Whitney Johnson's Recent LinkedIn Posts

Happy Halloween! In addition to the haunted houses, we all know growth has “jump scared” us once or twice! When we talk about The Launch Point of our S Curve, that moment when you begin something new, it’s rarely comfortable: Starting a new role. Launching a business. Taking on a bigger challenge. It can feel uncertain, messy, even a little terrifying. But here’s the truth: if it doesn’t feel at least a little scary, it’s probably not real growth. The fear we feel at the Launch Point is a signal that we’re stretching into possibility. It means we’re leaving the safety of what we know and daring to discover what we’re capable of. So today, while kids (and maybe a few adults!) are dressing up as ghosts and goblins, I’m thinking about the other kind of fear — the kind that shows up when we’re doing something new and meaningful. What if we celebrated that fear too? Because on the other side of scary is always growth, confidence, and joy in realizing, “I can do this.” So go ahead — give yourself a little “trick and treat.” Start something that scares you… and enjoy the sweet growth that follows! #HappyHalloween #SmartGrowth #FearMeansYoureGrowing #SCurveOfLearning #LaunchPoint

AI is creating one of the most significant S Curve moments in recent history. The leaders winning aren't the ones at the top of their current curve; they're the ones willing to jump to a new one. Thanks to Charlene Li and Katia Walsh, Ph.D. for helping us make that jump.

Last weekend, something wonderful happened: old friends came to visit. Not just acquaintances, but the kind of friends who were with us at the very beginning of adulthood—when Roger and I were newly married, still discovering who we were, and imagining the life we hoped to build. And then, as it does, life moved fast. We kept in touch here and there—mostly Christmas cards—but for the most part, the years slipped by. Until recently. Over the past couple of years, we’ve started reconnecting. And last weekend, they came to visit us here in Virginia. It was easy, meaningful, and a reminder I didn’t know I needed. Reconnection has a way of bringing us back to ourselves. It reminds us of who we were, who we’ve become, and who we’re still growing into. When we make space for the things that fill our lives—the people, the moments, the connection—we don’t lose time. We gain joy. Energy. Contentedness. So here’s my invitation this week: Reach out to someone who once brought you joy. Say hello to the person you’ve been meaning to reconnect with. Not because you need to maintain perfect relationships, but because reconnection—even after years apart—has its own kind of magic. All best, Whitney P.S. This photo is of Paula and me—she threw a baby shower for me when I was pregnant with our son, David. Read the full article Here:

Thrilled to share this conversation with two wonderful colleagues happening tomorrow, R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar! Join us for what I'm sure will be an action-packed hour of disruption.

During my Women Tech Council keynote, I used the metaphor of the ship and the harbor. It's something that I wrote about in my book, Dare, Dream, Do,––about Carl Jung’s insight that wholeness requires both masculine and feminine qualities. The masculine, like a ship venturing into the open ocean, builds, scales, and explores. It codes algorithms. It creates systems. The feminine, like a harbor, anchors and steadies. It brings connection, care, and humanness. As women in technology, you are both. You're the ones who can build the systems AND ask "does this serve humanity?" You can deploy at scale AND remember there are real people on the other end. You can code the algorithms AND keep asking "but does this improve quality of life?” You can set sail toward AI possibilities while keeping our feet on the dock of humanity. As AI accelerates, the world needs leaders who can wield power and care. If we are going to have pro-human AI, we need leaders like you.

What does it mean to lead people through transformation when AI isn't just changing how we work — but what work even means. Next week, I get to explore that question with five CHROs who aren't waiting for a playbook––they are writing one! I'm moderating the opening panel at the Global AI HR Summit — Workforce Innovation in the Age of AI: The CHRO's New Role: Ebru Ozgen (Coca-Cola HBC). Amy Schultz (DTE Energy). Robert Toohey (FIS). Kiran Brar (Signify). Anette Bohm (bpostgroup). I'm curious about the practices they're testing. The questions they're wrestling with. The early wins and the surprises. If you are too, join us. It's free, and the conversation will be worth your time. Shane Kemp Christopher Rainey HR Leaders Frank Congiu Disruption Advisors Linda Elliott Megan Waitman Audrey McKeon

