30 at 30: Eric Johnson
Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership Class of 2021
President and CEO: Aeon
Aeon President and CEO Eric Anthony Johnson chose the Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership (EMBA-SL) program to accelerate his work in urban development strategy. Before coming to UT, Johnson spent years examining the impact of policies and economic development investment in major cities, including Atlanta, Detroit, New Orleans and Washington D.C. He also earned a Doctorate in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.
Leadership That Makes an Impact
Johnson’s childhood in New Orleans impacts his research and work today. By the time he was 18, his family had moved homes 19 times. His experience gave him a better understanding of urban environments from the perspective of community-led, local government and public- and private-sector organizations.
As he explored executive MBA courses across the country, Johnson said UT’s EMBA-SL stood out for its focus on leadership.
“This program was the final piece that I felt was missing from my career,” the 2021 graduate said. “A focus on leadership and a combination of work and school were key motivators to join UT.”
Navigating a Changing Administrative Landscape
Johnson worked for the City of Dallas during the COVID-19 outbreak, and his EMBA-SL coursework helped him make real-life policy decisions. His understanding of leadership principles rooted in strategic intent and alignment helped his team move forward, despite massive disruption in one of America’s largest metropolitan cities.
In his role, he helped the city recover from the impact of COVID-19. He said the EMBA-SL program provided him an opportunity to focus on leadership in a moment when those skills were imperative to his community’s long-term stability. Discussing concepts in class with teachers and peers helped guide his recommendations to the city council.
Program faculty, including Professor of Practice in Leadership Mike Grojean and Amy Cathey, associate dean for Graduate and Executive Education, encouraged him to ask questions and learn from his peers. Johnson said he leveraged his faculty and cohort’s expertise to apply classroom concepts to the public and private sectors.
Johnson added, “The way this peer-to-peer style of learning was delivered gave us comfort to ask questions not just to faculty but also to others in our cohort. For many, this experience was huge. There was always an inherent motivation to keep pushing forward towards both our individual and group goals.”
From the Classroom to the Community
Speaking about the leadership aspect of the UT EMBA-SL program, he emphasized the need for learning executive leadership in an applied context. Running numbers and managing budgets are everyday activities for executives, but the challenge lies in understanding how to remain agile in changing business environments.
Johnson’s Organizational Action Project (OAP) established the foundation for a low-market real estate development company focused on affordable housing. Private-sector housing is often designed to generate the highest possible return, which makes it inaccessible to lower-income families. His pilot project concentrated on balancing affordability with returns to make housing available at a lower price point. His project has since been registered as a company that works to educate communities about the importance of affordable housing.
Since graduating from EMBA-SL, Johnson has continued to build momentum. He recently participated in a discussion with the International Housing Partnerships group in Toronto and has been invited to discuss Australia’s housing problems with their government. In the fall of 2023, he plans to teach a class at Minnesota State University on housing needs for previously incarcerated individuals.
EMBA Words of Wisdom
As EMBA-SL’s 30th anniversary approaches, Johnson shared a word of advice for prospective students.
“Our society needs leadership,” he said, “whether in government, private or nonprofit sectors. If you’re looking for a program that has a fine balance between business principles and much-needed leadership, you should consider applying to this program.”
Johnson was happy to share that he wore a shirt featuring the University’s iconic “Power T” for this interview, and he enjoys visiting campus whenever his schedule permits. On a recent trip, he reconnected with some of his faculty, was featured in a promotional video for the University and spoke to the current EMBA-SL cohort about his experiences. Signing off, he said, “Tennessee just makes you want to be there.”