CU General Counsel Brings Goal of 'Contributing Meaningfully Without Stifling Dialogue' to Executive Team

Name: Janis Johnson

Credit union: Georgia United Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Duluth, Ga.)

Title: Chief Risk Officer and General Counsel

Number of years at current credit union: One

Educational background: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina

CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Johnson: In my capacity as general counsel, I am responsible for executing the legal strategy of the credit union in support of our overall business strategy, and, similarly, in my role as chief risk officer, I am responsible for identifying and managing overall risk related to the credit union’s strategy.

CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Johnson: The credit union mission and the passion around advocacy for the credit union difference really resonated with me.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Johnson: Having started my career as a labor and employment and litigation specialist, I am able to bring that unique lens of evaluating matters not just from the legal and risk perspectives, but also from the perspective of how our strategies impact our team members. Our executive team spends quite a bit of its time focused on our team member population, and I think that’s one of the key attributes of Georgia United that makes it so successful. I also bring to this role a strong skillset in corporate governance, and providing support for our CEO, executive team and our board of directors has been a valuable and rewarding experience in my role.

CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Johnson: I’ve been fortunate to have quite a few mentors during my career journey, but of those mentors, I credit Patelco Credit Union General Counsel Angela Jeffers as having helped and supported me the most. Our tenures in the Bank of America legal department overlapped, and she was instrumental in providing guidance and direction when I developed a keen interest in expanding my skillset beyond my labor and employment and litigation expertise, and using those experiences to evolve into a corporate generalist. She provided a roadmap into ways to use that expertise as a springboard to gain key expertise, including corporate governance, that I’d need on the path to becoming general counsel-ready.

CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Johnson: From my vantage point as general counsel, a significant challenge I faced was mastering the delicate balance between serving as the credit union’s legal guardian and safeguarding privilege, while also acting as an active business partner engaged in strategic discussions. I have navigated these nuances, ensuring my presence at the table is not seen as a hindrance but as an asset. My goal has been to contribute meaningfully without stifling dialogue, ensuring my legal insights are both timely and appropriate. The executive team at Georgia United excels in fostering such a collaborative environment.

CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Johnson: I am a balanced leader, and I work to lean into the strengths of each of my direct reports and adjust to where each needs closer support and where each can operate more independently. I find that adapting to the support they need and listening to their cues, instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, is most effective.

CU Times: What are some lessons you’ve learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? And, do you approach communication differently depending on the generation of the recipient (boomer, Gen X, millennial and Gen Z)?

Johnson: The most important lessons I’ve learned include being very intentional about the process of active listening, and I’ve also learned to listen to all sides of an issue. As for active listening, I’ve learned to fully engage with the person I’m speaking with so that I am hearing the message fully, instead of listening just long enough to formulate my response. That approach has required me, at times, to acknowledge the message and ask for time to process and respond. Just making sure a person knows they have been heard is often just as valuable as having a prompt response. If I defer a response, though, I am intentional about the follow up. As for listening to all sides of an issue, I think lawyers are trained to remain objective and examine all sides of an issue, instead of leaping to a particular position. So, honing that objectivity has been effective regardless of the generation of the recipient.

CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community?

Johnson: I hope to continue my work supporting the legal and risk areas of the credit union and furthering our strategy as one of the largest and strongest credit unions in Georgia, which will, in turn, strengthen the work we do for our members and the surrounding community.

CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Johnson: I would encourage my younger self to remain curious about people, their backgrounds and their needs, and to maintain a continuous learning mindset. Having that curiosity helps to build relationships and places value on those you interact with each day, and those relationships are key to moving through your career and in life.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com. To qualify, the individual must be a part of a credit union’s leadership team or C-suite, and have a compelling story to share about their rise to their current leadership role.