Her Story
About Emily
Emmy Johnson serves as Business Director at Simon Recruiting, a market research recruitment firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been in the field for two years, advancing from a data entry clerk role during a company system transition by automating processes, including data cleaning by 96 percent and saving over $500 weekly. Johnson manages the data division and new online hosting, conducting individual check-ins with team members, coordinating projects, and standardizing systems in collaboration with leadership such as the COO. Her educational background includes a recent Bachelor's of business with double majors in business management and HR Management from the University of Central Oklahoma, supplemented by a high school Junior RTC military leadership course that instilled discipline and goal-setting skills. She credits her father for advising her to embrace her leadership abilities by asking why and advocating for improvement, regardless of age or background, and she values discipline, integrity, and work ethic in navigating her role while managing personal health challenges with the support of a service dog.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emily
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to never knowing when to stop. When it comes to a process, or when it comes to just like a simple conversation, I will typically try to get as much information as I can out of it. And do my best to help even if it's not necessarily my realm. If I see that another person in my division like in my company's struggling, I will do everything that I can to make sure that they themselves can succeed and that they more importantly have the tools and systems in place to succeed.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice that I was given is from my father. He told me that I was born a leader, and I lead individuals well. The best way that I can show that is by asking why, and showing what can be changed and what can be improved. And that regardless of the uniqueness of my name, or that I am a girl, I deserve to be in every room, regardless of my age.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
With my industry, market research, it's primarily women dominant. People don't know that. And so, one of the things that I would emphasize is that even though there is a higher barrier of entry, because it is an inter-industry business, there is a seat for you at the table. There's been a seat for you at the table for years. And that women in leadership are welcomed in the market research industry.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge and opportunity is AI. Recently have been a influx of companies that advertise market research, but it's specifically AI engines. What makes Nelson Recruiting unique is that when these companies started to platform AI market research, which you're not talking to a real human, we took an unconventional approach. We instead would market ourselves as the human touch. Because at the end of the day, companies want opinions of the average person.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'd say my most important value is discipline. I do have pretty severe chronic illnesses that make me unable to go to a normal in-person office. I have a heart condition that makes me pass out, and I have a service dog. One of the things that has allowed me to get to where I'm at in work and in my personal life is actually the discipline to know both when I should really put dedication towards a task, and when I need to step back and rest. I value integrity and work ethic.
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