Kari Johnson | Founder & CEO
Kari brings over 12 years of experience developing strategy, implementing large-scale transformations, building high-performing teams, and advising senior executives at one of the world’s largest financial institutions. During her time in corporate America, Kari discovered her unique ability and deep-rooted passion for driving team performance through intentional, neuroscience backed coaching strategies.
Untrained attempts at coaching leaders fail to deliver meaningful results. Think about the last time you went to a leader or mentor with a problem. Did they help by telling you how to handle it? Or share how they went about a similar issue in their career? This is a classic example of great intentions, but ineffective coaching. If you desire long lasting leadership change, you need to rewire how your brain is programmed! This is the only way to ensure your growth.
Kari’s edge lies in her ability to resist “giving advice” or solving your problems by laying out a step by step “how to” guide. Rather, she uses neuroscience-backed coaching strategies to help leaders realize the answers are within them all along.
My Story
I underwent my own coaching journey back in 2024. I was a senior leader in a high pressure, high visibility role. Not to mention in my first year back from my second maternity leave. I knew my kids would only be this little for a short time, yet I could not unplug from the pressures of work. As a recovering perfectionist, I was tied to my phone, checking in on any new email or teams chat - responding immediately, even if that meant while I was off hours spending time with my family. When I logged off, my mind was still running through work scenarios - ideas for an executive one pager or memo I was creating, how to influence a senior stakeholder, why a colleague could be so irksome, etc. After a long day of work then getting the kids to bed, I would immediately log back in and work until late in the evening. Rinse and repeat every day. It never stopped. I knew I needed to change (thinking about how my 80-year-old-self would regret my actions) but I just could not make the meaningful change on my own. I sought out executive coaching from a dear friend and former colleague (check out her coaching practice here).
I am not exaggerating when I say that this coaching changed the trajectory of not only my career, but also my life. Through dedicated focus on my development - thought patterns, thinking traps, psychology - I was able to make the changes I could only dream of before. Having the most successful years in my career, while only giving as much as I was willing to give. My coach, not once, told me what to do or gave me advice. It was all my own discovery through her help with powerful questions.
After this experience, I felt compelled to become a practitioner - earning certifications in executive coaching rooted in human psychology. I am more eager than ever to now be able to open my own practice and pay it forward.
