Julie Brown

Team Leader in Extreme Conditions in 8 Questions

Who is Julie?

Julie Brown, co-founder & managing director of Polar Circles, is the driving force behind the TV program 'The Expedition: Greenland'. Her keynote will focus on communication and leadership under extreme conditions. She is the widow of the late Dixie Dansercoer.

'Be sure to thank the invisible members of your team too'

Julie, who are you in three words?

"Loyal, positive, and curious. I live according to some wisdom from Buddhism. I start my morning with gratitude. Grateful for waking up, for our safety, and having food. Simple things. After the death of Dixie and my brother in the same year, now three years ago, I had to rearrange my energy. 'Wherever you go, there you are', a mindful phrase to live by and a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn that I highly recommend. Today, many people live under the idea that they are losing time, but that's not true. We think we are losing time. That's why we rush too quickly without reflecting on what exactly we are doing."

What does 'better together' mean to you?

"It's simply the truth. To fully flourish, you need a loyal team. For every goal I've ever achieved, there's a list of people to thank. In our sector, there are many invisible team members. My best tip: 'thank everyone in your team. Internally and externally. Financially, technically, supportively...' Sharing a victory - big or small - adds depth to the experience."

Can you already give us a glimpse of your keynote?

"I will talk about maintaining humanity in extreme situations and under heavy pressure. Not only during expeditions is there a lot of stress, every organisation is under pressure. A two-week Polar Experience is a reflection of life. After a strenuous effort, there must be time to recharge energy. You need to rest. As a leader, you must be able to boost that energy and when a goal is achieved, reduce the tension. This way, everyone can recover and then continue fresh."

What has been the biggest learning moment of your life/career?

"Too many to mention, and hopefully many more will come in the years ahead. Every day is a learning moment in some way. However, the strongest growth was forced upon me after the death of my brother and Dixie. My husband was truly my Better Together. Today, I am better than ever because of him. He lifted me up, we lifted each other up. We were both always very conscious to keep learning and discovering. He taught me to pass on that energy to other people."

My best decision?

"I am American. The best decision for me was coming to Belgium for love, starting a family, and a business here. The life I had with Dixie and continue to cherish."

My biggest mistake?

"Trying to do everything all at once when our four children were young, and as a result, losing sight of my overall health and well-being. But still: no regrets."

The best advice I received from someone?

"The truly world-shaking things will catch you by surprise. Don't waste your time worrying about them until they happen."

The most inspiring woman I know and why?

"Too many to list. There are so many extraordinary ordinary women who inspire me. Often, it's the quieter ones who just get things done. Additionally, Barbara Washburn, the first woman to climb Mount McKinley. A mother of three who trained for that achievement while pushing a buggy forward."

What’s next?

"The second season of 'Expedition Greenland' will be coming to GoPlay later this year. And in September, we're taking 20 entrepreneurs to Iceland, following in the footsteps of Dixie Dansercoer. My list of dreams and goals has been seriously shaken up in recent years. My deepest wish is to live a long life filled with love, tenderness, and a touch of spice."