John Johnston has been an entrepreneur since the age of 13. He moved from Northern Ireland to the United States in 2004 and currently works as a co-founder at PeopleIT which offers top tech talent to help companies optimize their systems and leverage their data to empower growth.
Johnston is a husband, father, hiker, traveler, and a rugby and soccer fan. He is also a community advocate for Goodwill West Michigan, Holland Education Foundation, and Ready for School.
Tell us about your leadership style and how it’s developed over your career.
As a younger ‘wannabe’ entrepreneur I believed I had to be a fighter and thought I knew what I was doing. Today, I now look for—and depend on—the wisdom of others to help guide me. We take the approach of everyone is a leader. One of our mantras is ‘the best idea wins’. My style of leadership now is much more passive and led by curiosity and question-asking. I’ve found it to be the most liberating and empowering for everyone.
What strategies do you employ to motivate and inspire your team to achieve their best performance?
We have a lot of events and get-togethers. We want people to have friends at work. We also keep 100% of our work visible to everyone, there’s no shadow work. Everyone has a key measurable of success and they can track that daily, weekly, and monthly. People feel supported and empowered and have a clear indication that they’re either winning or in need of support. We also have a profit-sharing plan, so we all feel ownership of our success as a company.
What’s your take on current trends and challenges in the tech sector?
The current joke is: “What’s the fastest thing on earth right now? …people becoming AI experts”. AI is at the center of the conversation, and it should be. The pace of change will be dramatic over the next decade, and we believe the next few years are about preparing for the tipping point and embracing what AI is doing today. Our goal is to partner with companies on that journey and take incremental steps to connect with and embrace the future.
What key experiences have shaped your career? What lessons have you learned?
One of the greatest lessons is that hard work doesn’t matter if there’s no demand for what you’re selling. I almost went bankrupt trying to work harder and not taking stalk of the reality around me. Also, if you can, find a partner who is smarter than you and who you enjoy spending time with. It makes every day a lot more fun.
What about your work has you most excited right now?
We’re five-and-a-half years old and we’ve gone through a couple of major changes. Every change we make is trying to make the company more like the one we want to work for. I’m excited about the changes we’re embarking on for 2024 as we strive to live into our purpose of ‘helping people thrive’.
What do you enjoy most about living and doing business in West Michigan?
I migrated to West Michigan from Northern Ireland in 2004. I was immediately struck by the number of flourishing companies and the incredible entrepreneurial spirit. It’s an inspiring community of people who are focused on innovation and reinvestment in the community.
Why is it a priority for you to invest in our region’s economy?
I was one of the first entrepreneurs in Lakeshore Advantage’s business incubator 20 years ago when I moved from Ireland. Beyond having a deep commitment to the work of Lakeshore Advantage, the broader scope of economic development is imperative to help us become a destination for not only the greatest companies in the world but also the greatest entrepreneurs and workforce.