March 7, 2025
International Women's Day: Julie Johnstone, PLA
Celebrating the power of women in shaping a sustainable future! This International Women's Day, we honor the engineers, scientists, and change makers driving innovation in environmental solutions. We wanted to take a moment to feature one of the incredible members of the Great Ecology team, Julie Johnstone, PLA, our Director of Design & Planning.
What inspired you to pursue a career in career in the environmental space?
I had a circuitous route to landscape architecture and urban planning. Though I studied psychology as an undergrad at UCSB, I ended up working as an interior designer by day and volunteering at a crisis line by night. Eventually I decided to move to Chile, where I taught English and hiked/camped throughout the country. While there, I explored and observed a lot about urban development, culture, landscape, and ecology; the books I was reading at the time deepened my desire to positively impact people and the environment through design. When I returned to the US, I applied to graduate school to pursue planning and landscape architecture degrees. The blend of art and science suits me, as I enjoy bringing thoughtful designs to life to support ecological balance and connect people to the diverse world around us.
How do you think women specifically can drive positive change in the sustainability and environmental sectors?
Women can confidently embrace their unique skillsets, whatever those may be, and continuously advocate for their ideas and their teams’ ideas on projects/initiatives. They can also proactively call out instances where outdated gender norms might dictate whether or if a fellow female colleague’s contributions are heard. Advancement within any sector hinges, at least partly, on equitable development opportunities.
Can you share a project or accomplishment you're particularly proud of in your career?
Two highlights come to mind: achieving licensure in California as a Landscape Architect. Beyond working a full-time time job and family demands, I passed 5 tests to become licensed and it was super hard work! I’m also proud of a K-12 campus I worked on earlier in my career. From early master planning through construction documentation/permitting, I worked closely with an interdisciplinary design team and with the school district to create meaningful, enriching campuses for students from preschool through high school.
What initiatives do you think are essential to encourage more women to join and thrive in STEM fields like environmental engineering?
I think mentorship is very important, beginning early in our careers and as we advance. Positive mentor/mentee relationships foster growth, empathy and idea exchange, wherein seasoned professionals can impart wisdom to help young women navigate tactical, intentional growth while balancing personal changes/goals. Likewise, earlier professionals can highlight new or emerging technology resources, for instance. This idea exchange and reciprocity helps younger women grow confidently and thrive and helps more advanced professionals stay abreast of industry trends.
