Whitney Johnson believed she could increase her earnings tenfold. So, she pursued business courses at night and eventually made an unusual transition from secretary to investment banker. This marked the first major disruption of her career path and set the stage for her future successes as an entrepreneur, author, and thought leader on disruption. In this episode, Whitney shares her journey of self-disruption through her major career leaps. She provides insights and strategies for professionals struggling to transition into new career phases.

Whitney Johnson is a leading expert in business innovation and personal disruption. She is the bestselling author of Disrupt Yourself and is a sought-after speaker and advisor.

In this episode, Ilana and Whitney will discuss:

- Whitney’s inspiring journey from secretary to investment banker

- Her brave leap from business analyst to entrepreneur

- The impact of personal disruption on career growth

- Strategies for leaders to harness disruption for success

- The role of mentorship and support in achieving growth

- How to identify opportunities for self-disruption

- Balancing personal life with professional ambitions

- The importance of a safety net while purpose-searching

- The ‘S-curve’ framework for understanding professional growth

- And other topics…

Whitney Johnson is the founder of Disruption Advisors, a consultancy that specializes in organizational growth and innovation. Recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the top management thinkers, she is a leading expert in innovation and personal disruption. Whitney hosts the popular Disrupt Yourself podcast and is the author of the bestselling book by the same name. She has also written Build an A-Team, another bestseller. She frequently speaks at prestigious venues such as the United Nations and the US Air Force, empowering individuals and organizations to effectively navigate career growth and organizational change.

Connect with Whitney:

Whitney’s Website: https://whitneyjohnson.com/ 

Whitney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyjohnson/ 

Resources Mentioned:

Whitey’s Books:

Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work: https://www.amazon.com/Disrupt-Yourself-Putting-Disruptive-Innovation/dp/1629560529 

Build an A Team: Play to Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Team-Play-Strengths-Learning/dp/1633693643 

Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream: https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Dream-Do-Remarkable-Things/dp/1937134121 

Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company: https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Growth-Grow-People-Company/dp/1647821150