Business

Taking It Forward: How Lana Johnston is Transforming Workplace Culture

March 7, 2025

Lana Johnston, an Executive HR Practitioner, Certified Chair, and CEO of Taking It Forward, has built a remarkable career spanning over 25 years across various industries. With over 15 years in executive roles, she has established herself as a leader known for bridging the gap between theory and practical implementation in human resources and leadership.

A Career Defined by Growth and Impact

Lana’s journey began with a historic milestone—becoming the youngest female Business Banking Manager at NAB. Since then, she has left a significant mark in diverse fields, from the arts to major corporate brands like Suncorp. Her ability to adapt and lead in various sectors is a testament to her core philosophy: “taking it forward.”

Beyond her executive roles, Lana’s leadership extends to board and committee positions, where she actively contributes to shaping progressive business strategies. Her passion for music and sports further strengthens her community engagement, reinforcing her belief in the power of connection across different aspects of life.

The Leadership Qualities That Drive Success

Reflecting on her 15 years in executive leadership, Lana emphasizes five essential qualities for success in today’s dynamic business environment:

Curiosity: The best leaders ask questions and genuinely listen, gaining insights that drive meaningful decisions.
Courage: The willingness to make tough, informed decisions, even when uncomfortable.
Self-awareness: Understanding one’s strengths and blind spots allows for building diverse and complementary teams.
Adaptability: With the business landscape constantly evolving, leaders must be ready to pivot and embrace change.
Accountability: Owning mistakes and celebrating team successes fosters an environment of trust and innovation.

At the heart of effective leadership, she believes, is genuine care for people—business success flows from human connection and trust.

The Vision Behind Taking It Forward

Lana founded Taking It Forward after observing a persistent gap between how organizations claim to value their employees and what employees experience. Many companies struggle with engagement, retention, and performance despite sophisticated HR systems and initiatives.

Her turning point came during a major transformation project, where success was driven not by technical solutions but by focusing on the human elements of change—understanding concerns, addressing fears, and fostering genuine buy-in. This realization led her to launch Taking It Forward to transform workplace cultures.

Through Taking It Forward, Lana helps companies implement practical, responsive people strategies that lead to sustainable business success. She measures success by financial outcomes and how employees experience their workplace—feeling heard, valued, and empowered to contribute meaningfully.

A Career Highlight: Bridging Corporate and Personal Connection

One of the most rewarding moments in Lana’s career came when she realized that her expertise in workplace relationships could extend beyond the corporate world. This realization led her to create Ageing Connect, a passion project to help individuals foster meaningful connections with their ageing loved ones.

She noticed that many people, despite profoundly caring for their elderly family members, struggled with maintaining deep relationships. By applying her skills in facilitating conversations and bridging perspectives, she has helped families move from surface-level interactions to genuine, lasting connections.

Seeing these transformations firsthand has been profoundly fulfilling for Lana, reinforcing her belief that strong relationships—in the workplace or personal life—are the foundation of well-being.

A Guiding Principle for Leadership

A piece of advice that has shaped Lana’s leadership approach is: “People will forget what you said and what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.”

In the corporate world, strategies, metrics, and outcomes are crucial, but the emotional impact of leadership matters just as much. Whether delivering complex messages or celebrating successes, she believes in leading with empathy, respect, and genuine engagement.

Moving Forward with Purpose

Through Taking It Forward and Ageing Connect, Lana continues to make a lasting impact on both organizations and individuals. Her work underscores a simple yet powerful truth—when people feel valued, they perform at their best, innovate, and create thriving workplaces and relationships.