Russell Johnson & Associates

At Russell Johnson & Associates, we support our clients in attaining their full potential for fulfillment and self-actualization. Our methodology, tools, one-to-one consulting, and coaching are designed to meet the complex needs of executives and entrepreneurs. 

Our clients develop the clarity, strategy, tactics, mindset, skills, and confidence necessary to achieve objectives ranging from accelerated advancement to major career change. And we provide ongoing long-term support for further career growth.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

We are dedicated to empowering the individual because our world needs the full contribution of us all, and we all benefit from maximizing the value we create. 

Because services such as recruitment and outplacement are funded by employers, they perpetuate a distortion of the balance of power between the employer and the individual. Superficial services focused on employers' objectives leave countless high-potential people disempowered, unfulfilled, and not knowing why. Yet with career paths becoming ever more complex, we all need to see our career as our business and operate with the attributes of a successful business. 

We aim to help make this the ‘new normal’ rather than the rare exception.

WHAT WE DO

We help our clients develop the empowered mindset, vision, clarity, strategy, tactics, self-marketing skills, and confidence to achieve their full potential for contribution and self-actualization.

Our clients become free from the artificial constraints of the advertised job market. Whether they continue on their current paths, change direction, leave their jobs for self-employment, or vice versa, there’s a lasting difference. Through deepened awareness, clarity, and the skills to capitalize on these, they are no longer trapped in unsuitable careers. 

They work for purposes they want to serve and in roles where they can make their full contribution and enjoy the lives they want.

Founder and CEO

Empowered Careers

Empowered Careers helps people in early professional careers who find themselves stuck in unsatisfying roles to create fulfilling futures. 

Our philosophy corresponds to that of Russell Johnson & Associates, the firm through which we provide the extensive one-to-one support that senior-level clients need.

EPR Careers

I founded EPR Careers after a long search for career fulfillment when the experiences of a takeover at Arby's led me to acknowledge that I needed a new and more fulfilling career path than the corporate one I had been on. 

I was attracted to the autonomy of self-employment; however, I committed to supporting the transition to new ownership at Arby's and stayed on for two more years. Then, I left to devote full time to the search for the transformation I wanted.

I sought high-quality career support but was unable to find it in either the US or my home country, Australia. Recognizing that many executives and professionals needed such support, I established EPR Careers, initially with a partner whose experience in owning a recruitment business added another perspective to mine.
  
Over the ensuing 22 years, I developed a team with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and we provided services throughout Australia and internationally. I led the development of EPR's services, continually refined our methodology, and built the firm into a global leader in its field. 

I focused on developing and refining our unique approach and we helped many thousands of self-funded clients to achieve their objectives. However, the business model needed more work. 

Others saw opportunities in this and the business was acquired in 2014 by a consortium of staff and former clients. They ultimately closed the firm in 2016. Meanwhile, I reflected on the lessons of my 22 years at the helm of EPR and subsequently launched a new firm incorporating those lessons.

Founder and Managing Director

Arby's

Founded in 1964, Arby’s was an established quick-service restaurant chain, part of the Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed Royal Crown group. I joined the company as Director of Franchising with a mandate to expand the franchise system after a decade of stagnation and failed attempts to restart it. 

Over the next six years, I built a high-performing team and transformed the attractiveness of the franchise system and the strength of the Arby's brand. 

Led all franchising activities including planning, marketing, sales, administration, site selection and acquisition, financing, construction, fit-out of restaurant premises, franchisee induction and training, ongoing operational support, and relationships between the company and its franchisees. 

The chain was transformed from a laggard in the restaurant industry into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing franchise systems and experienced its golden era. I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President, reporting to the CEO as equal number two executive of the company. 

Major Achievements:
•	Developed rigorous systems for franchisee support 
•	Quadrupled the number of franchisees
•	Achieved growth of well over 200 new restaurants annually, making the company one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant chains, employing over 50,000 people, with over 1,850 restaurants and more than 200 under development
•	Despite the turmoil of a takeover in 1984 and over a year without a CEO, the company was independently and repeatedly ranked in the top ten of the approximately 3,000 franchise systems in the U.S. at the time
•	With a new restaurant opening every 39 hours on average, Arby’s became recognized as the most significant turnaround of the period in the American restaurant industry, and one of the greatest franchising success stories of the era.

Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President

International Multifoods Corporation

Joined the Franchise Division of International Multifoods, a Minneapolis, MN-based Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed company in a head office role. After gaining initial franchising experience, relocated to Atlanta GA, managing franchise development in the Southern region of the US. Subsequently declined promotion to Director of Franchising at head office and instead accepted a role at the same level but with greater potential at Arby’s Inc.

Managed development of fast food franchises in several regions of the U.S. and in Canada.
	Selected franchisees and sites
	Assisted franchisees in real estate, financing and construction negotiations

Regional Franchise Manager

Unfulfilling executive career? Transform it before it traps you.

