About

​Julia Bunyatov is a certified Executive Coach and former corporate executive. She partners with C-Suite executives, emerging leaders, and teams to deliver clarity when the stakes are highest, focus amid complexity, and measurable outcomes that move careers, teams, and organizations forward.

With more than 30 years of global leadership and board experience, Julia has led high-achieving teams in high-pressure environments and driven organizations through strategy, transformation, and risk. Her notable roles include COO of Global Equities Trading, COO of Global Equity Derivatives, and Americas Risk Officer at Bankers Trust, Lehman Brothers, and Barclays. Julia’s board service reinforces her commitment to leadership excellence and her role as a trusted partner in advancing organizations forward.

Through Sirmio Leadership, Julia integrates her executive experience with Columbia University’s evidence-based coaching methods, the principles of leadership and adult development, and her distinct neuroscience-informed approach. For the past decade — and while navigating several critical junctures in life — she has studied the brain–body system, behavioral neuroscience, and the science of emotions to master performance, resilience, and well-being. Her deep understanding of neuroscience, demonstrated in her publication Thriving in Uncertainty: Neuroscience Applications for Coaches and Leaders, combines seamlessly with her leadership experience and evidence-based coaching to foster growth for both individuals and teams.

The 2025 Columbia Coaching Conference blog featured Julia's article We Built the Machine. Now We Must Build the Mindset, which explores how neuroscience, emotion, and AI elevate leadership performance and resilience. 

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She currently serves on several boards aligned with her values and interests. Julia lives with her husband and two children on Long Island, New York, and is an avid Ashtanga yoga practitioner.