Julia Zeltser

Julia leads Hyperakt’s client relationships with empathy and focus, making sure partners feel cared for and challenged in ways that move their missions forward. As Operations & Growth Director, she also guides the studio’s business plan, balancing financial oversight with business development to keep the team strong and the work meaningful.

Since co-founding Hyperakt in 2001, her career has stretched across design, illustration, and creative direction, giving her a perspective that blends creativity with operational clarity. She has partnered with organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts, DonorsChoose, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, building relationships rooted in trust, transparency, and a shared drive for change.

Julia is known for her candor, her charisma, and her shoulder-to-shoulder leadership style, which inspires confidence in colleagues and clients alike. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, Brand New, and How Magazine.

A native of Ukraine, Julia came to the U.S. as a refugee in her teens. This experience continues to shape her mission of using design and strategy to create opportunities for all. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and children, and is just as proud of her lemon-cheese pancakes as she is of her client partnerships.