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Meet Trailblazer Julie Dikken

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Dikken.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Not long after my son was born, my husband and I decided that it was best for our family that I become a stay-at-home parent. Really, all that meant was that I no longer went to an office every day. Throughout my children’s youth, I kept busy volunteering for PTAs and different organizations, running several direct marketing businesses and owning a fitness franchise. Entrepreneurship was always there — always in my blood. When I learned about Macaroni Kid, I had a hunch it would be a successful venture, but as the business grew, I also realized that every career or volunteer position I had ever held taught me what I needed to know to be successful.

Side notes:
I have been a publisher-editor of Macaroni Kid for going on seven years, growing my original Evergreen.Macaronikid.com site from start to currently over 3300 weekly email subscribers. I added the Arvada editor in October 2018 and have grown that site by over 500 new subscribers. In the years that I have been publishing, I have earned several awards from my chamber such as the business of the year, but my most proud moment was being named Macaroni Kid’s 2019 Publisher of the Year.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but this business is a natural fit for me, so the struggles have been minimal. I am 100% passionate about helping families in our community enrich their lives and help foster family togetherness. I am equally as passionate about providing a successful online outlet for businesses to reach families in a creative way. It is a win-win. It is because of those passions and my commitment to the communities I serve that I have found success in what I do.

As with anything, there are always struggles along the way, but being totally in love with your career makes the job more exciting and less work.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Macaroni Kid Evergreen, Bailey, Conifer & Macaroni Kid Arvada, Golden, Wheat Ridge – what should we know?
When I find something I love, whether it be a new product, a place to play, a fabulous recipe, an upcoming event… really anything… I want to share it with other people. I want others to find joy in life too. My career with Macaroni Kid is doing just that on a day to day basis. The difference now is that I have a larger audience that is interested and listening.

What sets me apart is that my passion is to share. My ultimate goal is to support parents by giving them access to all ways to enjoy family time with their kids, whether it be events, activities, extracurriculars, classes, care, etc – without having to work to find it.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I am very fortunate because Macaroni Kid is a company built of over 500 women who run sites in their local communities just like mine. I am able to connect with these women through Macaroni Kid to learn and grow, and I am also able to share my knowledge with them.

Locally, I have found my local chamber of commerce, both Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce and Evergreen Chamber of Commerce to be a great resource for networking and growing my skills as a business owner. Investing in my business this way has been invaluable.

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