the game aren’t always the same. But I think that when you consistently deliver results, at some point, you gain credibility. This can encourage other women in tech to persevere, beyond just myself.
I realized I could become a role model. So I started the Canadian chapter for Women in Tech to create a much greater impact and try to mobilize as many women as possible. The company was founded in 1989. We develop software for the printing industry to automate production. We really help printers become more productive and achieve greater profitability.
My father decided in 2008, and my mother decided to continue the business. I took over in 2017.
She not only took over the business, but she also grew it by modernizing the software that her father had developed. Most of these sales are now abroad, primarily in Germany and then Japan.
We’re in 50 countries or more. We’re having a huge impact on our market right now. We’re helping to modernize the industry.
She has a vision to advance this technology with robotics and artificial intelligence. It’s a successful transfer, both financially and in terms of human resources. She was managing her mother’s pension fund, so she felt a responsibility to make it work.
That responsibility isn’t just about achieving a certain financial result, but also about honoring the work my parents did their whole lives.
There were several steps, but she’s succeeded today. Her mother is enjoying a wonderful retirement.
We were all immediately drawn to the entrepreneur in her. We were quite impressed by her drive and perseverance. Julie energized me.
And she won an award. It shows that what you’ve accomplished deserves to be shared to inspire others.
It allows us to take a moment, look back on our journey, and say to ourselves, “Yes, we’ve achieved some good things,” and it helps us dream even bigger for the future. If my father could see me today, it would be undeniable. He would be very, very proud to see what I’ve been able to do with the company. Yes.