"When you know who you are, what you stand for, and how you stand out, show up in your life authentically, and give your best self to your organization, industry,
community or the world"
- Hume Johnson, Ph.D.
DR.
HUME N. JOHNSON
LEADERSHIP COACH + BRAND STRATEGIST + SPEAKER
Dr. Hume Johnson is a brand-centered leadership coach, speaker, author, and Associate Professor of Communication at Roger Williams University, Rhode Island, United States. She previously taught journalism at James Cook University, Australia.
At Roger At Roger Williams University, Dr. Johnson teaches a variety of communication courses, including communication in organizations, crisis communication, media studies, public speaking, and popular elective, Personal Branding.
A former broadcast journalist with Jamaica's Information Service (JISTV), and Radio Jamaica, as well as a political speechwriter with the Government of Jamaica - with over 20 years of experience as a practitioner academic - Dr. Johnson is an expert on personal branding, leadership development and strategic communication.
She works with professionals, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders clarify their personal brand, leverage and articulate their unique value, and achieve measurable career or business goals. She also helps leaders to develop effective messaging startegies, and improve their public speaking and communication skills.
Dr. Johnson has worked with top-tier clients across diverse sectors including business, politics, healthcare, academia, and non-profit sector. Among her clients have been former Rhode Island Secretary of State, Nellie Gorbea, The Rhode Island Foundation, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Brown University Executive Education, Jamaica National Bank, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), The Commonwealth Secretariat (UK), and numerous senior professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners.
Her coaching methodology, including her proprietary frameworks, The Currency of YOU™, the H.U.M.E Method and Own Your Value™ is interactive, human-centered, and results-oriented. She blends self-reflection, guided exercises, role play, peer feedback, storytelling, and practical tools to help clients apply insights directly to their professional and business context.
Hume holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. An interdisciplinary political scholar, she writes extensively on governance, civil society and citizen political participation. She also undertakes pioneering work in the area of branding within the context of nation states, political parties and political leadership.
Dr. Johnson is the author of Brand YOU!: Reinvent Yourself and Redefine Your Future, used in MBA programs in strategic leadership, Brand Brand Jamaica: Reimagining a National Image and Identity’, and Challenges to Civil Society: Popular Protest and Governance in Jamaica.
A public commentator and analyst, her commentary has appeared on global media including the BBC, NBC, WPRI12/CBS Providence, Radio Jamaica, Television Jamaica, and te Jamaica Gleaner. Hume was also previously a contributing writer for the popular business publication, Entrepreneur.com
She currently lives in Rhode Island, and enjoys taking walks and visiting museums.
My Story
FROM STRUGGLING TO FIND MY VOICE TO HELPING YOU FIND YOURS
I grew up in Claremont, a small village in the hills of St. Ann, Jamaica. a place where life was simple, but my dreams were never small. From a young age, I knew I wanted to become a leader in the field of communication.
But that dream felt nearly impossible.
You see, I was born with a tumor on my upper lip and a shortened lingual frenulum - a small band of tissue under the tongue that, when too tight, can significantly limit speech. For a child, it was both frustrating and painful. Imagine wanting to express yourself but struggling just to form basic words.
Yet, my mother refused to let that define my future. She had limited resources, but she pushed past fear and stigma and made sure I got the surgeries and speech therapy I needed. Her courage and determination changed the course of my life.
With my speech restored, I practiced. A lot. I recited poems at church. I joined my High School debate team. I represented my classmates on the school board. And by the time I graduated high school, I was giving the valedictory speech. That lit a fire in me. I knew communication was my calling. It led me to a career in broadcast journalism. I worked as a TV host, a radio news anchor, a political speechwriter, and eventually a tenured professor of communication, keynote stages and in coaching rooms.
But after earning a Ph.D. in political science, I hit a wall. I had the credentials, the experience, and a résumé full of wins but I couldn’t clearly articulate who I was or what I stood for. I was skilled, but not seen. Accomplished, but not feeling aligned to a clear purpose or direction. I began asking questions I couldn’t ignore: What’s next? What’s my purpose? How do I connect all the pieces of me?
That’s when I discovered the power of a personal brand, not the buzzword kind, but the real kind, what I call The Currency of YOU™. The kind that helps you figure out who you are, what you stand for, and how to communicate that effectively.
When I redefined myself from the inside out, everything clicked. I stopped second-guessing. I stopped playing small. I started owning my value and communicating it with clarity, confidence, and credibility. And now, I coach ambitious professionals, leaders, and change makers like you do the same.
Whether you're preparing for a high-stakes job interview, stepping into leadership, or feeling stuck at a career crossroads, my mission is to help you unlock your personal brand, communicate with clarity, confidence and credibility and become a recognized leader in your field.
I know what it feels like to be unsure, to struggle with self-doubt, or to feel like your voice doesn’t carry. But I also know what’s possible when you learn how to communicate your value - fully and authentically.
And I’d love to help you get there.

My Guiding Principles
01
EXCELLENCE
I believe in the relentless pursuit of personal and professional excellence. I set high standards for myself and my clients, insist on quality and achieve tangible results. I foster a culture where I give and receive feedback as a catalyst for growth and success.
