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# From Eastern Germany to the French Market: Inspiration, and Balance with Julia Gelau
- URL: https://dailyreporteronline.com/interview-with-julia-gelau/
- Published: 2026-10-14T16:20:47.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T20:01:21.000Z
- Description: “Take your time. And just do it.” In the concluding part of our interview, we dive into career expansion, finding energy when input feels overwhelming, and chasing the ambitious dream of having it all. A reflective look at leadership, lessons learned, and building a life you love.
- Author: Giga Uchuvatov

From international expansion and career milestones to the delicate balance of work and motherhood, this final chapter is an inspiring look into Julias journey. We sit down to talk about staying inspired, learning from the new generation, and what it truly means to build a life on your own terms. Here is our full interview with Julia Gelau.
  
  
**1\. First of all, please tell us about yourself, what you do, what your profession is, provide your full professional biography and how your journey in this field began.**

I started out at fashion school back in 2004, convinced I wanted to become a designer. Pretty quickly, I realised I was more interested in everything happening around a collection. The ideas, the communication, the people and the business behind it.

I moved into advertising, working with fashion and beauty brands across strategy, creative concepts and production. In 2012, I founded my own PR agency, later opening a showroom and concept store in Berlin, creating a platform for emerging designers.

That journey led me to FACES. Over the past twelve years, I’ve helped build the brand in Germany and Austria, where I’m now Managing Director, while also serving as Head of Global Luxury Clients.

Alongside FACES, I work with selected brands on strategy, communication and creative projects.

I’ve never been particularly interested in staying in one lane. I like understanding the whole picture, from the creative process to the commercial side. I believe that makes you better at what you do.  
  
  
**2\. What was the main idea, the first push, or the problem you wanted to solve?**

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/image8.jpg)

I wasn’t really trying to solve a problem. I just knew I wanted to work on my own terms.

By my mid-twenties, I was already in senior agency roles, but when I considered moving in-house, I was either too young for the positions I wanted or too experienced for anything below. So I decided to create my own.

I had a strong network and was already being approached by brands. That’s how my agency started. And when I realised young designers needed more than PR, I opened a showroom and later a store to connect them directly with customers.

I don’t spend too much time focusing on what’s not working. I’d rather figure out what could.  

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/6.jpg)

**3\. What keeps you motivated even when results are not visible?**  
  
I’m not particularly patient, but I don’t give up easily. Those are two different things.

I have the bigger picture in mind, but I need to feel things moving forward, even in small steps. And I’m not married to a particular plan. If I see a better direction, I’ll take it.

Building FACES internationally is a long game. Luckily, we get to hold a new issue in our hands along the way. That makes the progress feel very real.  

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/3.jpg)

**4\. Which challenges stand out most vividly in your memory, and what did you learn from them?**  
  
 German tax office. Obviously.

But jokes aside, COVID was a massive challenge for our industry and a real turning point for FACES. We used that time to rethink our positioning and relaunch the brand with a clearer focus on the premium and luxury market. It became one of our most important decisions and led to significant growth.

The lesson? Never get too comfortable. And honestly, working in media is pretty much one ongoing challenge. But that’s also what makes it interesting.  

**5\. How do you balance work and personal life? Hobbies, interests, or facts about you that the public may not know.**

I’ve never had a strict separation between work and life. Some of my closest friends are people I’ve worked with for years, and I’m lucky to genuinely enjoy what I do.

But I’ve also worked beyond my own limits. Becoming a mother recently has changed my perspective on that. My career is still a huge part of who I am, and I have no intention of being defined by just one role. I’m simply becoming more conscious of where I put my time.

And I’m a runner. I haven’t been able to run for a while, and I really miss it. Can’t wait to get back to it.  
  
![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/unnamed.jpg)

  
**6\. What advice would you give to those who are just starting out?**  
  
I’m not even sure people in their early twenties need that much advice from us. Sometimes I think they’ve already figured out things about work and life that took us much longer to understand.

If anything, I’d say two slightly contradictory things. Take your time. And just do it.

I was in such a hurry to move forward that I probably missed opportunities to learn along the way. Find people you can learn from, trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to try things.

And most importantly, listen. Really listen. It’s one of the most valuable skills in my work. And it goes both ways. I learn a lot from younger people, too.  

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/1-1.jpg)

**7\. What do you do when you need inspiration or energy?**  
  
Honestly, sometimes I need the exact opposite of more input. I spend so much time talking to people that I’m not always in the mood for another conversation. But meeting the right person, sometimes completely by chance, can be incredibly inspiring.

A change of scenery helps. It doesn’t have to be a big trip. Sometimes a weekend in the mountains is all it takes to clear my head and get ideas flowing again. Running does the same for me.

And of course, I find inspiration in brands, reading and social media. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.  

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/5.jpg)

**8\. What does success mean to you – personally and professionally?**  
I grew up on a farm in eastern Germany, so the life I have today was hardly a given.

I’m still very ambitious, and of course numbers, growth and recognition matter. But I also get surprisingly emotional about the smaller things. When a brand I’ve wanted to work with for years finally comes on board, when a great production comes together, or when someone wants to hang a FACES cover on their living room wall. Those moments genuinely make me proud. Sometimes even a little teary-eyed.

But personally, the biggest success is being happy with the life you’ve created. Having the freedom to make your own choices, working with people you love, doing something that still excites you every morning. And now having my own little family to share it all with. That’s a pretty big success to me.  

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/7-1.jpg)

![](https://dailyreporteronline.com/content/images/2026/10/4-1.jpg)

**9\. Are there any motivational phrases you often repeat?**

“One thing at a time.” I have to remind myself of that quite often, because my mind is usually working on ten things at once.

And then there’s my partner’s favourite: “We’ll figure it out.” He’s incredibly optimistic and relaxed, while I’m much better at imagining every possible worst-case scenario. His attitude has definitely rubbed off on me. At least a little.

**10\. What are your future plans regarding expanding your work or starting a new project?**

At FACES, we’ll continue pushing our international expansion. I’ll be taking on the French market more directly, which is an exciting next step for me.

On a personal level, there’s a new factor in the equation. My daughter is two months old, so I’m still figuring out what this new rhythm looks like. I guess I’m chasing that slightly ambitious dream of having it all. A career I love, a family I love, and the freedom to make both work. And I’d love for my daughter to grow up seeing what’s possible, knowing she can find her own way, too.

I’m very happy with where I am. But there’s still plenty I want to do.