At 14, I was pulled out of school to get my first full-time job by a family crisis.

That disruption sparked a long journey through many industries and layers of the working world.

From office work to construction and self-employment in Australia, study in the UK and ministry in Africa, then from sales to senior executive roles in the US.

At Arby’s, I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and led its transformation to one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains globally. 

With a new location opening every 39 hours, we were rated in the Top 10 of over 3,000 franchise systems in the US. 

Then, a corporate takeover harmed the culture.

I resigned to find a meaningful new path, then stayed on for a nearly tripled income. 

Two years later, I resigned again, to buy or create a business aligned with my values.

A few months on, I realized I was lost. 

I sought high-level, values and vision-based career support, and couldn’t find that either.

But that experience led me to finally recognize my calling—to fill that market gap.

Since then, I have spent decades helping executives worldwide align their careers with their deeper values and awaken their dormant clarity, confidence, energy and impact.

My colleagues and I have guided thousands through critical transitions, enabling them to align their careers with who they truly are—and with what they most want to contribute. 

I do this work because I believe that society needs more leaders doing work they find personally meaningful. 

And that begins with taking charge of their careers, rather than surrendering them to systems that meet their lower needs but not their higher aspirations. 

If you’re ready to reimagine what your career can be, let’s explore what’s possible.

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://rjacareers.com/schedule-a-call-rj/

Russell Johnson

Stuck in career quicksand? 
 
It's not necessarily your fault. 
 
Consider this: Analysis paralysis is often seen as the villain, freezing us in our tracks. But what if it's actually your superpower? 
 
In a world obsessed with speed, taking your time to analyze might in fact be your edge. 
 
It’s a characteristic of thoughtful people who don’t settle too easily. 
 
Yet too much of a good thing can be harmful. The trick lies in finding the balance. 
 
Start by setting a 'decision deadline'. Give yourself the freedom to explore options, but with a clear end in sight. 
 
Next, embrace the 'good enough' principle. Perfection is an illusion. Aim for progress, not perfection. 
 
And recognize and implement the power of iteration. We are living in times of rapid change. We need to be nimble. 
 
Finally, tap into your support network. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all it takes to break the cycle of overthinking. 
 
Your analytical mind is a gift. Use it wisely. 
 
Ready to turn your analytical inclination into your career superpower? 
 
Let's break free from the quicksand, together. 
 
Engage below if you're ready for a shift. 
 
~~ 
 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Jayant Ghosh

DXSolution

> Drove $2.5M+ ARR in new business development through value-based consultative sales and CXO engagement across BFSI, Retail, and Manufacturing.

> Closed a landmark $14M (₹100 Cr) retail deal, enabling O2O (online-to-offline) transformation and customer experience innovation.

> Built 10+ strategic partnerships, delivering 20–30% MoM growth in brand visibility and pipeline through co-marketing and ecosystem plays.

> Launched SaaS-led AR & RPA solutions, accelerating business by 25% and generating $100K in 9 months.

> Partnered with marquee clients, including Reliance, Adani, Kalpataru Power, and others.

> GTM focuses on solutions: IoT, Industry 4.0, Predictive Maintenance, Retail IoT, Document & Marketing Asset Management, AI/ML, RTLS, RFID.

Director – Sales & Digital Transformation

TranquilMind

Founder

GCR - Global Channel Resources

At GCR, I led Sales & GTM Strategy for SaaS and digital transformation solutions (IoT, Industry 4.0, RPA, AI/ML) across BFSI, Retail, and Manufacturing.

> Scaled business 100X in FY20, driving topline revenue to $5M with sustainable growth.

> Defined ROI frameworks for complex SaaS solutions, improving deal closure rates by 20–25% and maintaining 30–35% gross margins.

> Managed a high-performance team of 17 (Sales, Marketing, Product, Pre-Sales) in a startup environment, building a culture of collaboration and accountability.

> Successfully executed a new business model, ensuring uninterrupted revenue of $3.5M+ from 1,000+ resellers and direct customers.

> Partnered with leading enterprises, including Godrej, Reliance, Future Group, KEI Industries, L&T, Ramco, Murugappa Group, ICICI Bank and others.

Sales Director – GTM Strategy & SaaS/Digital Solutions

Genuus

As Business Head at Genuus, I drove sales, GTM, and client acquisition for Marketing Cloud and SaaS-based solutions, partnering with CMOs to connect marketing spend to revenue outcomes.

> Increased customer acquisition by 25%, onboarding 10+ enterprise clients across Retail, BFSI, and CPG in one year.

> Generated $0.5M revenue through subscription-based Marketing Cloud deployments.

> Built a high-performance sales process, accelerating client onboarding and retention while improving ROI by 20%.

