Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson, a luminary in the realm of leadership and innovation, has carved a distinctive niche as a thought leader who challenges conventional paradigms. An influential figure recognized by Thinkers50 in 2017 as one of the world's foremost management thinkers, she has dedicated her career to dismantling traditional approaches in favor of disruptive innovation. Johnson’s professional journey is steeped in rich experiences, including her pivotal role as co-founder of the Disruptive Innovation Fund alongside Harvard’s Clayton Christensen, where she played an instrumental role in strategic investment decisions that propelled startups like Korea’s Coupang into the billion-dollar stratosphere. Her tenure as an award-winning Wall Street analyst further underscores her profound acumen in financial strategy and market analysis. Among Johnson’s acclaimed literary contributions, her book "Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work" stands out as a seminal work that has garnered accolades from prestigious publications. Publisher's Weekly lauded it as "savvy" and "superb," recognizing its counter-intuitive insights, while the Boston Globe heralded it as the contemporary career guide for entrepreneurs. Her forthcoming book, "Build an A Team," published by Harvard Business Press in 2018, promises to extend her influence, offering strategies to cultivate high-performing teams and nurturing transformative leadership. Johnson’s writing is characterized by its incisive clarity and strategic depth, reflecting her expertise in guiding leaders to harness potential and foster innovation. Her contributions to the Harvard Business Review and her engaging LinkedIn courses, which have captivated over a million learners, underscore her role as a venerated mentor in the field of entrepreneurship. As a member of Marshall Goldsmith's original #100 coaches cohort, Whitney Johnson continues to shape the discourse on leadership and innovation, empowering others to navigate and thrive in the evolving landscape of business.