A Letter From Our Founder

While I was at McKinsey I became obsessed with how smart, well intentioned clients failed to execute the strategies we built with them. But the truth is, it’s really difficult to pull back and think about strategy when you’re busy with day-to-day operations.  Who has time to review macro trends, competitor moves, and run scenario analyses when you are feeling the pressure to meet your quarterly numbers?   

But lack of execution isn't just about an indefinite future loss of market share—it is also about waste. All the time, people are hired for their expertise and then their opinions were never asked. People spend 40 hours a week—in meetings alone. People’s talents and energy are wasted on tip-toeing around a bad manager. Diverse opinions and brilliant people were flowing from companies that believed that it was only an unsustainable lifestyle that could produce great work.

I began Artemis Connection because there was never work more satisfying, never work more impactful, than when I was working with a client that could bring all  their day-to-day knowledge to the table and become a trusted thought partner.

It’s hard to step back and look at big picture and then hone back in on the details.  Translating strategy into action takes energy and time. Really understanding  our clients and what they need will always be a unique challenge. People are messy. Building a company is messy. Hiring, building and motivating teams takes time. Life is out of our control and things happen that impact individuals and organizations. I have handpicked each person on our amazing, diverse team.  They were chosen for their unique strengths and experiences, yet they are humble enough to learn from clients and from each other.

Everyday, I’m grateful that I can realize what Artemis represents. I love that my daughter says “Mom, it’s okay that I didn’t see you until late last night. I know being a mom is your favorite job and that you also really like your other job helping leaders.”   We—employees, clients, managers, executives—are at our most productive and innovative when we have balance. People are at their best when they are part of an impactful team, when they feel that the work they do on a day-to-day basis adds value—when they feel that they are truly building towards something great.

We’re determined to foster more of that in the world.  

           -Christy Johnson, Founder & CEO

Our team

ADVISORS 

• Brigid Shulte | Director - Better Life Lab and The Good Life Initative
• Dr. Carl Robinson, Ph.D | Managing Principal - Advanced Leadership Consulting
• Cate Goethals | Professor at the University of Washington; Leader of the Better Board Project
• Kurt Fischer | Former CHRO - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Dr. Lindred Greer | Assistant Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business
• Dr. Myra Strober | Professor Emerita of Economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business
• Olivia Leland | Creator of the Giving Pledge - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Amy Posey | Peak teams - Head of Product Development
• Sydney Finkelstein | Professor of Darmouth Tuck School of Business and Author of Super Bosses

THE 4.5% PROMISE  

Giving back is built into our business model. The Artemis team has 4.5% of their time set aside for the sole purpose of changing lives, communities, and organizations. We leverage learnings from our learning lab, people, and resources. Each year we pick a theme and focus our time + resources around it. We call this intentional philanthropic approach our 4.5% promise. 

• Open source tools and consulting for philanthropic organizations that qualify
• Discounted fees for organizations wanting to do something big in our "theme area"
• Board Involvement
• Donations of money and time 

OUR 2017 PHILANTHROPIC THEME: DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & EQUITY

Our focus for 2017 is diversity, inclusion and equity. In addition to each team member's individual charitable contributions to increasing diversity and inclusion in the workforce, as a company we are embarking on a nonprofit research project called Project Ascendance.