Kevin Anthony Johnson (call him KJ) is an artist, author, and the founder of several consultancies ranging from marketing to media to management consulting. For over 25 years, he’s served as a trusted advisor, trainer, and life strategist to organizations, executives and their teams -- impacting the lives of thousands of leaders from Chicago to Shanghai. His clients come from a broad slice of society: public servants, startup leaders, high-performing teams, and executives at purpose-driven companies like Linkedin, Sundance Film Festival, Esusu Financial, PwC, Kirkland & Ellis, Turner Construction, and Automattic.

KJ brings his signature style of heart, challenge, and personal excellence to everyone he interacts with. He deftly weaves living systems, interpersonal neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into a bold approach to healthy relationships and personal transformation--which leads to profound shifts in your leadership impact.

KJ earned his certification as an evidence-based coach from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California, and holds certifications for Transformational Leadership, Coaching, and Social & Emotional Intelligence from Wright Graduate University for the Realization of Human Potential.

He currently serves on the local & national boards of @826CHI, a nonprofit centered on amplifying the voice of Chicago's youth. He's the author of two books, an artist, a Haiku aficionado, a marathoner, and a philosopher—but most proudly, he’s the father of three curious young adults who are making their own kind of change in the world.

Notable Client Achievements

• VP to COO at a Global Logistics Company - Helped to have greater stress management skills, sustainable leadership habits, and a complete turnaround in the team and organizational perception of client’s leadership and interpersonal skills, along with a dramatic increase in work/life integration. A year later, the Client was promoted to North American Chief Operations Officer.

• Independent Film Producer - Helped to develop essential support structures to allow him to exit employment and engage in his craft full-time. Secured an Executive Producer (he calls his projects joints, not films) to bring his feature film to major studios. Started teaching other directors/producers in a film school--a hidden passion.

• Executive Director of a Charitable Foundation - In less than a year, the ED had nearly doubled the donor base and gifts per donor and established clear giving policies and an organizational mission toward community outcomes. The client improved processes, donor relations, and collaborative engagement with her board. She also overcame a fear of public speaking and has presented often throughout the year.

• Founder and Chairperson of a Global Social Enterprise - Aided in increased alignment of activity with the organizational mission as well as strategic thinking time and improved delegation skills as he exceeded 2M students reached with his service within a year.

• Technology Senior Director - Developed a strong camaraderie on his team, which exceeded their sales plan by 20%. At the conclusion of our engagement, the client was selected to lead a business expansion to an untapped metropolitan market.

• Marketing VP in Investment Firm - Leader deepened relationships across the team, developed skill in “reading the room” and was promoted to her current role.