A Path to Authentic Leadership: Interviews with Jeffrey E. Johnson
Muma Business Review
• Volume 8
• 2024
• pp. 031-053
Mr. Jeffrey Johnson is Executive Vice President of PNC Bank, N.A., one of the largest banks in the country. He has successfully managed and led organizations in the banking industry but also in consulting and auditing. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Harvard Business School and earned his doctorate in business from the University of South Florida. He has been, and remains, an accomplished athlete and competitor, having competed in multiple world championship ironmans and climbed six of the world’s seven summits by continent—among other things.
As part of an interview seminar for D.B.A. students at the University of South Florida, on July 1, 2023, five students, including me, interviewed Mr. Johnson. The purpose of the interviews was to conduct narrative research and, in so doing, reveal Mr. Johnson’s internal personal world, and make meaning of his lived experiences. The purpose of the research was to (i) evaluate adding to the body of knowledge in leadership studies Mr. Johnson as an exemplar of authentic leadership; and (ii) reasonably infer his leadership style may be of particular value to employees he leads. The conceptual scheme applied to analyze Mr. Johnson’s lived experiences was an authentic leadership development model known in applied literature. The scheme was used to explain the processes that lead to the development of an authentic leader.
The findings from the analysis supported (i) adding Mr. Johnson’s story to the body of knowledge as an exemplar of authentic leadership; and (ii) the reasonable inference that his particular leadership style may motivate his employees to thrive in the workplace and elicit creative tendencies there.
As part of an interview seminar for D.B.A. students at the University of South Florida, on July 1, 2023, five students, including me, interviewed Mr. Johnson. The purpose of the interviews was to conduct narrative research and, in so doing, reveal Mr. Johnson’s internal personal world, and make meaning of his lived experiences. The purpose of the research was to (i) evaluate adding to the body of knowledge in leadership studies Mr. Johnson as an exemplar of authentic leadership; and (ii) reasonably infer his leadership style may be of particular value to employees he leads. The conceptual scheme applied to analyze Mr. Johnson’s lived experiences was an authentic leadership development model known in applied literature. The scheme was used to explain the processes that lead to the development of an authentic leader.
The findings from the analysis supported (i) adding Mr. Johnson’s story to the body of knowledge as an exemplar of authentic leadership; and (ii) the reasonable inference that his particular leadership style may motivate his employees to thrive in the workplace and elicit creative tendencies there.
Authentic leadership, crucibles, Jeffrey Johnson, phenomenology, narrative research, sensemaking, True North
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