Who We Are

 
 

Leadership Development, Culture Coach, Strategy Advisor

For values-driven organizations

My grandpa was an electrician. As a kid, I heard him take countless service calls. They always started with a question, “Are you sure it’s plugged in?”

Once that was confirmed, he moved on to more complicated questions, like “What will it take to get the energy flowing again?” 

My line of work is different than his, but the outcomes are the same. For me, the energy flows again when my clients experience uncommon insight through the questions we’ve asked together. It’s a flash of awareness, like a light bulb switching on. 

Grandpa gave me a love for that moment. My family also gave me a conviction that our job is to make the world better than we found it. After that moment of insight, I love helping my clients develop plans for better work and a better world. 

I help clients do work that is more strategic, productive, meaningful, and fun. I do this by integrating the best practices of leadership, management, and organizational change with the principles of Appreciative Inquiry. 

Are you ready for that moment of insight? Let’s connect. Request a 30-minute introduction.

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Bio

Amber Johnson is a strategy advisor and leadership coach who works with organizations of all sizes to enhance collaboration, shape culture, improve communication, and drive results. She works independently and through partnerships with Ad Lucem Group, Collaborative Gain, Positive Change Group, and other organizations. Previously, Amber spent 11 years with the Center for Values-Driven Leadership at Benedictine University, including six years as the Chief Communications Officer. Her work helped leaders build people-focused profitable organizational cultures: companies where team members and customers are truly valued. She held responsibility for the organization’s thought leadership efforts including a Forbes.com column, research, eBooks, and executive education. 

Amber holds a PhD in leadership and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications. Her doctoral dissertation focused on how global organizations can lead successful change initiatives. She is also a specialist in Appreciative Inquiry, a human-centered design process for organizational change and leadership development. Previously, Amber spent seven years working in marketing for global humanitarian organization World Vision, was a US Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga, a public relations consultant, and a university editor. 

Media & In the News

Stretch Deals Podcast

Listen to Michael Sperger’s short-form podcast, Stretch Deals, to hear Amber explain the principles of Appreciative Inquiry and how you can use questions to get unstuck in conversation.

6 minutes.

Leading with Questions blog

Amber’s guest post on Bob Tiede’s blog, Leading with Questions, invited readers to improve their active listening ability … with M&Ms.

Ad Lucem Group blog

Conflict and drama at work are unavoidable—in fact, we even want healthy conflict because it helps us grow. Amber’s post on Ad Lucem Group’s blog can help you how to move past the drama.

Our Partners

It’s a joy to work with leaders who share your values and extend your talent and capacity. Here are some of the trusted partner organizations we work with and through:

  • Ad lucem is Latin for “to the light.” Ad Lucem Group helps leaders move toward the light by building a clear vision and path to generate desired results more quickly, effectively, authentically. Meet founders Dr. Patrick Farran and Dr. Melissa Norcross and find more at adlucemgroup.com.

  • Equity + Inclusion = Equision. CEO Dr. Salwa Rahim-Dillard and her team guide organizations through a transformative process of truly investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. More at equisionconsulting.com.

  • Positive Change Group helps organizations design strategy, guide change, and develop leaders using Appreciative Inquiry (AI). PCG is led by Dr. Jim Ludema, a foremost AI scholar and facilitator. Learn more here.

  • Collaborative Gain is a community of senior leaders who help each other lead innovative and customer-centric change to drive business results, growing business networks and careers. As a moderator of a customer experience peer advisory group, I work with some of the smartest people in the field. Find more at https://collaborativegain.com/.