Amanda Johnson, Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians

Amanda Johnson, 37, director of program strategy and development, Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians

Amanda Johnson joined Girl Scouts at 5 years old, and it has been a part of her life ever since. As director of program strategy and development at the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Johnson has been a pioneering leader, modernizing programming to be most applicable to the lives of today’s Girl Scouts.

Johnson’s initiative has also led to higher attendance and increased funding for the council.

When you reflect on your career so far, what achievement stands out the most?

I have had the privilege of overseeing the Gold Award program. This is the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. It requires a girl to develop and propose a project that creates a solution to a problem in her community and devote at least 80 hours to that project, often taking a year or longer to complete. I have had the honor of mentoring hundreds of girls over the years as they pursued this ambitious award. As a recipient of the Gold Award, supporting a new generation as they work towards gold has been fulfilling and something I am extremely proud of.

What is the biggest professional obstacle you have had to overcome and how did you overcome it?

The biggest obstacle that I had to overcome professionally was the pandemic. We could not offer personal programming for the foreseeable future, as we had no idea when or if we would return to our “normal” way of doing things. But I was determined that girls would not miss Girl Scouts. Right after our “everything changes” staff meeting, I went live on Facebook with our first virtual program. We were the first in the country to offer virtual programming and served girls globally. I felt privileged to continue to make a positive impact on so many with Girl Scouts.

What will you focus on in 2025?

In 2025, I want to continue to grow our Community Troop program, which is an alternative delivery method to our traditional troop and designed to make Girl Scouting more accessible to all girls in our 46 counties. Community Troops provides programming to girls through staff, who deliver the program in areas where we have not typically been able to start volunteer-delivered troops due to a variety of barriers. By partnering with other organizations such as YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs and Freedom Schools, we have been able to offer Girl Scouting to hundreds who would not otherwise have that experience.

What is your biggest professional dream?

My biggest professional dream, as cliche as it sounds, is to make a positive impact. It has always been a driving force throughout my career. I think there are aspects of the world that we live in that are so dark. My hope is to bring some light to the dark places through my work. Being able to continue to make positive progress in our community and in the lives of the girls and families we serve is what drives me every day.

What mistake did you learn the most from?

Underestimating myself. I suffer from imposter syndrome, so there have been times in my career when I didn’t feel good enough or qualified. I’ve always been my own worst critic, and it’s taken some time. But as I’ve moved up through my organization, I’ve grown to see my worth. Seeing the impact of my work has helped me gain a unique perspective on what I can do and what I can achieve.

What motivates you?

Easy – the girls!

What’s the most overrated business advice you’ve heard?

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Although I love what I do, I work every day of my life! Just because you love something doesn’t mean it doesn’t take time, energy and hard work. I have had many opportunities to learn, grow from mistakes and make my mark in this organization. It has been rewarding, but I have devoted much of my life to my work. I believe in our mission, so the sacrifices have been worth it, but I still don’t care when people say that because I love my job it must not be hard work!

What quality do you most want in an employee?

Reliability. To me, when an employee is trustworthy, they also demonstrate integrity, empathy and commitment. I enjoy working in a team, but it’s important to have teammates you can trust. When you can trust each other, you can not only accomplish more, but also create an environment that fosters these values ​​of teamwork, empathy, and commitment.

What would you like to improve about Knoxville?

Traffic. While I don’t have any answers or solutions to fix the insane amount of traffic we fight every day, I’d love to help improve it.

What do people not know about you?

Camp Tanasi, the local Girl Scout camp, has been the most constant place for me throughout my life. I have moved houses and lived in different places, but every summer since I was 5 years old, I have always been lucky enough to come home to Camp Tanasi.

• Family: Garrett Johnson, husband; James Johnson, child; Debra Meade, mother; Michael Meade, father; Elizabeth Meade, stepmother; Jeff Johnson, father-in-law; Lyn Johnson, mother-in-law
• Years worked at current company: 13
• Degrees and certifications: Associate of Science in Communication Graphics Technology, Pellissippi State Community College; Adolescent Mental Health First Aid; Red Cross instructor
• Community involvement: Tennessee Chair and Program Development Committee Member for the Heart of the South Region of the American Camping Association, New Head Instructor Orientation Instructor for the American Camping Association, Fall 2022 Course of Introduction Knoxville, Camp Advisory Committee Member for the Girl Scouts of the USA, Risk Management Coordinator for the Knoxville United Soccer Association , Committee Member for a Breakdown Barriers to Overnight Grant with Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies and Girl Scouts of the USA

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

-Hayden Dunbar