Julie Ziff

JA USA

Laureate 2026

Julie’s 15-year career began in 1968 when she was hired as Program Director in Ft. Wayne Indiana. In the early 1970s she was promoted to Research and Development Director at JA’s National Headquarters in Stamford, CT. Julie was the first female executive at the National office. Due to her intelligence, quick wit, and personality, she became an integral member of the leadership team and a great role model for women who would later follow her.

Her primary assignment at JA National was to develop programs/curriculums that would advance JA into schools and reshape Junior Achievement’s approach and impact for decades to follow. The three highly effective programs Julie initially authored were Project Business (precursor to JA Middle Grades programs), Business Basics (precursor to JA Our Nation), and Applied Management (precursor JA Economics). All three set educational standards which were expected by school districts around the country. New JA curriculums were later developed and implemented modeled by her program designs. In addition, Julie was tasked with the redevelopment of the original JA Company Program. This redevelopment resulted in the creation of the successful JA Company semester program.

One of Julie’s more significant contributions was the chief developer of a pre-post measurement instrument that allowed JA to measure the educational learnings from students who participated in JA programs vs those who did not participate This was a great tool for JA Areas. Julie also played a significant role in landing JA’s first million-dollar grant. In 1980, Julie joined the JA New York City staff as Executive Vice President. In this position, she played a critical role in working with Don Floyd to turn the NYC operations around. She retired from JA in 1983 to begin a family and later start her own business.

The JA of today most likely would not have reached its programming levels and impact without Julie’s leadership, as well as her mentorship, which played a critical role in empowering countless women leaders at JA.