Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer

Company/Organization: Southern Company

Address:
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. NW
Bin SC1003
Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Phone: (404) 506-0551

Fax: (404) 506-5132

www.southernco.com

msjohnso@southernco.com

Length of Service: 20 years

Favorite Awards & Honors: One of 14 women selected internationally for the 2000-2001 class of the prestigious Leadership Foundation Fellows Program. Alumnus of Leadership Birmingham, Leadership Alabama, Leadership Jacksonville, Leadership Atlanta, and Leadership Mobile, where she also served on the board of directors.

Education: Bachelor of Arts - Jacksonville, University (Florida);
Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program.

Family: Single. No children. Blessed to have a wonderful mother, sister, brother, grandmother, nephew, aunts, cousins, sister-in-law, all mostly in Jacksonville, Florida.

Favorite Quote: "My greatest wealth is in the deep stillness in which I strive and grow and win what the world cannot take from me with fire or sword." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Advice to Women in Business: Develop great tolerance for ambiguity. Give yourself credit for what you know, and know when what you know is good enough to "Go For It!"

Best Advice Ever Received: Always remember "Who" you are and "Whose" you are.

Secret to Surviving in Business: Embrace change. Stay nimble. Deliver strategic excellence not just tactical expertise. Keep a sense of humor. Know unequivocally God is ultimately in control.

Your Strongest Inspiration: My family - father (now deceased), mother, sister, brother, grandparents, aunts and uncles who throughout the years encourage, cheer, expect only the best, and want only my complete happiness.

What being in business has taught you: Nothing happens except that it happens with, by, or through People. The more you understand people, the more you understand business. Business success is in direct proportion to one's success in developing relationships with people.

Secret to dealing with employees: Tell the truth. Affirm their worth and value of their contributions. Understand you must work to earn their trust each day. Accept you will not be perfect each day. Admit when mistakes are made.