Betty Johnson

Betty Johnson brings a unique integration of research, practice, and teaching to her work in leadership and organizational change. She holds a PhD in Leadership & Change and has more than 30 years of experience in consulting and executive advisory roles within global organizations.

She is the President of Bridging the Difference, an independent consultancy focused on helping leaders and leadership teams navigate complexity and translate insight into sustained behavior change. Her work centers on leadership sense-making in complex systems, with a particular emphasis on how behavior, relationships, and organizational dynamics shape performance.

Betty has led more than 600 leadership and change engagements across private, public, and non-profit organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the Caribbean, spanning 19 industry sectors. She is an ICF-certified executive coach and works with senior leaders to strengthen clarity, alignment, and leadership effectiveness in rapidly evolving environments.

Her academic research examines how leadership behavior influences others' emotional experiences, the actions they take, and, ultimately, organizational outcomes. Her current research focuses on dignity at work and the role of dignity-affirming leadership practices in fostering both performance and well-being.

Betty serves as Adjunct Faculty at New York University, where she teaches courses on management, leadership, and coaching. She is also the author of Making Virtual Work: How to Build Performance and Relationships.

She is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.