# Julie Mackenzie

> Julie Mackenzie is the Minneapolis-based founder and CEO of Mindsailing, an independent innovation and communications agency founded in 2009. Her career stretches from serving as COO of Mackenzie Marketing before its 2000 acquisition to building award-recognized campaigns and advising organizations through change. Away from agency work, she restored a family-connected Minnesota farm, raised Rambouillet sheep, worked with wool, and led the Shepherd's Harvest Festival through a period of organizational and audience growth.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Mindsailing
- **Organizations:** Mindsailing, Mackenzie Marketing, Shepherd's Harvest Festival, GreatWool
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** MIT Sloan School of Management
- **Known for:** Founded Mindsailing in 2009 and developed it as a woman-owned, Minneapolis-based innovation and communications agency with a global specialist network., Helped grow the Shepherd's Harvest Festival vendor and audience base by 30% while creating a durable volunteer structure., Led or contributed strategy to award-recognized digital, content, video and thought-leadership work from 2015 through 2023.

## Career timeline

- **2000** — Was chief operating officer of Mackenzie Marketing when Colle McVoy acquired the Minneapolis strategic-marketing firm.
- **2006-2011** — Served as executive director of Shepherd's Harvest Festival, growing its vendor and audience base by 30% and establishing a long-term volunteer structure.
- **2009** — Founded Mindsailing in Minneapolis as an independent communications and innovation agency.
- **2015** — Served as CEO and strategist on two Mindsailing projects recognized by the Web Marketing Association.
- **2019** — Completed executive education at MIT Sloan School of Management; the specific program is not publicly identified.
- **2023** — Mindsailing work for DiRx received Platinum and Gold recognition in the Hermes Creative Awards.
- **2024** — Published 'Connecting Ideas. Inspiring Change.' about communication as a lever for transformation.

## Achievements

- Founded Mindsailing in 2009 and developed it as a woman-owned, Minneapolis-based innovation and communications agency with a global specialist network.
- Helped grow the Shepherd's Harvest Festival vendor and audience base by 30% while creating a durable volunteer structure.
- Led or contributed strategy to award-recognized digital, content, video and thought-leadership work from 2015 through 2023.
- Restored a historic Minnesota farm property near land associated with her maternal ancestors and developed a Rambouillet wool operation.
- Built a public body of writing on B2B engagement, women in change-driven industries, sustainability, innovation and communications.

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Published 'Connecting Ideas. Inspiring Change.' on LinkedIn, describing communication as a lever for transformation.
- **2023** — Mindsailing work for DiRx received Platinum and Gold Hermes Creative Awards.

## Links

- Website: https://www.mindsailing.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemackenzie

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/julie-mackenzie
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27