Gail Coles Johnson is the Chief Human Resources Officer of The Executive Leadership Council. She is responsible for developing and executing human resources strategy in support of The ELC’s business plan and overall strategic direction, specifically in the areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, training and development, and compensation. She provides strategic leadership by articulating HR needs and plans to ELC leadership and leads the HR function, including managing HR staff and external HR resources.
Before joining The ELC, Ms. Coles Johnson was Assistant Vice President of Human Resources at AT&T. She spent more than 30 years at AT&T in progressive executive capacities, leading a team of HR professionals to deliver company-wide talent and HR initiatives. This included working one-on-one with executive team members and direct reports of the chairman, on a host of high-impact improvement initiatives.
Through her persistent and engaging coaching style, Ms. Coles Johnson made an indelible impact on AT&T’s global workforce and corporate model. She was invited to serve as a public influencer, driving workforce attraction and retention in the workplace. Her mentoring programs and strategic planning workshops for clients were award-winning (as recognized by Diversity Inc.). She has also been a keynote speaker and panelist, addressing diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership development and talent acquisition.
Ms. Coles Johnson has a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and completed Executive Education programs at Harvard Business School and Cornell University. Her executive influence and communications serve as a foundation to her success on multiple boards including the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the National Black MBA, the Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Board, Links Foundation Board, Jack and Jill Foundation Board, Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation Board and NIH Advisory Council. She is a past member of the Bowie State University School of Business Advisory Board.
