As the Vice President of Kappler Inc. and the fourth generation of the family legacy, Julia Kappler is a dynamic force at the intersection of design and innovation. Hailing from a background in Interior Design in Germany, she has seamlessly brought her passion for aesthetics to the United States.
Julia’s love for great designs transcends boundaries, whether in architecture, art, fashion, food, or interior spaces. Her insatiable curiosity and endless desire to explore new things serve as the wellspring of inspiration for her unique designs, earning her the moniker, ‘The Visionary.’
In her multifaceted role at Kappler Inc., Julia wears many hats—leading her team, developing innovative systems, exploring new markets, and nurturing client relationships. Her days are a dynamic mix, each offering a unique challenge and opportunity. Julia’s greatest joy lies in witnessing her team flourish and creating beautiful concepts that bring satisfaction to their clients. For her, the most rewarding moments come when clients express how Kappler Inc.’s work has positively impacted and changed their lives for the better.
Small-Town Roots and Global Leadership
Julia’s roots lie in a small town in the Black Forest, Germany, where she grew up with an older brother and a younger sister. Despite her quiet demeanor, she displayed dedication when pursuing her interests. During her youth, she explored numerous hobbies, striving to excel in the ones she loved, relentlessly pursuing medals and championships.
The influence of design was omnipresent in Julia’s life, thanks to her parents and the family business. Her love for design blossomed in high school, leading her to create her first piece of furniture at the age of 15. Upon high school graduation, she was clear about her passion for design, prompting her to pursue studies in Interior Architecture.
Pursuing Improvement on All Fronts
Outside of work, Julia finds inspiration in design, nature, and staying active, particularly outdoors. Exploring new things worldwide fuels her creativity, whether in fashion, architecture, or interior design. When not admiring cityscapes, she indulges in various outdoor activities like wakeboarding, kayaking, hiking, and swimming in summer, while embracing snowboarding in winter. Boxing, a passion for six years, serves as her stress-relief, emphasizing continuous improvement.
In the workplace, Julia is ambitious and driven, guided by the philosophy that constant improvement leads to greatness. She and her team actively seek ways to enhance both internal and external aspects. For Julia, the pursuit of improvement is relentless, even when things are already great. Her work is seamlessly integrated into her life, emphasizing the interconnected nature of the two. The focus isn’t on balancing work and life but managing the stress that comes with both, achieved through workouts and nature immersion.
Perspective on Growth
Over her 8 years in business, Julia has gained valuable insights, particularly about leadership. She emphasizes that leadership is not merely a title; it must be earned. True leaders, in her view, aren’t the loudest voices but those who inspire others to share their vision. They recognize potential in others and ignite that potential, demonstrating a passion for personal and collective growth.
For Julia, continuous development means refusing to settle for the current state of affairs. Learning from oneself and others is crucial for leadership improvement. Engaging with the team for feedback and seeking insights from other leaders’ experiences contribute to her growth.
One notable observation is the balance between power and empathy, a quality Julia believes many leaders lack. Recognizing that leadership involves people, she underscores the importance of maintaining equilibrium between the authority to make impactful decisions and empathy towards those being led.
Driven by Ambition
Julia attributes her success to unwavering inner willpower, coupled with ambition and a relentless drive for continuous improvement. The lessons instilled by her parents, particularly her Dad, emphasized the idea that with hard work, any goal is attainable. Resilience and the pursuit of ambitious dreams, regardless of size, were key teachings.
Setting goals that might appear impossible to others serves as a mechanism for pushing herself to unknown limits. Julia learned early on to disregard doubters and instead used skepticism as fuel for personal growth. This intrinsic drive empowers her to persevere even in challenging circumstances, defying the odds.
Team Building Philosophy
For Julia, while certain skills can be learned, the unteachable core values of a person hold paramount importance. When hiring new team members, she places a strong emphasis on ensuring their values align with the company’s. In close-knit teams, particularly those with fewer than 50 members, shared values become crucial for everyone to unite under a common vision.
Respect, honesty, and care stand as the foundational values that Julia considers indispensable. These values create the framework for effective communication, both within the team and with clients. The trio of respect, honesty, and care forms the bedrock of the company’s culture, reflecting in the way team members approach their work, interactions, and overall commitment to delivering the best service or product.
Leadership Reflections and Advice
Julia offers valuable advice to individuals stepping into a leadership role for the first time: Reflect on why you desire the position. Consider your motivation for leading a team and identify your purpose in the role. If your answers transcend motives like money or power and emphasize a commitment to the people you lead, you are likely on the right path. Leadership, Julia asserts, is fundamentally about the well-being and development of the team, not personal gains. She also highlights the challenge of balancing empathy and power in a leadership position. While having the authority to make decisions, leaders are equally responsible for the welfare of their team. Striking the right balance between the two aspects is a nuanced task that requires time and learning from mistakes.
Julia imparts advice, especially to young women, urging them not to be disheartened in the face of challenges. If given the opportunity to lead or undertake significant endeavors, it’s essential to recognize that the opportunity is bestowed for a reason, and they are fully capable of succeeding. Julia emphasizes that challenges are likely, but that should not deter individuals. Instead, remembering the initial motivations and maintaining self-belief are crucial. The key is to believe in oneself, persevere through hard work, and ultimately triumph. According to Julia, the only way to lose is to stop trying, so persistence is key until success is achieved.
From Risk-Taking to Leading Change
The greatest risk Julia undertook was at the beginning of her career when, at 19, she decided to move to the US alone to establish her company. Venturing into an unfamiliar city, without knowing anyone, and having no prior experience with corporate America, posed significant challenges. Being young, female, and a foreigner in her industry compounded the difficulties, as she often found herself the youngest and only female in rooms.
This experience demanded rapid learning, with no room for mistakes, as any misstep would reinforce preconceptions about her age. To overcome these hurdles, Julia dedicated all her time and effort to mastering the business and evolving into a confident and resilient businesswoman.
Looking ahead five years, Julia envisions leading an even larger team, engaged in creating more impactful projects and contributing to positive change within the industry. She sees the potential for her team to bring about transformative shifts in the field.
