Meet Julia: Building Websites, Community & Queer Joy with Wheelhorse Web
Answers provided by: Julia Wilk (she/her), Founder of Wheelhorse WebIntroducing Julia Wilk (she/her) behind the incredible queer-owned organization, Wheelhorse Web! It was so fun to put this blog together, I hope you enjoy.
Julia Wilk, Founder - featured in the middle
1. Tell us about your journey. how did your queer-owned business come to life?
Julia started Wheelhorse Web out of a desire to do work that felt connected to her community. Working remotely at the time, she looked around locally to see what people needed and took stock of her own skills. Website creation and support quickly emerged as the perfect fit, especially because Julia loves getting to know small business owners and being part of their journey. What started as a simple idea has grown into a business that helps others grow, too!
2. What mission or values guide your work and how does being queer-owned shape that vision?
Community is at the heart of everything Julia does. Living in a rural area (Barre, Vermont), she values building connections that go beyond geography, and her online business allows her to create those connections everywhere. Being queer adds another layer to that mission, sometimes overlapping with rural life, sometimes not. She has strong commitment to relationships, mutual support, and contributing positively to others’ lives.
3. What challenges have you faced as a queer entrepreneur, and how have you overcome them?
Being queer isn’t usually a direct challenge in Julia’s work life, but it does mean staying a little extra vigilant in certain situations. When starting a new business relationship, she sometimes has to read the room and figure out whether someone might have issues with queerness. Julia prioritizes clients, team members, and partners who are accepting and supportive, making sure she invests energy in relationships that align with her values.
4. How do you foster inclusivity and community through your business?
Wheelhorse Working Session
At Wheelhorse Web, inclusivity and empowerment are baked into the services. Julia offers WordPress and marketing training so clients feel confident managing their sites, understands what was completed, and can keep moving forward independently. She also participates in networking and peer-support groups and sponsors queer-friendly local events, like the Queer Arts Fest and Green Mountain Roller Derby bouts. Tech can be intimidating but Julia believes doing things together makes it empowering, not scary!
5. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other queer folks looking to start their own venture?
Julia keeps it real: it’s hard, but so worth it. The biggest tip? Surround yourself with people you actually enjoy working with. Being your own boss comes with challenges, but having supportive, fun, aligned collaborators makes all the difference in loving what you do.
6. What’s a song that feels like the soundtrack to your business journey?
What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes. Running a business means keeping track of a lot of moving parts and the opportunity to scream “WHAT’S GOING ON?” comes up on a regular basis.
