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Mark Johnson | Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Michigan Software Labs | Building a Coachable Culture

Jun 21, 2023

Mark Johnson is a software development expert, co-founder of Michigan Software Labs, and a trusted partner for Fortune® 500 and high-growth companies. With a mission to deliver top-notch software solutions, Mark's influential presence on the Forbes Technology Council and Fast Company Executive Board has established him as a prominent figure in the industry. Recognized as one of West Michigan's most powerful business leaders and honored as part of the esteemed "40 under 40" list, Mark is driven by his passion to improve lives through technology, whether it's through scalable business software or inspiring leadership videos.

This week on the show, I’m thrilled to welcome Mark Johnson. We delve into Mark's background, including the invaluable lessons he learned about entrepreneurship and the importance of a strong work ethic from his father and grandfather. Mark shares some of the secrets behind Michigan Software Labs' exceptional company culture and their unique approach to recruiting the right team members. We also dive into Mark’s philosophy of generously sharing valuable wisdom and insights with others to help them progress on their personal or professional journey. 

“It's so important to have a coach and have somebody that's really speaking in your life and giving you wisdom.” - Mark Johnson

“In a partnership, if you're both eager to serve each other, there's going to be a good result.” - Mark Johnson

“If we can put our focus on really helping enable each other as well as our clients, we're going to be successful.” -  Mark Johnson

This Week on The Wow Factor:

  • Mark’s background and what he learned about work early on from his father
  • Some of the mentors that Mark has had throughout his life and how they have influenced him
  • How he got started building apps because of a request from his wife
  • Why he and his partner decided to give their first app project away for free
  • The Michigan Software Labs company culture and how they recruit team members who are a great fit
  • Why they assign each team member an external coach who helps them achieve their goals
  • How Mark and his co-founder Josh manage their partnership with empathy and understanding, and listening
  • The impact of AI on organizations in the future — how we use it, its benefits and drawbacks
  • The process of working with Michigan Software Labs to create an app
  • Some of Mark’s favorite apps that his team has built
  • Some of the regular habits the company has to show their appreciation for their coworkers

Mark Johnson’s Word of Wisdom:

I want to encourage leaders to think about how they can use communities like LinkedIn and what value and wisdom they might get from other leaders. 

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