Biography of Meagan S. Johnson

She spent several years working in sales for companies like Quaker Oats, Kraft Foods and Xerox. At every company she became discouraged to hear all the negative comments about Generation X. (Generation X is the 50 million people born between 1965 and 1980.)

Being a Gen Xer herself, Ms. Johnson felt these comments were unfounded. She was further frustrated by the blinders her own managers seemed to have. “There was this perception of only one way to get ahead and be successful at work. The career path my managers expected me to take was very traditional. They seemed to be unable to look at a different way of training and career management that was relevant to younger employees.”

Meagan Johnson began to research everything from small to large corporations in order to find successful ways to work with the younger generation. From that ZAP THE GAP Solving the Multi-Generational Puzzle was born.

Since 1997 Ms. Johnson has entertained and educated thousands of audience members from all over the globe. She has written a variety of articles about the multiple generations and has been interviewed for many publications and audio programs. She wrote the Generational chapter in the book Success is A Team Effort. In 2000, she was the only female speaker on the main platform at the Harley Davidson University conference in New Orleans Louisiana. After her ZAP THE GAP presentation, a Harley Dealer told her “You have changed the way I treat and train my younger employees.”

Meagan Johnson has continued her research into the complexities of the younger workforce. She says, “Every generation gets a negative label when it enter the workforce. For example Baby Boomers were called trouble-making hippies when they first went to work and Gen Xers were called lazy. Once we take time to understand the motivations and mind-set of younger people, working with them, selling to them and managing them becomes a more successful effort.”

Ms. Johnson is an active member of NSA, National Speakers Association. In 2003, she received her CSP, Certified Speaking Professional designation. Currently, only ten percent of professional speakers hold this designation. As a Gen Xer she was extremely proud to be one of the youngest recipients of the CSP designation.

Meagan Johnson’s clients include: Harley-Davidson Motor CO, Dairy Queen, Kindred Hospital, American Academy of Nursing, Produce Marketing Association, American Express, National School Public Relations Association, Visit Florida, L’Oreal, National Apartment Association, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, City of Phoenix, Pepsi CO, Coldwell Banker, Cadillac, Michigan Dental Association, National Cosmetology Association, and Bubba Gump Shrimp.