Julie Myers Wood is CEO of Guidepost Solutions and a finalist in WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards in the Private Company CEO of the Year (annual revenue less than $100 million) category. The event takes place live June 2.
But Wood didn’t get to her current role by staying safe. In the last two years, she’s led Guidepost Solutions as the company expanded its global presence, added a new compliance consultancy, shifted to meet increased client needs, and integrated emerging technology.
In this spotlight, she discusses recent key achievements, her focus areas going forward, and how “eat the sushi” came to serve as a personal mantra she also uses to mentor others.
What key achievements did you have in 2025/2026?
In the last two years, I’ve focused on strategically growing and evolving Guidepost Solutions to meet increasingly complex client demands across investigations, compliance, monitoring and security. As part of that effort, we expanded our Latin American presence, strengthened our capabilities in emerging risk areas, and completed the acquisition of a woman-owned compliance consultancy to further enhance our expertise and global reach.
We also took on several significant engagements that really highlight both the strength of our team and how our clients’ needs are evolving. For example, we supported the Republic of the Marshall Islands in developing and implementing supervisory and compliance frameworks for USDM1, the world’s first digitally-native sovereign bond. At the same time, we’ve been helping organizations navigate everything from geopolitical instability and cartel-related unrest to emerging regulatory and security challenges.
We’re also increasingly focused on future-proofing critical infrastructure and data centers to meet growing physical and cybersecurity threats. Along the way, we’re continuing to build capabilities to address emerging technology risks with AI-powered investigations, deep-fake detection and AI governance strategies.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Looking ahead, I’m focused on making sure Guidepost Solutions has the right people and the right tools to keep up with an increasingly complex and fast-moving risk environment. That starts with continuing to bring in exceptional talent who have the judgment to tackle our clients’ most challenging issues.
From there, we’re being very intentional about how we integrate AI and agentic-AI into our investigative and compliance work and workflows. We’re expanding AI-driven investigations, deepfake detection and forensics, and advanced analytics while maintaining human oversight and ethical guardrails that are so critical to what we do.
Ultimately, these priorities are central to our mission, especially as our clients face growing uncertainty and complexity. By combining advanced technology with deep human expertise, we’re able to provide trusted insights and clarity organizations need to move forward with confidence.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
“Eat the sushi.” Growing up in the landlocked state of Kansas, my family was suspicious of raw fish, especially sushi. Fish sticks were an exotic addition to our meals. When I had the opportunity to visit Japan after law school, I was scared to try sushi even at some of the amazing restaurants in Shinjuku. I stubbornly stayed within my comfort zone, choosing Burger King on a military base one night rather than sampling new local fare.
A few years later, when I moved to New York, I finally tried sushi. I loved it. I spent the next couple of years sampling all the fun sushi spots in Manhattan and Brooklyn. My friends couldn’t believe I was the girl who had Burger King in Japan! The whole experience made me realize how much I had missed by not being more open in those earlier moments. It stayed with me because it was such a simple but clear example of how often we limit ourselves by avoiding the unfamiliar.
When I talk to young professionals, I always encourage them to take a chance and “eat the sushi!” In my experience, those moments often lead to the most meaningful growth. Being willing to “eat the sushi” is ultimately about recognizing opportunity in the unfamiliar and having the confidence to pursue it.
