Julian Ilich
Partner | Coach | Facilitator
Julian is passionate about making the world a better place by helping build great teams and organisations around innovative market leading products or services. Following this passion he co-founded and was CEO of two startups for over 13 years.
Julian has a wide range of experience including leading and managing businesses, ‘Design Thinking’ and taking products to manufacture, marketing, sales, education and behaviour change program design and implementation - including via digital platforms. When working with business leaders Julian aims for change that sticks by helping them identify and permanently shift internal and external barriers
Background
I am an innovative leader, educator, and entrepreneur with a passion for developing people and organizations to create positive impact. With degrees in engineering, teaching, and city design & policy, I have also trained in coaching, behavior change, facilitation, and building design.
My career spans multiple industries, including education, behavior change, manufacturing, power generation, product and service design, marketing, sales, and clean technology. For 13 years between 2007 to 2023 I co-founded and led two startups as CEO, gaining expertise in vision setting, market testing, customer centric design and innovation, team leadership, branding and market strategy, online and retail sales, problem-solving, manufacturing and commercialisation.
My leadership journey has reinforced the importance of aligning purpose with action and maintaining holistic well-being. I draw on this experience to help businesses and individuals grow their leadership capabilities.
My Why
I am passionate about creating a world where people and nature flourish simultaneously. I love helping leaders grow in ways that not only enrich their own lives but also have a positive impact on their families, workplaces, communities, and the natural world.
How I Work
I am passionate about personal transformation, helping leaders overcome challenges to achieve greater freedom, fulfillment, and impact. My people-centric approach is rooted in deep listening and tailored to each individual’s journey and starting point.
I create a safe space for reflection and growth, guiding individuals and teams beyond their comfort zones while ensuring lasting change. Rather than just offering advice, I cultivate the conditions for lasting learning and development.
Drawing on my diverse business experience, research, and commitment to holistic well-being, I adapt my approach to what works best, empowering leaders with the mindset and tools for sustained success.
What I Do
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
I help leadership teams grow through individual coaching and tailored training programs. Starting with a deep discovery phase, I uncover core challenges and their root causes. From there, I work to equip leaders and the organisation with with the knowledge, strategies, and systems to solve current issues and prevent or effectively address them in the future.
PRODUCT & SERVICE DESIGN & COMMERCIALISATION
With extensive startup experience, I guide businesses in developing market-leading products and services through customer-centric design (Design Thinking). I also help instill a ‘fail-fast’ culture, enabling rapid iteration, refinement, and successful commercialisation, ensuring strong foundations for long-term success.
What I Love
I am passionate about helping people grow in ways that not only enrich their own lives but also empower them to create positive change in their families, communities, and the natural world. Seeing individuals step into their full potential and become a force for good is what drives my work.
Beyond my professional life, I find joy in exploring the beauty of oceans and forests, immersing myself in music and song, and delving into the stories of those who have left a lasting impact. I also express my creativity through writing and performing poetry on stages across Western Australia.