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Saundra M. JohnsonCPA, Vistage Chair, UNLV Alum
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Saundra (Moody) Johnson (BS-Accounting, 81), CPA, Vistage Chair, began her career as a CPA, focusing primarily on audits for mid to large sized clients. As a vistage chair, she leads groups of business owners and executives, focusing mainly on leadership, performance results and personal development.
What ignited the spark in you to make significant changes in the business world?
I am energized and motivated by working with and being associated with people who are committed to excellence in both their businesses and their lives. I found those types of people in my business classes at UNLV. In every professional challenge that I have taken on since UNLV, I have sought out those same types of people to work with.
What three pieces of advice would you give to high school or college students who want to become entrepreneurs or enter the business world?
1. As a leader, you have an incredible responsibility to your business, customers, employees and community. The more you lead, the more the people around you are watching how you conduct yourself.
2. Never quit learning and growing. If you do, others will pass you by.
3. Find a mentor and be a mentor. This will enable you and others around you to be all that they were meant to be. After all, it is all about relationships.
4. Keep your creative juices flowing. Then, when change happens, you can better adapt to it.
What stops you from throwing in the towel and giving up when you are frustrated?
I focus on what things will look like when the situation passes and what I am supposed to learn from it.
In one word, characterize your life as a businesswoman.
Adventurous
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
My biggest failure was staying with a company past the point of being able to be excellent and motivated. I realized that I was cheating the company and myself out of what we deserved.
When a student asks you if they should consider a UNLV College of Business education, what do you say?
Absolutely! UNLV allowed me to get an excellent education without being saddled with a lot of debt. In addition, I made many friendships at UNLV that continue even today.
What's the biggest thing you didn't learn in school? What's the biggest thing you did learn in school?
I didnt learn the importance of business and personal relationships and the power that they have to help me and others to grow.
I learned that any professional endeavor that I am passionate about doing is within reach.
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