Bryan Johnson
Brown University
Paramount
Available tomorrow
Starting at 10:30 PM UTC
I offer coaching sessions on weekday evenings and Saturdays. If you don't see a time that works for your schedule, feel free to reach out through Leland, and I'll do my best to find a mutually convenient time.
Questions?
You can start chatting with Bryan before you get started.
Growing up, my parents thought I would become a teacher. During summer breaks, I would even teach my younger siblings. Instead, I found my way into the fast-paced world of media and entertainment—but the teacher in me never really left. Throughout my career, I've often found myself in conversations where people sought my perspective on their careers, challenges, and next steps. Those conversations grew into mentoring, and over time, helping people recognize their strengths, navigate important transitions, and grow into greater responsibility became increasingly meaningful to me. That interest eventually led me to coaching. What drew me to it was the opportunity not simply to give advice, but to help people think more deeply, see possibilities they may have overlooked, and develop the confidence and judgment to determine their own path forward. In many ways, coaching brings together two things that have been part of my story for a long time: a desire to help people grow and a love for the media and entertainment industry. I want to use both to help people build meaningful careers, become more effective leaders, and make an impact on an industry that continues to evolve.
Work with Bryan
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Why do I coach?
Coaching matters to me because I could have used a coach. I believe some of the most valuable times to have a coach are during the formative and transitional moments of a career—when decisions about which opportunities to pursue, whether to change companies, how to navigate setbacks, and who you want to become professionally can shape your trajectory for years. Yet the people who could benefit most from having someone in their corner often have the least access to coaching. That matters even more to me in media and entertainment. Our industry is undergoing profound cultural and technological transformation. As AI changes how we work and organizations continue to evolve, I believe judgment, adaptability, resilience, and the ability to navigate uncertainty will become even more valuable. People at every level can benefit from space to think—to question assumptions, consider possibilities, and work through difficult decisions. As responsibilities grow, those decisions increasingly affect not only your own career, but also your team, department, business unit, and organization. Having a thought partner who can challenge your thinking while understanding the realities of the industry can make those conversations even more meaningful. I coach because I want to provide something I wish I'd had earlier in my own career: a trusted space to think more deeply about where you're going, who you're becoming, the decisions you're making, and the impact you want to have along the way.
Work Experience
Member, Board of Advisors
Brown University
May 2025 - Present
Serve as an advisor to the Brown University Military Affiliated Community (BUMAC), a university-wide initiative supporting student veterans, active-duty service members, ROTC cadets, and military-connected students. I contribute strategic perspective on programming, community engagement, leadership development, and career transition, drawing on experience across business, media, and community leadership. I'm particularly interested in helping military-connected individuals see how their experiences and strengths can translate into new opportunities for growth, leadership, and impact.
Member, ghSMART Leadership Circle
ghSMART
July 2024 - Present
Participate in the ghSMART Leadership Circle, a development community focused on evidence-based approaches to leadership and executive performance. Through the community, I engage with leadership research, insights from experienced leaders, and peer learning that deepen my understanding of judgment, decision-making, performance, and what enables leaders to be effective.
Senior Manager
Paramount
January 2024 - Present
Lead strategy and operations for captioning and audio description across Paramount's broadcast and cable networks, combining accessibility expertise with strategic planning, operational leadership, and regulatory compliance. I manage and develop a team while partnering across functions and with external stakeholders to solve complex challenges, align priorities, and deliver accessible content at scale. The role requires sound judgment, adaptability, and leadership through ongoing change in a fast-moving media environment.
Advisory Council Member
Paramount
July 2022 - Present
Serve on Paramount's Content Accessibility Council, collaborating with cross-functional leaders across production, engineering, legal, operations, and accessibility on enterprise-wide accessibility strategy and initiatives. The work requires navigating different priorities, building alignment across functions, and influencing outcomes without direct authority. I contribute to solutions that balance audience needs, business objectives, operational realities, and regulatory requirements.
Manager
Paramount
May 2016 - December 2023
Led captioning and accessibility operations supporting CBS programming, more than 200 affiliate stations nationwide, and digital distribution partners. I partnered across operations, news, sports, legal, and other functions to navigate complex operational and regulatory challenges while maintaining high standards across live and recorded programming. I also managed and developed a team of three coordinators supporting CBS News broadcasts, building experience in people leadership, cross-functional influence, decision-making under pressure, and leading effectively in a fast-moving media environment.
Education
Brown University
Certificate, Leadership and Performance Coaching
2026 - 2027
Currently pursuing Brown University's Leadership & Performance Coaching Certification (LPCC), an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Level 1-accredited coach training program delivered in partnership with ACT Leadership. Through applied learning and coaching practice, I am developing professional capabilities in deep listening, powerful questioning, self-awareness, leadership development, performance, and sustainable behavior change. The program emphasizes helping individuals strengthen their own awareness, judgment, and capacity for purposeful action in leadership and professional settings.
Brown University
Global Executive MBA, Global Business Strategy, Leadership
Completed the joint IE Brown Executive MBA, with a focus on global business strategy, leadership, and navigating complex organizational challenges. The program strengthened my approach to strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership while working across diverse perspectives and business environments. My capstone explored artificial intelligence and the future of the media and entertainment industry, examining how technological change is reshaping strategy, organizations, and leadership. An international consulting practicum in Cape Town, South Africa, further developed my experience applying these perspectives to complex business challenges across cultures.
IE Business School
Global Executive MBA , Global Executive MBA, Global Business Strategy, Leadership
Completed the joint IE Brown Executive MBA, with a focus on global business strategy, leadership, and navigating complex organizational challenges. The program strengthened my approach to strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership while working across diverse perspectives and business environments. My capstone explored artificial intelligence and the future of the media and entertainment industry, examining how technological change is reshaping strategy, organizations, and leadership. An international consulting practicum in Cape Town, South Africa, further developed my experience applying these perspectives to complex business challenges across cultures.
New York University
Master of Science, Global Affairs
Earned a Master of Science in Global Affairs from New York University, developing a multidisciplinary perspective on global issues, institutions, policy, and complex international challenges. The program strengthened my ability to examine problems from multiple perspectives, understand interconnected systems and competing stakeholder interests, and approach complex decisions with greater context.
St. John's University
Bachelor of Science, Journalism
Earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from St. John's University, building a foundation in communication, storytelling, research, critical thinking, and understanding audiences. The program developed my ability to ask thoughtful questions, evaluate information from multiple perspectives, and communicate complex ideas clearly—skills that have remained valuable throughout my career in media and entertainment.