Alpheaus (AJ) Johnson was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and now lives in Bloomington, Illinois. He’s been a leader in a Fortune 50 company for almost 30 years and has earned his MBA, is certified in Change Management and has over 20 years in Diversity and Inclusion education and coaching. 

AJ’s achievements have come at a cost that not all leaders must pay. As a Black man in a racialized culture, he has withstood the trauma of racism—as a child, as a teenager, and as an adult. And as a Black leader, he has navigated organizational cultures that simply don’t invite his whole person to the table. 

In this episode, AJ shares his experience—and the price he’s paid—of sourcing deep resilience so that he can Recover to Lead in his organization, his community, and his family. 

In the span of almost twenty years, Lori Prutsman worked with Fortune 500 companies, rising to senior leadership at both Amazon and Booking.com. After years of 60+ hour work weeks and constant travel, she began feeling burnt out, physically depleted, and detached from her own life’s calling. 

But it took a car accident for her to pause long enough to begin to listen to her own voice, recover back to her authentic self, and  recreate her life and career with courage and confidence. 

Lori learned the hard way that Hard Work Equals Success... Until it Doesn't. She channels that learning into her new business as the Seattle Burnout Coach, where she helps leaders find a better way. 

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Burnout is real. The World Health Organization acknowledged it as a workplace syndrome in 2019. Burnout has become a pervasive and holistic issue; according to a recent Gallup Poll, 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes. 

The emotional, mental, and physical symptoms of burnout are often unseen. If you’re experiencing burnout, or are on the road to it, don’t bury it and carry on. Talk with someone you trust—a colleague, family member, therapist, or a certified coach like Lori Prutsman or me. 

Visit the Resource page at www.recovertolead.com for online mental health support and resources. 

Dana Lyseng is the Owner and Creative Director of Supernova, an award-winning Vancouver-based hair salon. 

As a life-long entrepreneur, Dana has faced plenty of challenges and setbacks along the way. But, like many small-business owners, 2020’s pandemic tested the limits of her resilience. 

Dana rooted her response in her deepest values and vision, resulting in a re-opening that greeted the same loyal clients while opening a new perspective on what mattered most to her as a leader and what needed to change to achieve it.

Keywords:  Business, pandemic, decisions, team, leader, vision, values, mentor, apprentice, empower, recover.