Resilience and Leadership: The Inspiring Journey of CFO Julie Weber
Leadership with Grace and Grit
Julie Weber, 2021
Mother, daughter, and Batson Associates' CFO, Julie Weber, is a pillar of strength within the architect firm. She has navigated the challenges of balancing career, family, and a breast cancer diagnosis. Julie’s journey with Batson Associates spans over a decade, joining the team full-time in March of 2013.
Her leadership extends beyond her financial responsibilities, as she continually supports and uplifts her colleagues in various ways. Every morning Julie makes her rounds to check in on team members and for every person’s birthday, she makes sure they are properly celebrated with their favorite cake.
Reflecting on her role at Batson, Julie shares, “I know everyone really well, and we all work well together. I don’t know if ‘mom figure’ is the right term, but I try to help wherever I can to make the company better.”
After living in Charleston, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem Julie’s deep ties to her family have influenced many of her life decisions, including her return to Greenville. “Family is extremely important to me," she says. "When I moved back here, my grandparents were still around, and I wanted to be close. Now, as my parents are aging, I’m grateful to be nearby when they need help.”
Her family’s history has also shaped her vigilance about her health. Julie has a high frequency of breast cancer in her family, which led her to remain proactive about screenings. In 2015, during one of her annual mammograms, a suspicious spot was discovered.
“Unfortunately, they found a spot, and we went down that rabbit hole—biopsies, MRI, CT scans, surgery,” Julie recalls. “However, I feel fortunate it was caught early.”
Her battle wasn’t without its emotional toll. “When I got that call for a biopsy, my family had no idea. It was just my husband who went with me. That appointment, where you know they’re going to give you results—that’s rough,” Julie says.
Despite the difficulty, she remained determined to stay strong for her family and for herself. “It’s scary as all get out, but you just keep going,” she says, reflecting on her fear and the unknowns that come with a diagnosis.
The next few months were a whirlwind of appointments and treatments. "I didn’t have chemotherapy but I did undergo surgery and radiation,” she shares. “By Labor Day of that year, I was done with treatment.”
Julie credits early detection for the less invasive course of action. One key aspect of her journey was genetic testing, which brought some relief. “I found out I didn’t have any of the markers for high-risk breast cancer, so I didn’t need a mastectomy. That was a hard few weeks of waiting, not knowing how things would turn out,” Julie explains. While surgery and radiation followed, her outlook remained positive, with her oncologist recently declaring her released from treatment in May 2024.
Even during treatment, Julie was committed to maintaining normalcy, continuing her work and routine as much as possible. “I didn’t want anything to be different,” she recalls. “I tried to come back to work on Monday after my surgery—probably should’ve taken more time off, but I was just determined to be normal. As long as I could be normal, everything was normal.”
Julie’s tenacity and resilience are evident not only in her work at Batson Associates but also in her approach to life. As she looks back on her journey with breast cancer, she offers an important piece of advice:
“Screening is extremely important. The more people know about it and do it, the easier the treatment can be. Discovering it early can make a huge difference in how difficult the recovery is.”
Julie’s story is one of strength, determination, and an unwavering commitment to both her family and her work. Her journey, marked by challenges and triumphs, serves as an inspiring reminder of the importance of early detection, the power of community, and the courage to persevere through adversity.
Established in 1981, Batson Associates is an architecture and interior design firm focused on Institutional project types that deliver environments for healing, wellness, education, and aging. The Greenville, SC based firm works with clients throughout the Southeast. Stay connected with Batson Associates for more associate highlights, project updates, and industry insights by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. For more information about our work or to discuss how we can help with your next project, please contact us at Batson Associates. Let's build the future together.
