Julie A. Halpin '84
Within the competitive world of advertising, Julie Halpin has managed to carve out a unique niche at a young age, in the process becoming a model of the creative, young CEO for the new millennium.
Upon graduation from Holy Cross, she joined Leo Burnett as an advertising account manager. While handling national candy accounts, she was immediately intrigued by the notion of trying to envision the world through a child's eyes. A year later, she moved on to Saatchi & Saatchi, rising quickly to Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Kid Connection Division. Never one for complacency and always looking for a challenge, Julie left the firm in 1997 to found her own company, Geppetto Group. Today, Geppetto is an industry leader, specializing in the children and young adult market.
A maverick and a visionary entrepreneur, Julie has built Geppetto into a powerhouse, widely regarded as the agency with the sharpest sense of popular culture. Working with high profile clients such as Coca Cola, Pillsbury, Kids Footlocker and Wild Planet Toys, Julie has developed cutting-edge marketing and advertising campaigns that have instantly become the envy of her industry. Previously recognized as one of the "25 Women to Watch" in Advertising, today she is considered "one of the most powerful voices" in her field.
As a class agent, a member of the Holy Cross Leadership Council of New York and the President's Council, Julie has brought her talents to bear on behalf of her College. Whether serving as a career planning counselor, or returning to campus to speak to students in the pre-business program, she has proved herself accessible and committed to mentoring the next generation of business leaders.
For her entrepreneurial vision, her spirit of innovation and creativity, her fortitude and her savvy, the College of the Holy Cross presents to Julie Halpin the Sanctae Crucis Award.