EP 84: When Your Job Is On Front Lines Of A Political Battle: Alexis McGill Johnson, CEO of Planned Parenthood
How She Does ItShow Notes
When Alexis McGill Johnson was asked in 2019 to become interim CEO of Planned Parenthood, she thought it would be a short assignment. “ I remember my famous last words to the board when I stepped in were, “‘I'll get you through 2020’,” she recalls. Almost immediately, she found herself in the unenviable position of steering a healthcare organization through a pandemic.
She embraced the challenge and eventually raised her hand to stay on full-time. She officially landed the job in 2020 and serves as CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the healthcare arm, and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the advocacy organization. Since then, there have been significant challenges, most notably the Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court in 2022, which reversed Roe V. Wade.
In this episode, Alexis McGill Johnson shares what drives her dedication to Planned Parenthood’s mission and its almost daily battle on the front lines of the fight over legalized abortion. That includes, as this conversation was recorded, the challenge by Louisiana designed to halt sales of Mifepristone, an FDA-approved abortion drug. She also opens up about what the group’s “2040 plan” entails, and what she sees as the “mission hope” of the organization and the patients it serves.
💬 In this episode, we explore:
The piece of leadership advice Alexis McGill Johnson received that unlocked a different approach in her towards her job as CEO.
What her background as a political organizer and later, founder of the Perception Institute, has taught her about spearheading this movement.
Why Condoleezza Rice was such an influential figure for her, and what she said when they first met
How and why she chose to embrace her middle name, Alexis, in lieu of her given first name
Why she feels it’s critically important to be thoughtful about how she speaks about those who disagree with her
How her work has impacted the way she and her husband parent their two daughters
Resources:
📸 Follow Alexis McGill Johnson on Instagram
📸 Follow Aleixs McGill Johnson On LinkedIn
💻 For more information on The Planned Parenthood Action Fund
🎧 New episodes of How She Does It drop every Tuesday. Be sure to follow us so you never miss an episode
Ready to stop worrying about outliving your money? Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, and get the roadmap to a retirement that actually pays you back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from How She Does It
How She Does It is on a short hiatus, but Karen was kind enough to let us drop into your feed today. This show is part of the HerMoney Media Network — so if you like what you hear, come find us at The HerMoney Podcast.
What motivates some of today’s successful leaders? What person or event helped snap their futures into focus, creating a roadmap they followed with grit and resilience, determined to make it to the highest levels in business and beyond?
Imagine willingly opening up your life to as much A.I. as possible. Have a question? Ask A.I. first. Feeling blue? Talk to an A.I. therapist. Need a ride? Summon a Waymo. In journalist Joanna Stern’s New York Times bestseller “I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything,” she did all of the above and more. She shares what's hopeful, what’s creepy, and how A.I. is already in your life, whether you like it or not.
In our first-ever pop-up podcast in front of a live audience, Karen Finerman sits down with Karen Firestone at the CNBC Pro Event: Wealth For Women at the Nasdaq MarketSite. Karen Firestone, who goes by Kari, began building her impressive career as an investor in the early ‘80s. There were far fewer women working in finance at that time, and things were far more challenging for women in that space than they are today. Still, Kari couldn’t have imagined taking a different path.
What does it take to create culture-defining entertainment that not only attracts loyal viewers but wins accolades as well? We’ve asked Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Programming for HBO Max. The streaming service behind shows like “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “And Just Like That,” and the forthcoming “Harry Potter” series is once again evolving what audiences expect from premium television: high-quality entertainment delivered on a consistent basis.