Spotlight: Julia Kanter

From Ukraine to KC to Chicago… and Back Again

We love celebrating people who bring global experiences—and fresh energy—back to Kansas City. Julia Kanter is doing just that, helping build the next generation of digital experiences at Zillow while wildly impacting and reconnecting with the city she once called home.

Julia’s journey started across the world in Ukraine, but she spent most of her childhood growing up right here in Kansas City. After college, she launched a fast-paced career in marketing and quickly transitioned into building mobile experiences for global brands like American Express and JPMorgan Chase—right at the dawn of the smartphone era. Over the next decade, Julia sharpened her focus on digital product development, leading innovations in industries from travel to real estate.

After years in Chicago building a vibrant life with her husband, two kids, and a dog, Julia found herself facing a familiar big-city dilemma we hear all too often: not enough space, and too far from the family village that makes all the difference. The decision was clear—and Kansas City called her back home.

Leading AI Innovation from the Heart of the Midwest

Today, Julia leads the Consumer-Facing AI & Experiences Product Team at Zillow Group, working at the cutting edge of technology to radically simplify the way people find and secure homes.

“We’re focused on building 0→1, novel experiences for buyers and renters,” Julia shares. “It’s an incredibly dynamic and unprecedented time to be in tech, and our teams are leveraging state-of-the-art technology to create meaningful experiences.”

With over 200 million monthly visitors on Zillow’s platforms, the reach of Julia’s work is national—but Kansas City remains close to her heart. Though she works remotely through Zillow’s “Cloud HQ” model, Julia is part of a growing KC-based employee community. Did you know there are close to 100 Zillow employees here in KC? Julia excitedly shared the various ways they’re building strong connections here together.

Investing in Community from Day One

For Julia, feeling plugged into KC’s tech and business community wasn’t optional—it was essential. Shortly after returning, she set out to meet as many people as possible, quickly realizing the incredible energy and talent spread across the city.

That drive led her to collaborate with KCRise Fund to create the very first New2KC happy hour event in the Spring of 2024, a gathering that has since evolved into a thriving community movement. She’s remained deeply involved ever since, participating in Back2KC events, local tech conferences, and other initiatives vastly supporting KC’s growth.

Her philosophy? Show up, give back, and keep the momentum going. We are forever grateful to have Julia’s vision inspiring us to stand this organization up.

Advice for Newcomers: Explore, Connect, and Jump In

Thinking about making Kansas City your home? Julia has simple but powerful advice:

“Come visit. Explore different neighborhoods. Try the food. See the energy for yourself. Once you’re here, make an effort to leave your comfort zone and connect with people in person. Kansas City is full of people who are hungry for genuine community—and you can be part of building it.”

And if we might add, if you’ve been here for a while and still haven’t quite ‘met your people’ yet – don’t be discouraged. Kansas City is full of incredible people – they can just be tough to meet sometimes. Connect with us, attend an upcoming event; we’ll get you plugged in!

Surprising Discoveries in KC

Even after being back a couple of years, Julia continues to be impressed by Kansas City’s evolution. “How much is happening here related to entrepreneurship, technology, business, and infrastructure investments in the city—that continues to surprise me every day,” she says. One more delightful surprise? “How much awesome Korean food there is in the city—yum.”

Looking Ahead

Julia’s journey is a shining example of what happens when global experience meets hometown pride. Through her innovative work, generous leadership, and deep commitment to community, she’s helping Kansas City grow in all the right ways—one product, one connection, and yes, one incredible meal at a time.

We’re beyond grateful to have Julia back in KC and can’t wait to see how she continues to shape the city’s future. Thank you, Julia, for being a spark of energy and impact in everything you touch.

Stay tuned for more New2KC Spotlights—where we feature the bold, the brilliant, and the boomerangs driving Kansas City forward. Next up: a special feature on Rhett Rumery, who’s making the move Back2KC this month!

Know someone with a story worth sharing? Let us know—we love celebrating the people making KC stronger, one step at a time.

‍