The 2021 Women Leaders in Technology: Alicia Johnson

She has faced some rather than unique challenges, "I believe I have experienced many unique opportunities as a woman consultant in the technology field. I've been able to bring an alternative perspective to solve client issues in a diverse manner. In this constantly changing business and technology environment it is important to be inclusive and value new perspectives to innovate and maintain growth. At EY we are creating an inclusive culture and empowering a diverse workforce to build a better working world. As a leader, my diverse perspective has helped me create a global platform to engage people, clients, and communities that advances gender equality and enables women's potential to transform technology solutions and society." Johnson picked up surprisingly valuable knowledge while working in a local jewelry store in college. "We had all different kinds of customers come into the shop, and my boss would say, 'don't just look at a person and assume you know everything about them, get to know why they're here because what they're purchasing means a lot to them.' He also made the point that the curiosity to get to know someone is what makes life rich. I learned a lot about client services, digging deeper than appearances, and taking the time to get to know those you are collaborating with. That advice not only strengthened my leadership abilities, but it also reminds me to be curious every day – about my team members and clients and the reason we do the work we do."

Q&A: What is your greatest personal or professional achievement?

"My greatest achievement is the journey I've taken to get to where I am today. I worked my way up from learning to code in fifth grade to becoming a CIO. I faced challenges along the way, like supporting companies during the dot-com boom, where you had to learn quickly to survive. I also found a lot of support over the years from working with large teams and building my network to include those who helped enable my successes." She adds, "I am not only proud of becoming a CIO, but of the impression I made on others and the company. This comes from me running high-performing teams, sticking to commitments and hitting goals. My experience and time as a CIO made a meaningful impression on me too. Now I am passionate about EY's technology transformation and Cloud platform and using my skills to support these initiatives."