Prof. Peter Johnson, Founder of The Ayadee Foundation: From Diplomacy to Social Impact Leadership
- Peter’s background as a futurist, digital economist, educator, and former American diplomat.
- Roots in Rochester, New York, and the impact of the city’s rise and fall on his worldview.
Podcast
Overview
On this episode of The Brand Called You, host Mark Sadovnick sits down with Peter Johnson, the multifaceted founder of The Ayadee Foundation. The conversation is a deep dive into Peter’s personal and professional journey, weaving together stories of risk-taking, global living, innovation, and the evolving connection between technology and humanity.
00:00 – Who is Peter Johnson?
- Peter’s background as a futurist, digital economist, educator, and former American diplomat.
- Roots in Rochester, New York, and the impact of the city’s rise and fall on his worldview.
- Life’s journey moving from the U.S. to Tunisia and now to France with his wife, five kids, and a full house of pets.
00:03:56 – What was Peter like as a child and student?
- Self-described “history nerd” and avid reader.
- Early interests in leadership, participating in Model United Nations and student government.
- Engagement in sports not for competition but for community and teamwork.
00:05:15 – How did global education shape Peter’s vision?
- Studied at Johns Hopkins and furthered his executive education globally—in DC, Bologna, Berlin.
- Emphasis on adapting to new cultures, learning languages out of practicality and respect.
- Belief that true immersion in a language and culture fosters deeper understanding—not just relying on translation technology.
00:08:20 – What do diplomacy, sales, and business have in common?
- Insights on transitioning from sales and market analysis to diplomacy and international development.
- The value of people skills across all these roles—listening, asking the right questions, conveying recommendations.
- Finding deeper purpose in roles aimed at public good over financial models.
00:11:43 – How does Peter drive social and economic impact?
- Founding The Ayadee Foundation with a focus on tech education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Leadership within the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network and building communities for collective impact.
- The power of vision and mission statements for organizations and their teams, illustrated with anecdotes from executive education in Madagascar.
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Profile
- Peter’s background as a futurist, digital economist, educator, and former American diplomat.
- Roots in Rochester, New York, and the impact of the city’s rise and fall on his worldview.
- Life’s journey moving from the U.S. to Tunisia and now to France with his wife, five kids, and a full house of pets.