“We’ve used human ingenuity ... to build machines and...employ it in whatever way we want, whatever way we decide, But here’s the thing: We have to decide.” -Governor Spencer Cox At the #UtahAISummit this week, I had the chance to hear Governor Cox share an inspiring message: we must choose how we’re going to use AI and ensure that choice is unmistakably pro-human. He also spoke, in a powerful moment, about the harm social media has had on our children. It brought me right back to my interview with Jonathan Haidt a few years ago, and the questions we discussed about how we protect the emotional lives of the next generation. (Link to watch below). Listening to Governor Cox, I was reminded: this is what good governing looks like—principled, pragmatic, and anchored in the well-being of the people you serve. (And yes, I’m a little biased… he went to Washington & Lee Law School just down the street from me.) If you’re interested, you can also listen to the podcast conversation I had with him—on the importance of learning to disagree better. A line from Margaret Busse, his Executive Director in the Department of Commerce, stayed with me throughout it all: “We have a critical choice to act—or be acted upon.” We choose the kind of future we want to build. https://hubs.li/Q03WZWRv0 https://hubs.li/Q03WZPB30 https://hubs.li/Q03WZWmx0 Gabb

An 8-year-old spilled slime on the carpet. He froze. Looked at the mess. Then looked at his dad like the stain had just become who he was. But here's what happened next. They grabbed towels. Warm water. A little patience and trial and error. And eventually — you can't even tell it happened. At the FICO Mastermind last week, I talked about how we treat our mistakes as identity statements when they're really just events. Things that happened. Not things that define us. Then Mitch Cook shared this story about his son Hudson, and it stopped me in my tracks. Because this is exactly what it looks like when the idea comes to life. We do this as adults, too. We make a mess — at work, in a relationship, in a decision — and we freeze. We assume the stain is permanent. That everyone can see it. That it defines us now. But most mistakes aren't identity statements. They're cleanup projects. They take effort. They take humility. Sometimes they take a few rounds before you're sure it's going to come out. But more often than not, we clean it up. We learn. We grow. We move on. And one day, you can't even tell it happened — except for the wisdom you carry forward. The next time you're staring at the stain, maybe give yourself the same grace you'd give an 8-year-old with a slime disaster. 🩵 Shams Blanc Ana Marcos Brad Rollin

Adaptability is gold in today’s workplace. And at its core, adaptability is a mindset shift. Whitney Johnson took the LENS stage to share how you can get good at moving from skill mastery to learning something new. And doing it over and over again. That’s the kind of adaptability that will ensure businesses can always be ready for (and even lead) disruption, no matter what change is taking place. #DegreedLENS

It was wonderful to host the Women's Investor Luncheon with Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D., Tiffany Vail, and the incandescent panel of Amanda Kahlow, Blake Modersitzki and Margaret Busse. A room full of women I love and admire, gathered to share wisdom about the power of investing. Because when women invest, yes, we're building portfolios — but more importantly, we're financing dreams. Making a down payment on the future we want to create. Thank you to all who attended and participated. I look forward to more conversations to come. I'm wondering: where are you being invited to invest — financially or otherwise? And what would it look like to take one small step toward that future this week?

Yesterday, we (in the United States) gathered around tables laden with food. But even as we were giving thanks, some of us were torn: enjoy the feast—my favorite is sweet potatoes with lots of marshmallows and brown sugar, which you can see in the photo—or stick to healthier choices? But what if we didn't have to choose? Dr. Ayelet Fishbach and Dr. Jennifer Aaker studied this in what they call the Stanford Cafeteria Study (forthcoming in JCR 2026). They asked one simple question: What if we replaced the tension between "healthy" and "tasty" with something else entirely? What if people aimed for a "beautiful meal"? When they did, people selected plates that were significantly healthier and equally delicious. The conflict dissolved. Willpower was no longer required. Intrinsic motivation took over. I love that. As we move through the holidays, as we move through our lives—what if we focused on beautiful meals, beautiful days, beautiful holidays, even beautiful conversations? What would that look like? #Leadership #IntentionalGrowth #SCurveofGrowth

We’re excited about what AI can do, but in the rush to adopt new tools, there’s a quieter risk: letting them think for us. A breakout session at the Utah AI Summit, plus a conversation with someone from the intelligence world, brought that into sharp focus for me. How do we keep strengthening our ability to think…while using AI to think smarter?

