Recognized as one of the 50 leading business thinkers in the world (Thinkers50), Whitney Johnson is an expert on disruptive innovation and personal disruption; specifically, a framework which she codifies in the critically acclaimed book Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work and the upcoming book Build an “A” Team: Play To Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve. (Harvard Business Press, 2018). She is also the author of Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream.

She developed her proprietary framework and diagnostics after having co-founded the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Harvard Business School’s Clayton Christensen. This framework is complemented by a deep understanding of how executives create and destroy value, having spent nearly a decade as an Institutional Investor ranked equity analyst on Wall Street.

In addition to her work as a speaker and advisor, Whitney is one of Marshall Goldsmith's original cohort of 25 for the #100 Coaches Project, is a coach for Harvard Business School's Executive Education program, frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, is a Linkedin influencer, and hosts the weekly Disrupt Yourself Podcast. You can follow her on Twitter at @johnsonwhitney.

Show Highlights:

When you are willing to disrupt yourself as an individual, you're actually able to disrupt as an organization. @johnsonwhitneyCompanies don't actually disrupt; it's the people who do it. @johnsonwhitneyHow do I get my organization to let me disrupt? @johnsonwhitneyIf there is not some intentional piece of your strategy to move your team towards disruption, you are running the risk of extinction. @johnsonwhitneyIf you want to build a team, build a company that can manage through change that is innovative. @johnsonwhitneyYour organization is a collection of learning curves. @johnsonwhitneyLearn, leap, repeat. @johnsonwhitneyIf you want to know if you, as a company or team, are about to get disrupted, take the pulse of your workforce. @johnsonwhitneyIf you want to get those really capable people to continue to be at their best for your organization, give them something new to do with, for you. @johnsonwhitneyIf you feel somewhere deep inside of yourself that you need to try something new and you don't, you will die inside a little. @johnsonwhitneyIf you feel scared or lonely, that is actually the path you want to be on because that's where you are going to see your odds of success be the highest. @johnsonwhitney

The Action Catalyst is a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Moore, President of Southwestern Advantage, the oldest direct-sales company in America, and Partner with Southwestern Consulting. With more than 45 years in sales leadership and marketing management, Dan has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to make better use of time to achieve life, sales, and other business goals. Each week, he interviews some of the nation’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing meaningful tips and advice. Subscribe on iTunes and please leave a rating and review!