Strategies for Innovation, Justice & Care.
Finding our way together I believe we can get there from here if there is willingness to do the work to truly enact what we espouse or aspire to as an organization, a community, a business, an industry, or society. Alignment, integrity, and fostering trust through authenticity are at my personal and professional core. People and systems are inextricably tied, therefore the relationship and interaction between the two must be aligned and healthy where people contribute to systems and systems support both the goals of the organization and the well-being of the people.
The Story of Innovatus
Working toward a healthy alignment between people and systems while embedding espoused organizational values into policy and practice.
Leann Johnson, MS, is currently studying at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School in the Executive Programme for Strategy and Innovation. She holds a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology and is an I/O practitioner, system therapist, consultant, coach, facilitator, and instructor.
Leann is the Principal Executive and founder of Innovatus, LLC, where her practice focuses on developing organizational strategy that centers innovation, justice, and care, team facilitation, and storytelling as a tool for individual identity, team, and organizational development. Leann does presentations, keynotes, workshops, and trainings on topics including strategic innovation, organizational congruence, social justice, liberation and personal congruence, health equity, systemic inequities, anti-racism, and community engagement.
She has 30 years of experience in executive leadership, organizational transformation, program development, strategy, innovation, social and workplace justice, community engagement, employee development, coaching, and delivering training in public, private, higher education, and non-profit sectors. Overall her goal with organizations is to work toward a healthy alignment between people and systems while embedding espoused organizational values into policy and practice.
Leann is a longtime social justice, health equity, and civil rights activist. In 2024 she was awarded the inaugural Cheryl Boyce Equity Leadership Award from the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health (NASOMH), the Oregon Health Equity Champion Award from the Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA), and an Equity Advocate Award from the SO Health-E Regional Health Equity Coalition in Oregon.
As a speaker and storyteller, Leann is well-versed in public presentation. She was voted the Best Host of the Third Annual NW Black Comedy Festival for her expertise in improvisational storytelling. She also co-wrote and performs an original two-woman, experimental and experiential stagework titled BlackWoman/WhiteWoman, most notably performed at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in Higher Education in 2022 and 2025. Leann is a comedic and dramatic improvisational actor, performing in Portland, nationally and internationally making her highly experienced in adapting “on the spot” to support the needs of people, teams, and group processes.
Working toward a healthy alignment between people and systems while embedding espoused organizational values into policy and practice.
Leann Johnson, MS, is currently studying at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School in the Executive Programme for Strategy and Innovation. She holds a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology and is an I/O practitioner, system therapist, consultant, coach, facilitator, and instructor.
Leann is the Principal Executive and founder of Innovatus, LLC, where her practice focuses on developing organizational strategy that centers innovation, justice, and care, team facilitation, and storytelling as a tool for individual identity, team, and organizational development.
She has 30 years of experience in executive leadership, organizational transformation, program development, strategy, innovation, social and workplace justice, community engagement, employee development, coaching, and delivering training in public, private, higher education, and non-profit sectors. Overall her goal with organizations is to work toward a healthy alignment between people and systems while embedding espoused organizational values into policy and practice.
Leann is a longtime social justice, health equity, and civil rights activist. In 2024 she was awarded the inaugural Cheryl Boyce Equity Leadership Award from the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health (NASOMH), the Oregon Health Equity Champion Award from the Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA), and an Equity Advocate Award from the SO Health-E Regional Health Equity Coalition in Oregon.
As a speaker and storyteller, Leann is well-versed in public presentation. She was voted the Best Host of the Third Annual NW Black Comedy Festival for her expertise in improvisational storytelling. She also co-wrote and performs an original two-woman, experimental and experiential stagework titled BlackWoman/WhiteWoman, most notably performed at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in Higher Education in 2022 and 2025. Leann is a comedic and dramatic improvisational actor, performing in Portland, nationally and internationally making her highly experienced in adapting “on the spot” to support the needs of people, teams, and group processes.
It’s all about a dialogue
A few words from our clients.
"
Leann Johnson, MS, is a visionary equity leader deeply respected across Oregon for her wisdom, authenticity, and powerful presence. Working with her is energizing — she brings bold insight, compassion, and a unique ability to move people and systems toward lasting, meaningful change. If you're looking for someone who can transform equity from aspiration to action with integrity and heart, Leann is the person you want by your side!"
"
Leann, thank you for being the warmest and most sincere soul I've ever met in Oxford - your kindness left a lasting imprint on my heart."
"
Leann from Innovatus brought so much to our strategic planning process!
Not only did she have knowledge of best practices for strategic planning, she provided resources that we could look into so that we could contribute more to the process, she was extremely flexible in her workstyle to harmonize with our needs, and she helped us with outreach to engage our partners in the process. Her breadth of knowledge was so valuable especially since we are a coalition that is heavily focused on community engagement to function. It was very difficult to find a consultant with knowledge about nonprofits, collective impact initiatives, and advocacy that centers anti-racism and intersectionality, but we hit the jackpot with Innovatus. The resources she shared with us were well-informed, relevant, accessible, and easy to understand. Our team is made up of individuals with varying backgrounds and abilities, and she was able to help everyone understand what was going on with thoughtful and consistent communication. This thoughtful and consistent communication extended into her ability to reach out to our partners to keep them informed and engaged in the process.
Our team was struggling with capacity and knowledge to be able to go through the process of strategic planning and get what we needed out of it for our organization. Adding Leann to our team for this project was the best decision we could have made."
Awards, Licensing & Accreditations
Cheryl Boyce Award
For exemplary leadership and service toward improving health and reducing health disparities, 2024, National Association of State Offices of Minority Health.
Health Equity Champion Award
For remarkable dedication and commitment to public health, 2024, Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA).
Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Qualified Administrator
Intercultural Conflict Style, Qualified Administrator
Photo: courtesy of Oregon Public Health Association