After decades away from skating, I borrowed my daughter Miranda's hockey pants and said yes to her invitation. Two yeses, actually—skating together, then watching the Penguins play (and win!) their hockey game. Miranda taught me something (as she often does): maybe the best way to support someone isn't advice, it's participation. It's stepping onto the ice when you're lucky enough to be invited. So, who is inviting you into their world? And will you say yes? #LaunchPoint #SCurve #DisruptYourself #Leadership

Have you ever felt like you were standing at the bottom of an S Curve, caught between exhilaration and self-doubt? I recently attended the Thinkers50 gala, where I navigated a whirlwind of emotions—thrill, anxiety, and even a touch of imposter syndrome. In that moment, I realized how far I've come and the importance of embracing the journey. Instead of staring at my feet and questioning my place, I learned to appreciate the view and the incredible minds climbing this mountain alongside me. If you've ever wrestled with imposter syndrome or wondered if you truly belong, I invite you to explore with me the Sweet Spot of growth and connection. Let's enjoy the climb together! As we reach new heights, where are you noticing the beauty around you? #Thinkers50 #ImposterSyndrome #Growth

Only 1 in 4 college graduates end up in a job directly related to their major. I shared this stat at Brigham Young University recently, and I could feel the whole room sigh with relief — including the parents. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was in college and feeling completely lost. #SCurve #DisruptYourself #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment

There's something fitting about writing this newsletter on St. Patrick's Day — rainbow outside the window, mid-recording of my new LinkedIn Learning course. This week gave me a few moments that reminded me what it really means to disrupt yourself. And what luck looks like when you decide to move. As a gift to you — the course is live, and I'm extending the lucky day. Free 24-hour access from the moment you open it. (Link in profile.) I'd love to hear from you: When did you just start moving — and luck showed up? Leave a comment, share this with someone who could use a nudge, or tag someone who’s been a source of luck in your life as a thank you. #disruptyourself #whitneyjohnson #linkedinlearning #luck #scurve #newcurve

I hit send this morning. After nearly a decade of thinking, writing, stopping, starting, and starting again — I submitted the manuscript for my next book. Here's what it took, what it taught me, and why I'm stopping to mark the moment. #SCurve #DisruptYourself #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #WritingLife #MarkTheMoment #LeadershipDevelopment #IntentionalGrowth

I’ve recently had the privilege of speaking with a wide range of audiences—tech leaders, university chairs, HR executives, and more. Different industries. Same story. Everyone is navigating rapid change—economic, technological, even emotional. And their response is a mix of excitement and fear, possibility and uncertainty. But each time I share the S Curve of Growth framework, I see something shift. There’s relief. Not because the challenge disappears, but because we’ve named it. And when we name where we are on the S Curve, we normalize the discomfort of growth. That makes change not just possible, but plausible. Effective change management starts with clarity: knowing what you’re up against, where you are, and how to move forward with purpose. Clarity doesn’t eliminate uncertainty—but it gives us language, direction, and a little more courage to keep going. So I’m curious—what changes are you naming right now? #SCurve #AI #Speaking #Change #WhitneyJohnson

