Look and Listen

Biography

Martha Johnson is an exciting and provocative speaker and author who draws upon her career experiences as a leader in the Clinton and Obama Administrations and as a senior executive in various industries. Her non-fiction book, "On My Watch, Leading and Leaving Big Organizations" will be published in the Spring, 2013. In addition, Ms. Johnson has authored a novel, "In Our Midst," which exposes the raw vein of homophobia in a mid-western community. She is enjoying speaking engagements about the novel with book clubs, LGBT groups, and faith communities. Her background is as an executive with a more than 30 year career in public and private organizations. She was nominated by President Obama and confirmed unanimously by the US Senate to be the Administrator of the General Services Administration, a position she held for two years. She also served eight years with the Clinton Administrations and was appointed to two commissions with the British Government. Her private sector career has spanned the IT, architecture, strategic consulting, and auto industry. She served as Vice President at both Touchstone, SRA and at the global Computer Sciences Corporation. Johnson has delivered over 50 public speeches on topics including sustainability, leadership, and government effectiveness. She has been featured repeatedly in the press and has testified before the US Congress. Johnson was graduated with a BA from Oberlin College and an MBA from the Yale University School of Management. Johnson was born in New Haven, Connecticut, raised in California and North Dakota. She is married, has two adult children, and resides in Annapolis, Maryland.

Inspiration

When Miss Palmer, my high school English teacher, died her family sent me her precious library of Emily Dickinson related books. Why me? I wasn't her most brilliant student nor very exotic. She seemed to me to be a giant of intelligence and sharp wit. She had been born in England but caught a fever so the family cancelled its tickets on the Titanic until she was well enough to travel! She taught Sylvia Plath and had stories about her and others. At her core she was a great teacher and, therefore, I always knew she believed in me, no matter how fumbling or 85th-percentile I was. We stayed in touch over the years. She watched my career as an executive and political appointee. I learned that she considered my ability to write a sentence to be core to my success, and I suspect it has been. She has been gone for years now, but as I published my first novel and now embark on a speaking and writing career, Miss Palmer is still the person whose standards guide me and whose support I cherish.