> Helped clients unlock value via Marketing Analytics, Attribution, Personalisation, and Automation.

> Partnered with marquee clients, including Future Group, RBL Bank, AGS Transact, Piramal Enterprises, Welspun, Tata Capital, FCL and others, strengthening enterprise adoption of SaaS solutions.

Business Head & Strategy – Sales & Marketing Cloud (SaaS Solutions)

Checkpoint Systems

At Checkpoint Systems, I led Sales & GTM Strategy across MEA & APAC, managing a $20M annual portfolio with consistent 25% GP margins.

> Turned around underperforming channels, driving 50% revenue growth and 35% GP uplift in MEA over 3 years.

> Built a multi-million-dollar pipeline and closed 10+ strategic wins, including a landmark $30M IoT/RTLS deal with a leading MEA retailer.

> Designed and executed a direct sales model (MEA) and partnership strategy (APAC), expanding regional coverage.

> Expanded across Retail, CPG, Logistics & Manufacturing, unlocking a $100M+ opportunity pipeline.

> Partnered with marquee clients including Lulu, Landmark, Carrefour, Almarai, P&G, Beiersdorf, Shoprite, Chalhoub, Agthia, Gulf Marketing Group, and more.

> Engaged CXOs directly and mentored regional sales teams, aligning GTM execution with customer success.

Solutions sold: RFID, RTLS, IoT-based Retail Visibility, SaaS & Hybrid Cloud Platforms.

Head of Sales and Business Development – MEA & APAC (Enterprise Tech & Retail Solutions)

Ample Technologies

At Ample Technologies, I led national corporate sales strategy & operations, managing P&L with 15% EBITDA and a team of 60+ sales representatives across India.

> Delivered 20% revenue growth in 6 months, scaling sales from single to multiple locations and generating $3.5M (₹250M).

> Built a Mobility Solutions portfolio and 3-year business plan, unlocking a $41.5M opportunity with 40% EBITDA margins.

> Reduced attrition by 10% through restructuring cost-centre metrics and introducing performance-based incentives.

> Improved customer satisfaction and team productivity via targeted training, sales enablement, and cultural transformation.

> Partnered with new logos, including Flipkart, Arvind, Aditya Birla, Myntra, Visa, Groupon and others, expanding enterprise relationships in Retail, BFSI, and Tech.

Solutions sold: Enterprise Mobility, SaaS (Hybrid Cloud/On-Prem), Apple Ecosystem Solutions.

Head of Sales and Business Development (Enterprise Mobility Solutions)

At Checkpoint Systems, I managed enterprise sales, key accounts, and new product rollouts for the Alpha product line (IoT, RFID, RTLS) across India, delivering 25% GP margins and mentoring direct sales managers.

> Closed a $1.5M (₹10 Cr) annual deal with a top Indian Retail & CPG client through consultative enterprise sales.

> Drove $0.75M (₹5 Cr) YoY revenue from SME clients via a new engagement program.

> Introduced RF source tagging & hard tagging, creating a $1.2M (₹8 Cr) business model at 28% GP.

> Maintained a 95% client retention rate through SaaS-based engagement and customer success.

> Partnered with marquee clients, including Reliance Retail, Future Group, P&G, Bestseller, J&J, and others.

> Expanded market adoption across Retail & CPG, building the case for IoT-led real-time visibility.

Solutions sold: IoT, RTLS, RFID, SaaS (Hybrid Cloud/On-Prem models).

Regional Manager – West & National BDM (Alpha Solutions | IoT, RFID, RTLS)

AGS Transact Technologies Ltd

At AGS Transact Technologies, I managed large enterprise sales nationally, expanding across Retail, BFSI, Telecom, and Logistics while leading GTM, new business creation, and customer success.

> Grew revenue from $5.2M to $86.5M (₹35 Cr → ₹580 Cr) by building a market-driven sales organisation.

> Diversified offerings into Mobility, Kiosk, and Digital Signage, generating $20M (₹100 Cr) in new revenue over 5 years.

> Closed a $6M (₹350 Cr) EPOS Application deal, creating a new business line in BFSI.

> Launched Cash Deposit Machines for Retail & Banking, creating a $13M (₹75 Cr) market.

> Increased profitability by 15% by focusing on value-based segments over price-driven ones.

> Drove cross-sell, upsell, and renewals, building long-term customer growth and retention.

> Partnered with marquee clients, including Reliance Retail, Future Group, Globus, ICICI Bank, D-Mart, HP, Telenor, Central Bank of India, ABRL, Axis Bank, Aditya Birla Minacs and others.

> Engaged directly with CXOs, aligning enterprise solutions with client growth and transformation strategies.

Solutions sold: Retail Automation, POS, Mobility, Digital Signage, Kiosks, RFID, Virtualisation, Thin Clients.

