NOTES FROM A JOURNAL
The founder of Human Business Labs is Dr. Thomas Juli, but you can call him Juli, just like the month of July.
Since mountains are a metaphor for leadership, and Juli’s primary source of inspiration is nature, he couldn’t become anything but a passionate mountaineer.
Thomas Juli’s first jobs were delivering papers and washing dishes at a truck stop. Somebody had to do it, because he needed money to travel in the USA.
Juli's ability to concentrate has been instrumental in his professional success, despite the arduous nature of his most challenging project, which entailed discarding masks and eradicating old behavioral patterns.
The business owner of Human Business Labs has founded companies, led major projects, transformed organizations, and written books, but the greatest accomplishment remains his two kids that he’s the most proud of.
Thomas Juli is also the author of “The Spirit of Human Business” and a human business architect.
With a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University in St. Louis, USA (student of Nobel Laureate Douglass C. North), Juli is a regular speaker at conferences worldwide (including the NASA Project Management Challenge, Project Management Institute Global Congress, Equity Lounge at the World Economic Forum, Corporate Social Responsibility Forum, and unDavos Summit).
Dr. Thomas Juli's professional competence is at the zenith of the field, as evidenced by his role as a co-creator and coach for Agile projects and business transformation worldwide.
He has gathered more than 25 years of experience in various industries and companies, including Allianz, Daimler and Vodafone, but is also delighted to be a founder, a business leader, and a trustee of Motivate2B (a collective of leaders, teams, and entire organizations with the common goal of making businesses/companies more sustainable).
Thomas Juli joined Allianz in 2020 as an executive to help its transformation into an agile organization and, in other words, into a human business.
This season has helped him to switch his role from people-pleasing to becoming, creating, and being himself.
He listened to his heart and left Allianz in the summer of 2023 and founded Human Business Labs.
Being part of a family with three children, Thomas Juli was making his presence felt by treating novelty with curiousness and energy. His cheeks are being filled with joy when he remembers about the earliest childhood memory from kindergarten, his favorite book called “Never Ending Story,” or the family vacation in South Tyrol and Denmark.
Dr. Thomas Juli experienced persistent asthma during his childhood, and his prolonged absence from his family for treatment since the age of five fostered his resilience. He began to develop a sense of self-assurance, though he did not overtly express it to others. Despite the protective barrier provided by "the wall," he did not experience a sense of vulnerability.
The advice given by his beloved mother, “to never give up on yourself”, has helped him to pass through many setbacks, such as returning to Germany after finishing his Ph.D. in Miami, or even a difficult situation when he felt sorrow and disorientation after not being accepted to Georgetown University in 1994.
The founder of Human Business Labs often thinks that difficult decisions can be backed up by the heart. He is unable to forget his past host parents in the United States, who have had a significant impact on his life. They consistently demonstrated a willingness to listen to him, regardless of the intensity of his emotions.
The author of “The Spirit of Human Business” emphasizes the fact that there is time for sorrow, regenerating, breathing, stepping up, and continuing to move forward.
Moreover, if he were to select a role model with his eyes closed, his father would undoubtedly be the chosen individual. A unique storyteller and a social worker, his father was instrumental in educating young people during his era.
Thomas Juli's father, a mentor to young people in Denmark and Northern Italy, instilled in him a profound understanding of group dynamics and the cultivation of a winner's mindset.
Douglass C. North, the Nobel Laureate, served as the second role model for the business owner. He encouraged Thomas Juli to think and act creatively while also challenging and demanding a lot from him during his graduate studies in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
Initially, the founder of Human Business Labs harbored a profound fascination with international relations and global affairs, which led to the aspiration of attaining the position of state secretary.
Dr. Thomas Juli's objective is to motivate the younger generation to articulate their viewpoints while not allowing external expectations to subdue their voice. He encourages them to exercise creativity and to take audacious steps forward.
This phenomenon can be understood as a significant catalyst for the rediscovery of one's intrinsic human qualities in an era characterized by the prevalence of artificial intelligence.
The author mentions that it is imperative for individuals to cultivate a sense of self-confidence and to embrace their mistakes, much like a toddler learning to walk, without attributing blame to external factors. The author's approach is characterized by a willingness to face challenges head-on and to persevere in the face of adversity.
"In order to provide encouragement to those who aspire to become entrepreneurs, it is essential to understand one's personal motivations and aspirations. Moreover, it is crucial to possess a strong sense of self-confidence and a high degree of resilience."
“Meanwhile, I’m putting humans first and business second by inviting and creating spaces where leaders, seekers, and creators can express who they really are. The focus remains on developing and establishing Human Business Labs."
In 2016, Tango Argentino has become his teacher, revealing how leading and following intertwine, how blocks dissolve into flow, and how true connection is born.
This experience subsequently led to the conceptualization of "Leadership Tango."
Thomas Juli assists people in recognizing and cultivating this form of embodied leadership.
The most fundamental piece of advice he has ever received was, in fact, to insist on being nothing but himself, to value compassion in all relationships, and to make a difference in the world.
"I hope to see you as often as possible in this “voyage” that we are grateful to call life.”
Photo Credits: Oliver Hitchman
Text: Alina Trusca