Meet Julie Vermoote

Julie is a trained clinical psychologist and Principal based in London, where she advises investors and C-suite executives. She combines her background in leadership consulting and behavioural sciences to guide clients in hiring and developing exceptional leaders. Her deep understanding of psychological markers of potential and performance allows her to identify and coach top talent.

From therapy rooms to boardrooms  

I was born and raised in Belgium. My mother, president of a software business, wanted me in business school. My father, a dentist, lobbied for med school. I chose neither and trained as a clinical psychologist instead, starting my career in psychiatric hospitals.

I split my time across two roles that shaped how I work with clients today at ghSMART. First, I was part of the diagnostics cell, running neurocognitive testing, IQ assessments, personality evaluations, and clinical diagnoses. Second, I worked in the therapeutic faculty with patients dealing with addiction, depression, and personality disorders. The assessment and coaching that I do now originally took root in that clinical setting. The cross-fertilization between diagnostics and therapy shaped me – and it parallels how our assessment and coaching practices impact clients today.

My mother's influence hadn't left me entirely. I became curious about organizational psychology. Unencumbered by a mortgage or young family, I looked across the English Channel and pursued a degree at Birkbeck College in London, which opened the door to leadership consulting.

Before fully committing to making the shift, I wanted real office experience – I'd only worked in in-patient facilities and psychiatric institutes. I ended up working on thought leadership and marketing campaigns for big corporates in London's financial district. This was eye-opening: I'd never set foot in an open plan office with phones ringing constantly, people ticking away at keyboards. I heard "line manager" for the first time, discovered the "pre-meeting," and went from administering psychometric tests to wrestling CRM systems and email platforms. I discovered something fascinating: the characters in therapy rooms were as complex and compelling as those in boardrooms.

I'd learned a lot, but wanted to leverage my psychology background more directly in business. That's how I landed in leadership advisory at YSC, a boutique firm where I worked with exceptional clients and colleagues on solutions similar to what we offer at ghSMART executive assessments, leadership programs, top team work; I was heavily involved in our research around leadership resilience and spotting up-and-coming leaders who could become the CEOs of tomorrow.  

Joining ghSMART: Diversifying an already distinctive team  

What's always mattered to me is finding the right answer first. The work we do is high stakes and complex, with many people involved. Getting to the right answer – in the best possible way – is critical, and ghSMART encourages that.

I was also drawn to the firm because we work with decision-makers directly: owners, board members, executives who actually have to make the business work and grow. That access means our impact is significant.

When I spoke with ghSMART's recruitment team, I learned they were actively seeking psychologists to diversify the firm's skill set – building a team where colleagues bring different expertise to the table. I saw immediately that my teammates could learn from me, and I from them. That's where things get interesting. Working with colleagues who have distinct skillsets means we can offer more nuanced solutions to clients. We get to the right answer through a unique route, which makes for a far more compelling and complementary approach to problem-solving.

Freedom to Choose: Where strategy meets psychology  

I work extensively with private equity investors and their portfolio executives. Their world has grown more turbulent and uncertain given current market conditions; which means ours has too.

I lean on my assessment experience, but equally on my ability to spot the psychological markers that predict future performance. We're seeing a clear trend: given the current ambiguity, track record alone no longer guarantees future success. That's where psychology becomes essential.

Our clients want more than a hiring recommendation. They want to know: Will this person be a good partner to us? Can we work with them effectively? Can they stretch as the business scales? And the million-dollar question; how coachable are their risks?

I also have a particular interest in working with founders. They differ in their psychological DNA from corporate-trained CEOs, which makes them fascinating to partner with as they navigate their own opportunities and challenges with a growing business.  

I've found real joy in being part of our internal 'Founder Thought Squad.' What started with me and a colleague working with a handful of founders has grown into a small group designing new solutions together to deliver better client work, ultimately resulting in a series of published articles in Harvard Business Review; a signal that the work resonates within and beyond our client base.

Freedom and Flexibility to Craft Your Career

I gravitate toward work with psychological complexity; it energizes me. I'm drawn to top team or CEO/founder succession projects where I'm thinking about multiple individuals who form a live ecosystem: how people act and react to one another, what drives one vs. the other, how they lead and complement each other.  

I also get real energy from coaching. At ghSMART, we're in a privileged position; we work with executives who often have no neutral space to discuss what worries them. They have to project competence and confidence to shareholders and colleagues, but behind that, they're grappling with real challenges. That's where the trusted advisor role comes in. That's almost instant impact, and it's why I do this work.

The Power of You: Set Up for Career Success

Our currency is found in our people – the consultants doing the work. Who I work with matters enormously – to me and to our clients. Matching the right people to the right problems is how we deliver value. Our clients benefit because our team members have distinct skill sets, which means they get thoughtful, layered answers to complex questions.

What's helped me most is working with colleagues who've had rich careers and are exceptionally talented. They've mentored me generously. I have far more skills now than when I started, and that's directly because colleagues took the time to help me improve. I'm grateful for the people who invested in me here.  

Julie’s full bio can be found here. ‍