Devante Johns is an Enterprise Account Executive at Hugo—a global business process outsourcing provider—where he is responsible for new business development as well as expanding relationships with existing clients. After progressing through various technology and enterprise sales roles, including at Google, Johns attended The ELC’s Mid-Level Management Symposium (MLMS) in 2025 after a vice president within Google Cloud nominated him to attend.

“Being selected to attend was meaningful to me,” Johns said. “It reinforced that senior leaders were recognizing my potential.”

He walked into MLMS already performing at a high level. “And I walked out with a greater understanding of myself as a leader,” Johns noted. In fact, he received a promotion at Google the month after attending MLMS.

“Since then, my career has continued to evolve—from Google, to entrepreneurship, and now to Hugo, where I’m helping grow a company whose mission connects deeply with the kind of impact I want to make,” said Johns. “MLMS remains one of the best leadership experiences I’ve attended.” Here, Johns shares his insights into what makes the event so transformational.

Was the timing of your attendance opportune for where you were in your career?

Absolutely. The timing couldn’t have been better. I was taking leadership courses at Harvard, performing well at Google, and beginning to establish myself as a leader. I knew I was capable of more, and MLMS solidified that belief.

Being surrounded by accomplished leaders and other ambitious mid-level managers gave me the confidence I needed to realize I belong in those rooms too.

What was your biggest takeaway from MLMS?

One of the messages I remember most came from speaker and Wall Street veteran Carla Harris: Use your voice.

That hit me personally because I have a speech impediment—a stutter. There were times in my career when I held back because I felt self-conscious about how I sounded, even though I knew I was capable and consistently produced results.

MLMS helped change that mindset. I realized my voice—exactly as it is—is part of my power as a leader.

What were some changes you implemented after attending?

I became more vocal, visible and intentional about taking on leadership opportunities. At Google, I joined our Black Googler Network social committee, helping spearhead community events, charitable initiatives, and other opportunities to give back.

I also became more comfortable advocating for myself. MLMS reinforced the message that exceeding your goals isn’t enough; leaders must also ensure everyone understands the impact of that work.

What were some subsequent career outcomes that you attribute, at least in part, to MLMS?

The biggest immediate outcome was my promotion.

I attended MLMS in October 2025, and I was promoted at Google the following month.

While I don’t believe any conference can get someone promoted—you have to earn that yourself—MLMS absolutely influenced how I showed up at work during that period. I became much more strategic about communicating my impact, advocating for myself, and increasing my visibility.

What impact did connecting with other leaders and mid-level managers have on you?

It was monumental. Being surrounded by accomplished leaders at major organizations who spoke with confidence and authority—many of whom looked like me—expanded my perspective on what was possible.

Those connections also became valuable professionally. A great example is my conversation with Citi Executive Vice Chair Mark Mason. After meeting Mark, I found myself developing relationships with other leaders across his network and at Citi.

Even today, as I’m developing new business at Hugo, those connections matter. Business is built on trust and relationships.

What were some lessons Mark shared with you?

He talked about wishing he had made decisions about the people around him sooner—understanding who was truly aligned with where he was going and who wasn’t.

That was profound because of I was wrestling with the same issue at the time.

As you grow, you naturally want the people who came up with you to grow with you. But sometimes your goals, intensity, discipline, or vision for your life simply aren’t aligned with theirs anymore.

That doesn’t mean you stop caring about those people. But you understand that everybody isn’t meant to accompany you into every chapter.

What was something unexpected you learned?

That people can often understand the depth of your knowledge by the quality of the questions you ask. Your questions reveal how you think. Your comments reveal your perspective. Your actions reveal your character. But none of that can be fully visible if you choose to stay silent.

What advice would you give other MLMS attendees?

Don’t be afraid to network. Introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. Approach the executives and speakers. Ask thoughtful questions. Connect on LinkedIn while you’re there so you don’t forget afterwards.

I was surprised by how welcoming and forthcoming the leaders were. They genuinely wanted to share what they’ve learned.

And don’t just collect connections—build relationships. There is something powerful about being in a room filled with leaders and aspiring leaders who have similar ambitions. The energy and synergy are incredible.

Go into the symposium believing you belong there, because you do. Fully participate. You never know which conversation could change the trajectory of your career.