For 25 years, Julie Cortes has been blazing a trail in the freelance world, proving that success doesn’t always follow a traditional path. As the founder of Freelance Rockstar, her own business as a freelance copywriter, and the non-profit Freelance Exchange of Kansas City, she has dedicated her career to empowering self-employed professionals in the advertising and marketing industries. But her journey hasn’t been without its challenges.

“I started out on the corporate side, moved to the agency side, and then, like many people in this industry, I lost my job unexpectedly,” Julie recalls. “I was trying to find the perfect fit and was not finding the right opportunity. I knew I was talented, so I decided to do my own thing.”

With no roadmap or resources to guide her, she launched her business in 1998, diving headfirst into the world of freelancing. “I was very young, I had no idea what I was doing, and back then, there were no resources to help guide me.” In addition to navigating the challenges of self-employment, she faced gender biases in an industry dominated by men. “Most of the creative directors who were in hiring positions were middle-aged white guys. They subconsciously looked at a young female and thought, ‘Why should we train you when all you’re gonna do is run off, get married, and have babies?’”

Despite these obstacles, Julie carved her own path. After freelancing successfully for about five years, she noticed a gap in education, community, and respect for the self-employed. “I looked around and saw there were no books, courses, or business coaches on how to be a freelancer. So, I thought, why don’t we do something about this?”

Her commitment to uplifting others led her to serve on the board of the Advertising Club of Kansas City, where she became president of a smaller group for young professionals. This experience laid the foundation for what would become Freelance Exchange of Kansas City, which she co-founded in 2003. “We wanted to fulfill that void. We wanted to offer that continuing education, mentorship, and give people community.”

Julie’s expertise and passion quickly garnered attention, leading to speaking engagements, news interviews, and opportunities to educate others. “I had to learn things really quickly because all of these opportunities started showing up. From speaking at classes to being interviewed for the paper—I said yes and figured it out later.” Her dedication to educating freelancers culminated in creating her own business course, which was picked up by the Kansas City Art Institute, where she taught for several years as an adjunct professor.

Through her work, Julie has helped countless freelancers gain confidence, business acumen, and a support network. “I’m doing all of the things—writing, speaking, teaching, and coaching when it comes to freelancing. Because there was that void, I’ve made it my life’s mission to rectify that.”

Though her career took an unexpected turn, she embraces her journey. “I knew I wanted to be a copywriter, and I still am, but I was hoping I’d be some hot-shot creative director working at a fancy ad agency in Chicago doing Super Bowl commercials. That was the dream. It didn’t work out for whatever reason, and I stayed here in Kansas City and just went with the flow. This may not have been my dream, but it turned out better than my dream.”

Of course, the road wasn’t always smooth. Julie recalls a particularly frustrating experience 10 years into her freelancing career when she was working with a company and finally had the chance to meet the boss. “He takes one look at me and says, ‘Wow, you look like you’re right out of school. Do you even know what you’re doing?’” Though she was upset, she swallowed her frustration because she needed the work. “I knew if I were a man, that would not have happened to me. It’s made me more bold and empowered in helping other women stand up for their rights with equal fair treatment.”

Julie hopes that her story can inspire other women to advocate for themselves in their careers. “I hope that I can be a beacon of light and show women that they have the right to stand up for themselves and not dim their light. I hope other women use me as an example to not put up with this kind of stuff when it comes to their work.”

As she continues to champion freelancers, Julie is expanding her impact with new ventures—including her recently launched Freelance Rockstar merch line, featuring shirts, hoodies, and mugs. A true pioneer in the world of freelancing, Julie Cortes isn’t just surviving—she’s thriving, and she’s making sure others do too.

Check out Julie’s website here: https://www.juliecortes.com