Regional Sales Manager

HCL Infosystems Ltd.

At HCL Infosystems, I managed enterprise sales & GTM strategy across Retail, BFSI, Manufacturing, and Logistics, delivering $13M (₹800M) topline revenue with 10% YoY growth.

> Expanded ARR by 30% through account expansion, upselling, and cross-selling.

> Added 20+ new enterprise accounts through the HCL1 integrated solutions drive.

> Drove Digital Signage, FMS & Managed Services revenue to $8M (₹500M) with 20% YoY growth.

> Closed a $4.5M (₹190M) Digital Signage project, positioning HCL as a leader in retail automation.

> Managed a 25-member team (5 direct reports), driving enablement, mentoring, and upskilling.

> Improved profitability by 10–15% through vendor negotiation and efficiency.

> Built CXO-level relationships across Retail & BFSI, ensuring smooth delivery and long-term account growth.

Solutions sold: RFID, POS, Digital Signage, Mobility, Kiosk, Virtualisation, SAP, WMS, Data Centre, Managed Services.

Zonal Sales Manager

Building VYNA 🧠 Tech That Feels | AI + AR/VR + Neurosensory for Loneliness & Stress | Reimagining Mental Wellness → Empathy + Human-Centered Innovation | Let’s Connect ↓

Everyone talks about scaling tech. Few talk about healing minds.
I chose to do both.
I’m channelling my energy into solving one of India’s most urgent challenges: mental health.
I’m building the future of mental health tech with three incredible co-founders — proud to be a 50:50 male-female founding team.

I draw my inspiration from 20+ years of leading global sales, P&L, GTM, and digital transformation across SaaS, AI/ML, AR/VR, IoT, and Industry 4.0 — where I drove $100M+ in revenue, built high-performing teams, and turned around complex portfolios..

⚡ From Scaling Businesses to Healing Minds.

For two decades, I helped enterprises grow — driving complex tech adoption, turning around portfolios, and solving tough problems with data, systems, and empathy.
Then COVID hit. I paused, and what I saw changed everything: 200M+ people in India silently struggling with stress, anxiety, and loneliness… with fewer than 10,000 practising therapists to support them.

That’s when the TranquilMind idea was born.

💙 Building TranquilMind: Mental Health Tech with Soul.
We’re building VYNA™ — the world’s first end-to-end mental health system designed for scale.

India faces a silent crisis: 200M+ people struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression — with fewer than 10,000 practising therapists. Most solutions are fragmented or reactive.

VYNA™ changes that.
It’s a neurosensory, AI-native platform that detects emotional dysregulation before crisis hits and delivers adaptive, personalised care at scale.

🧠 Core stack:
Multi-sensor wearables (EEG, ECG, HRV, GSR, EMG) for real-time emotion detection
Emotion-aware AI powering personalised care pathways
Immersive AR/VR therapy, therapist dashboard, and regulatory-ready Mental Health EHR

Not just an app — a hardware + software + AI ecosystem.
We’re uniting diagnostics, therapy, human-in-the-loop care, and immersive environments — to build the default mental health infrastructure for the next billion users.

📩 Let’s Talk
If you’re an investor, healthtech leader, journalist, or builder exploring the mental health space — I’d love to connect.
📆 Book time with me: zcal.co/jayant-ghosh
📩 Mention “TranquilMind” in your request.

Superpowers: Tech + storytelling | Building teams | Leading through empathy
Reset buttons: Cooking, off-roading, Formula 1
Tattoos: My values, inked

Business Solutions Consultant

Digital Technologies are what I love and am extremely passionate about. My playground is Manufacturing, Logistics & Supply Chain, Retail, Construction, Automotive, and BFSI. Emerging technologies need multiple rounds of discussion with multiple stakeholders AKA buying team. The ideal way to connect and be relevant is only through Storytelling. This approach opens door to relevant communication and ensures every discussion is actional at both ends.
🟦 A start-up born on emerging technologies solutions. Managing Strategic Partnerships (10+), leading business planning, and defining digital marketing strategies to increase awareness by 20-30% MoM with the right marketing communications.
🟦 Customer-facing, managing stakeholders and relationship management is my value-based sale approach. Maintaining a healthy funnel and driving revenue of USD 2.5M (₹ 200M) for new business development.
🟦 Closed a deal of Value INR 100 Cr ($14 M) to enhance the experience and help a retailer to merge O2O.
🟦 Instrumented, ideated, and conceptualized solutions around AR and RPA to increase business by 25% leading to revenue of 100 K USD in 9 months. 

The solution I am in - is IoT, Industry 4.0, Predictive / Condition Monitoring & Maintenance, AR Smart Glass and Solution, Retail Shelf Management, Engineering Document management, RPA, Hyperautomation, and Asset Visibility that is offered under the customer-preferred option and model.

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