Meet the Team

Julie Polumbo is the Managing Director at She Should Run, where she leads organizational operations and co-leads the Local Leader Lab, supporting the design and delivery of leadership training for women exploring and pursuing public leadership.

Julie brings extensive experience building programs that strengthen democratic systems, civil society, and community resilience in complex environments. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine, she trained community members in leadership within a transitioning democracy shaped by the legacy of Soviet-era institutions. She later worked with USAID in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on early grade reading programs, supporting education initiatives amid political instability and limited public infrastructure.

As part of her master’s work at American University, Julie examined alternative models of civil society development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo operating within an authoritarian political environment characterized by repression and a shrinking civic space. She has also led disaster preparedness and response trainings with the American Red Cross for military members and spouses stationed in Germany.

Julie’s commitment to this work is rooted in her long-standing dedication to advancing women’s political leadership. She has worked on political campaigns supporting women candidates and is driven by a belief that strengthening democracy requires increasing women’s representation and leadership within it.