Fifteen years ago, when I first started public speaking, the self-talk went something like this: I hope I remember what I want to say. I hope I can stay calm. I hope I make Clay Christensen proud. I hope I don't embarrass myself. Classic launch point of the S Curve. All nerves and uncertainty. Then I heard Donald Miller say something that led to a huge paradigm shift. When you're on stage, you're not the hero. Your audience is. It's about them. The people in the room. (This was after I had bombed a speech, by the way). That's when I started climbing the S Curve. But more recently, my voice coach Marcy Jellison gave me another gift. I had said, "I'm so excited to speak today," and she stopped me. "'Excited' makes it sound like you don't know if you'll do a good job," she said. "This is your job. You're being paid to inspire people. To teach them. When you walk on that stage, it's all about giving them what their pocketbook and their heart paid for." I'm not at the top of the S Curve. But I feel like I'm finally in the sweet spot. If you are going to teach disruption, you need to live it. If you are going to talk about growing, you need to grow. Because you can feel it. You can feel if a speaker or a teacher is living their message. And that makes a HUGE difference. A framework is far more powerful when the person teaching it is willing to live it. What do you think? I'd love to hear in the comments below. P.S. Here's a behind-the-scenes glimpse from "that moment" at the Australian HR Institute. #Leadership #IntentionalGrowth #SCurveOfGrowth #DisruptYourself #ThoughtLeadership #PublicSpeaking #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthMindset #donaldmiller

Here’s something that surprised me. Psychologist Hal Hershfield at UCLA has spent over a decade studying how we relate to our future selves. And he found something startling: when people think about who they'll be in ten or twenty years, their brains respond the same way they do when thinking about a complete stranger. Think about that for a moment. The person you'll be in December? The one who will live with the consequences of how you spend your time this week? Your brain treats her like someone you've never met. No wonder it's so hard to make sacrifices for her. But Hershfield also found something hopeful. People who do feel connected to their future selves — who can picture her vividly, who feel a sense of kinship with who they're becoming — are more likely to save for retirement, make healthier choices, report greater life satisfaction, and even behave more ethically. The connection itself changes the decisions we make today. So how do you build that connection? I've found one of the most powerful ways is deceptively simple: you write a letter. Not to your future self. From her.

Ten years ago, I sat down and recorded my first LinkedIn Learning course on disrupting yourself. A lot has changed since then. The disruption happening right now feels seismic — in how we work, how we lead, how we think about what comes next. Maybe you're feeling it too. So when the opportunity came to rerecord it, I said yes! This version carries ten years of refined insight. And I think it's arriving at exactly the right moment. Disrupt Yourself on LinkedIn Learning is coming soon. #DisruptYourself #LinkedInLearning #SCurve #SmartGrowth #Leadership #CareerGrowth #WhitneyJohnson

Luck finds you when you're in motion. Not when you're waiting for it. Disrupting yourself doesn't always mean blowing up your life. Sometimes it means getting up from the table. Starting the conversation. Stepping onto a new curve — or simply moving further along the one you're already on. My new LinkedIn Learning course — Disrupting Yourself — is live. And in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day yesterday, I want to extend your lucky day! The course is available for free for 24 hours from the time you access it. Click the course below! And I'd love to hear from you: When did you just start moving — and luck showed up? Leave a comment, share this with someone who could use a nudge, or tag someone who’s been a source of luck in your life as a thank you. #disruptyourself #whitneyjohnson #linkedinlearning #luck #scurve #newcurve

Even Santa doesn't pull the sleigh alone. So who's your Rudolph? Who stepped in when your list got too long? Who believed in you when the evidence said otherwise? You're feeling gratitude. Now it's time to express it.

A single moment could change everything! In our fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the power of small, unexpected events. But what if I told you that a simple "yes" could open doors you didn't know were there? Join me as we explore the what-ifs of removing the guardrails, embracing spontaneity, and seizing opportunities. This isn't just about saying yes to new experiences—it's about transforming your outlook on life! #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #SCurve #WorkLifeIntegration #SmartGrowth

As the vibrant hues of fall envelop us, it's not just the trees that are changing—our lives and careers are in constant transition, too. The transition from green to amber is more than a seasonal shift; it's a powerful metaphor for the growth we experience. In a world where progress feels like it's slowing down, many of us find ourselves in that delicate space between what was and what's next. How can we embrace this liminal moment to foster growth and clarity? This season serves as a reminder that real growth often requires us to pause and reflect. Uncover how to honor what's ending while welcoming new beginnings with intention and resilience. Let's navigate these shifts together! #Growth #NavigatingChange #LeadershipLessons