Kate Johnson Uses Business Strategies to Balance Work-Life

As President of Microsoft US, Kate Johnson’s day-to-day is focused on driving commercial transformation within Microsoft's largest sales subsidiary. But what is really transformational about Kate is her powerful advice to other women based on years of on-the-job training and an impressive career trajectory. No stranger to success, Kate started her career as an electrical engineer, and after realizing she wanted more customer interaction, she stepped into roles steeped in helping public companies–like Red Hat, Oracle, and GE–drive fundamental business and digital transformation. Throughout this time, she has picked up strong relationships, lessons in mentorship, and business strategies that she has wisely has applied to personal parts of her life. From using deep breathing exercises during tough salary conversations to getting a coach when things are going well rather than when a “diving save” is needed, read on to find out how Kate’s experience and advice are more than a career trajectory–it’s a blueprint for balanced work-life integration. How did you get to where you are today? I started my career as an electrical engineer in a lab and quickly realized that I wanted more customer interaction…time for my first pivot! I promptly headed to business school to get an MBA and discovered my true passion in my first post-grad job as a management consultant: leading organizations through change. My role at Microsoft has been the culmination of 20 years of on-the-job learning where I discovered that the heart of successful transformation lies in our people. How do you foster strong professional relationships as you grow in your career? The strongest relationships I’ve built in my professional life have resulted from living through some form of challenge together. That’s why I avoid directly asking someone, “will you be my mentor?” Instead, I ask for help in solving a specific problem and seek advice and counsel in that context. If a mentorship evolves from there, it’s usually one that endures. What’s one way you’ve invested in yourself that’s had the most impact over the course of your career? What about within the past year? On more than one occasion, I’ve hired a coach to help me up my game especially when things are going well. I find that I’m most receptive to developmental feedback when it’s not a diving save, but rather a chance for continual improvement. Two of the biggest learning breakthroughs of my career came in this context: how to be a better presenter on camera and how to use a relationship map inside of your own company to chart your influence. This year, the biggest investment I made in myself was the least expensive and most impactful one yet: I decided to give myself a break and ignore any negative self-talk. I highly recommend it! How do you view work-life integration, especially now, and what advice can you share with others who may be struggling with it? My home life has always been my highest priority–I have a husband, two children, and three dogs–but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had to make significant sacrifices to maintain my career trajectory. One effective way that I’ve managed to strike a balance is to drive true empathy with both my at-home and at-work constituents. It takes a lot more transparency than many of us are used to: you must let both sides see each other and you must be willing to show up as the same authentic person in both contexts. Can you recall a situation where you've dealt with typecasting in the workplace? And what advice do you have for other women on how to overcome typecasting at work? Several years ago, it was my first quarterly dinner with a company’s commercial executives: 10 men and me. The fixed menu was steak and bourbon. Spoiler alert: not all salespeople eat steak and drink bourbon. I whispered to the waiter that I wanted a piece of fish and some chardonnay, and he delivered. Be yourself, people will follow. I ignored the eye rolls and ate it proudly. The next quarter we ate at a fish place…one small step for me, one giant step for female commercial leaders! Be yourself, people will follow. What’s one tip you can share or something you’ve learned on how to handle salary negotiations or raises? The worst they can say is “no,” and if you don’t ask, the answer is definitely “NO.” Of course, asking for more money or title is stressful and requires a huge amount of vulnerability, but you’re worth it! Meditation experts advise some deep box breathing to manage your stress during these situations–breathe in for four seconds, hold for six seconds, and breath out for eight seconds. During those eighteen seconds, you’ll feel calmer while your counterparty will likely fill the awkward silence by nervously speaking…and that’s when you know you’ve won. Who has helped you in your journey and how did they help shape your career? I’ve been lucky to work with so many great leaders who helped me learn and grow: Stacey gave me my first real job, Joanne taught me to take a walk around the block before responding to inflammatory emails, Beth showed me how to use systems-thinking to influence large organizations. Success requires a willingness to learn and grow. And I learned a lot from other leaders about what not to do as well. Today’s market landscape is too complex to chart your career path alone. Success requires a willingness to learn and grow from the resources around you, even when it’s not in the comfortable construct of a trusted mentor-mentee relationship. What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Brené Brown’s humorous, but inspirational, advice, “Don’t try to win over the haters; you’re not a jackass whisperer,” has been life-changing for me. Leading successful change programs requires the ability to build coalitions of support without getting distracted by the naysayers. While it’s important to listen to all feedback signals and keep an open mind, we can’t waste time and energy on converting those who are defined by negative energy. What does success mean for you? To me, success boils down to how I answer these questions: Do the people I love feel the same about me? Am I satisfied with who I am, and can I consistently be that person in every scenario of my life, professionally and personally? Do I love my job, and can I see that I’m making a lasting, positive impact? Do I have time to take care of my family and myself? Am I having fun? If the answer to these questions is consistently “yes,” then I feel like I’m on a path to success. Brandweek Masterclass: Investing in Yourself

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Microsoft’s Kate Johnson Uses Business Strategies to Balance Work and Life

President of Microsoft US shares life advice and why she hires a coach when things are going well

Luz Corona

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