“Right Relationship in Leadership: Courage, Curiosity, & the Four-Legged Stool” with Julie Barker-Merz
- chri116
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
Summary:
This week on The UpLevel Podcast, we welcome the extraordinary Julie Barker-Merz—Regional President of BMO Bank of Montreal for Greater Toronto. A visionary leader with a bold heart, Julie is known for breaking new ground in corporate leadership and uplifting women across business, sport, and community. Julie shares deeply personal insights on how to lead with heart while holding big responsibility. From her signature “four-legged stool” principle of balance to her unwavering belief that difference is power, Julie brings inspiration, wisdom, and courage to the conversation.
In This Episode:
What it really means to be in right relationship with yourself—in your leadership, your health, your home, and your heart.
The power of leading from authenticity, clarity, and shared values—and how that shifts culture from the inside out.
Small “c” vs. Big “C” coaching—and why that distinction matters for creating real transformation in people and teams.
How choosing curiosity over control opens doors to growth, connection, and possibility.
Why difference is power—and how Julie leans into discomfort with openness, not resistance.
The role of failure, feedback, and fortitude in shaping resilient, conscious leadership.
Julie’s guiding principle of the “four-legged stool”—and how she uses it to stay grounded across every area of life.
From marathon training to scrapbooking retreats—how she protects her energy and recharges with intention.
Integration over isolation—why weaving together fitness, friendship, and family creates more sustainable success.
Curiosity in conflict—how asking instead of assuming can turn tension into trust.
The power of finding your people—and why women thrive in communities built on support, not competition.
Order of Topics:
The Concept of Right Relationship
The Role of Coaching in Leadership Development
Curiosity and Diversity as Growth Catalysts
Navigating Tension with Curiosity and Balance
Sustaining Balance and Wellness
Integration and Right Relationship in Personal Life
Community and Advisory Boards for Personal
Action Items:
Cultivate Right Relationships:
Focus on building connections that promote authenticity, ease, mutual respect, and support.
Engage in environments where you can challenge each other constructively to bring out the best qualities.
Embrace Coaching Dynamics:
Differentiate between big C coaching (deep transformational work) and small C coaching (practical performance enhancement).
Foster curiosity during high-stress situations to explore rather than advise immediately.
Combat Confirmation Bias:
Actively seek differing perspectives to challenge your own thinking and expand your worldview.
Encourage diversity of thought within teams for enriched decision-making processes.
Balance Through a Four-Legged Stool Approach:
Integrate aspects of work, family, friends, and physical health into daily life for grounding during stressful times.
Combine these areas when possible (e.g., involving family in physical activities).
Build Community Networks:
Create or join non-competitive, supportive networks like personal advisory boards for accountability and growth.
Recognize the importance of community, especially among women professionals, for maintaining right relationships.
Adaptation in Male-Dominated Environments:
Find ways to naturally adapt while staying true to oneself; engage in activities that fit cultural norms without compromising integrity.
Use increased confidence over time to advocate against inappropriate behavior and foster an inclusive culture.
Mentorship as a Responsibility:
Take responsibility as a leader to mentor upcoming generations by sharing experiences and guiding them through potential pitfalls.
Leverage Feminine Leadership Qualities:
Prioritize people over profit by fostering environments where ideas are nurtured.
Incorporate strategic thinking and visioning regularly into leadership practices.
Long-term Vision:
Continue engaging with diverse peers who stimulate growth alongside supportive tribes that provide stability.
Maintain ambition towards lifelong learning, mentorship roles, and community enrichment efforts while ensuring personal fulfillment throughout career longevity.
About Julie:
Julie Barker-Merz is the Regional President, BMO Bank of Montreal, for Greater Toronto, where she leads a team of personal banking professionals across 9 markets and 170 branches. She is a board member of Tree Canada, past-Chair of the Accelerator Centre in Waterloo, and the former Director and Treasurer of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She is a long-standing and strong supporter of women in business, sport, and the community and a 2015 recipient of The International Alliance of Women’s (TIAW) Top 100 World of Difference awards, as well as one of Canada’s Top 50 to watch in Wealth Management in 2016 during her time as President of BMO InvestorLine. And in 2018, she was awarded Ontario’s Leading Women, Building Communities Award of Excellence, and in 2023, the WXN DEI Award for her role on Corporate Boards.
Throughout her 25+ year career with BMO Financial Group, Julie has earned the reputation of being a leader who executes with pace, courage, and excellence, inspiring multi-disciplinary teams to come together towards a common vision. Julie received her undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa, her Fellow from the Institute of Canadian Bankers, and her MBA from Dalhousie University.
🎉 The UpLevel Podcast was listed as one of the Top 10 Best Coaching Culture Podcasts!!! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/coaching_culture_podcasts/
About UpLevel Productions: Founded by Christie Mann, MA, CPCC, PCC, and Rachel Baldi, CPCC, PCC, UpLevel creates, produces, and delivers Transformative Experiences, Workshops, Training, Events + Media that develop leaders who make our world a healthier, more alive, and connected place to be. As Associate CTI Faculty Partners, UpLevel is licensed to sell, produce, and deliver Co-Active coach training and leadership development programs around the world to support the transformational growth of individuals and culture inside the workplace and organization. www.uplevelproductions.com Instagram @uplevelproductions Facebook & LinkedIn @uplevelproductionscompany
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