MEET MORE OF OUR 2024 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
“I’m a person who believes in the concept of servant leadership,” says Nina Johnson. “Part of that is being approachable and relational, acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of everybody on my team while leaving space for new ideas.”
This philosophy has led Johnson through her 40-year career, spanning from computer operations, loss mitigation and consumer lending to merchant services, student lending, business banking and regulatory leadership, to her current role as senior vice president and head of branch banking at US Bank. She manages over 500 people across dozens of branches.
Supporting the greater Milwaukee community is at the heart of Johnson’s mission, a priority that she weaves into every aspect of her life.
“Always know your ‘why’ – the reason you’re working toward your goals.”
She has taken a leadership role on several nonprofit boards, and is especially passionate about SecureFutures, an organization that pairs C-Suite executives with 11th- and 12th-graders for the purpose of teaching our next generation financial literacy. It’s a cause Johnson is very passionate about, as she was the organization’s first volunteer and board member. She is now a dedicated leader on their advisory board.
Johnson highlights her company’s motto, “the power of us,” saying “I believe it is crucial to power human potential today. To me, it is a key component of how the industry needs to move forward as a whole.”
Q&A
What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership positions in banking or other industries?
Knowing your ‘why.’ Why are you aspiring to accomplish the goal that you set out to accomplish? You have to find a balance between counting the cost, but at the same time being prepared to do the work, it’s a balance between those two.
What are some recent projects or events you’ve really enjoyed?
Recently at the Milwaukee’s Women Conference, I got the chance to interview self-made multi-billionaire Jenny Jest. I was sitting on the stage just thinking ‘how in the world did I get here?’ It was a ‘pinch myself’ moment. I also had the honor of hosting our CEO and Managing Committee here in Milwaukee, and having the opportunity to showcase why Milwaukee is so amazing was invaluable to me.
