Turtles Can Win
Dr. Paul R. Johnson
SALES PAGE
SOCIAL MEDIA ASSETS
PRESS RELEASE
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Paul was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and fondly considers himself a native New Orleanian. However, at the age of three, his family relocated to Seattle, Washington, where he was raised. Today, he considers the Pacific Northwest home and lives there with his wife, Ricole, their son, Roman, and their playful maltipoo, Cookie Deaux.
Dr. Johnson is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning, deeply committed to education, mentorship, and leading by example. Over the years, he has dedicated himself to serving students and communities in a variety of roles within K-12 education. His experience includes work as a classroom teacher, student advisor, coach, board member, trustee, and school administrator, as well as ongoing volunteer service.
His own educational journey began in the Seattle Public Schools system. After completing the ninth grade, he enrolled at Lakeside School, a prestigious preparatory institution known for its rigorous academic standards. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Seattle University, followed by master’s degrees from the University of Washington, Villanova University, and Georgetown University. He ultimately received his Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California.
Because he struggled academically in K-12 and in early college, Paul and many others assumed he wasn’t working hard enough or that he simply lacked the aptitude. He later learned that his struggles in school were due to dyslexia and other learning differences.
Dr. Johnson often describes himself as a Turtle, both figuratively and sometimes literally, as he tends to do things more slowly than others, but he also believes in moving forward and working towards his goals. As a lifelong learner, he feels like he has never stopped attending school, and he doesn’t plan to stop learning.
Today, Dr. Paul R. Johnson is the owner and CEO of Leschi Leadership LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations and leaders navigate complex challenges and achieve sustainable success.
Prior to founding Leschi Leadership, Dr. Johnson held a variety of leadership roles at several highly respected, world-class organizations, including The Boeing Company, Microsoft, Starbucks Coffee Company, Junior Achievement, and the Seattle Symphony.
Throughout his career, he has developed deep expertise in human resources, change management, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), project management, strategic partnerships, and community outreach. His work has consistently focused on building inclusive cultures, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and driving meaningful, people-centered change.
In 2020, Dr. Johnson was invited by Press 49 to contribute a chapter to what would become the award-winning book, A Collective Breath: Stories of Being Black in America and Visions of Change. Following the success of that collaborative project, he was inspired to pursue his passion for writing further. After completing his doctoral dissertation, he decided to write Turtle Can Win: How Learning Differences Taught Me to Run My Own Race and Still Cross the Finish Line, a deeply personal and motivational work that reflects his journey, resilience, and commitment to empowering others to embrace their unique paths to success.
Outside of his professional and academic life, Dr. Johnson is an avid sports fan who has attended nearly every major sporting event, with one notable exception: a Major League Baseball World Series game. As a long-time Seattle Mariners fan, he eagerly anticipates the day his team reaches the Fall Classic. He also enjoys traveling, live music events, and attending Broadway performances with his family.
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Click HERE to read excerpts from Turtles Can Win.
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