02
PERSONAL GROWTH
I believe in the transformative power of growth and continuous learning. I empower my clients to embrace challenges, expand their skills, push beyond their comfort zone and unlock their full potential to achieve personal and professional success.
03
CLARITY
I believe in the power of clarity to navigate your career journey. Instead of drifting aimlessly, I empower you to define your goals, envision a fulfilling future, and create a strategic roadmap for success. With intentional action and unwavering focus, you'll unlock your full potential and achieve meaningful results.
04
COLLABORATION
I believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork to achieve extraordinary results. Whether building your personal brand, refining your leadership skills, or pursuing shared goals. I foster a supportive environment where everyone's unique strengths are leveraged and valued. I champion collaboration not just as a method, but as a mindset to empowers us to win together.
Approved Photographs
Please contact us if you require any of the approved photos for promotional purposes.
All photos must be credited @HumeJohnson
My Academic Career
Birthday Sparks
City skyline
Blurred Lines
WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING
Nickesia Gordon, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Communication,
Rochester Institute of Technology, RIT
Dr. Hume Johnson's recent Personal Branding and Pedagogy workshop at the Rochester Institute of Technology was a resounding success. Her tailored approach specifically addressed the needs of faculty in Higher Ed, providing them with actionable tools to enhance their personal brand and pedagogical skills. Participants raved about the workshop's usefulness, particularly highlighting Dr. Johnson's insightful presentation and the value of the customized workbook she provided. I wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Johnson as a top-tier expert and trainer in the field of Personal Branding and Leadership.
"Collaborating with Dr. Hume Johnson during the Eastern Academy's Learn and Share series was an absolute pleasure. She delivered a captivating and highly engaging webinar. Dr. Johnson demonstrated exceptional expertise and knowledge of personal branding, which she shared with our participants in a manner that was not only accessible but also incredibly inspiring. Her methodology stands out for its collaborative and interactive approach, fostering an environment where participants felt empowered to engage actively. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting her ability to connect, inspire, and provide actionable insights. Dr. Johnson's professionalism, passion, and command of her craft make her an outstanding choice for any keynote speaking or coaching opportunity."
"Dr. Hume Johnson shared her expertise as part of our Women in Medicine and Science Professional Development series. Her lecture, "REMOVING YOUR BLINDFOLD: Personal Branding as a Critical Career Management Strategy," provided attendees with new skills and practical tips to communicate their value effectively to colleagues, potential employers and other key stakeholders. As one attendee said "Hume was an excellent and engaging speaker, helped audience work with her!" I wholeheartedly recommend her as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable speaker."
Research and Scholarship
Why My Scholarship Matters
I am an interdisciplinary, community-engaged political scholar. At the core of my early scholarly work, I focused on citizen agency and activism, governance and civil society in Jamaica. My most recent research lies at the intersection of nation branding, public diplomacy, and soft power, with a particular emphasis on postcolonial and post-crisis states.
Yet, my current and most impactful scholarly work lies at the intersection of personal branding, leadership development, and strategic communication, delivered through research-informed coaching programs designed for mid-career professionals with particular emphasis on women and people of color to communicate with confidence, clarity and credibility.
I see these areas not only as tools for individual advancement but also as mechanisms for addressing systemic inequities in access, voice, and visibility for marginalized communities.
My research agenda integrates theory, lived experience, and practice. I design and deliver community-facing coaching programs, curriculum, and workshops for professionals in education, healthcare, public service, business and the nonprofit sector. I engage participants in deep reflection on their personal brand, communication presence, and leadership identity.
These engagements are informed by theories of communication, leadership studies, adult learning, identity performance and personal branding. produce measurable, transformational outcomes in professional visibility, confidence, and communication presence. They are designed not just for transformation, but also for measurable, practice-based outcomes that enhance confidence, communication presence, visibility, and leadership capacity.
DR. HUME'S INTELLECTUAL INSIGHTS
Selected Publications
JAMAICA: A Famous, Strong but Damaged Brand
Journal of Place Branding + Public Diplomacy
In the modern global marketplace, a nation's image, brand, and reputation are critical assets. Countries compete for resources like tourism, investment, and talent. However, negative perceptions stemming from internal issues can overshadow a country's positive achievements. Jamaica, while celebrated for its music, sports, and tourism, faces challenges due to economic instability, crime, and human rights concerns. These issues create a complex and conflicting image, impacting investment, tourism, and overall progress. It's imperative for Jamaica to address these concerns and re-imagine its brand in the context of its evolving situation.
Performing Protest in Jamaica: The Mass Media as Stage
International Journal of Media + Cultural Politics
This study examines the close relationship between contemporary protests and the mass media, focusing on how media coverage, particularly television, shapes and is shaped by protest actions in Jamaica. It draws on empirical data and Kellner's work on media spectacle to analyze how protesters utilize spectacle to attract media attention and advance their cause. Additionally, it explores how media portrayal of protests and protesters can influence their actions and strategies.
Jamaican Dons, Italian Mafias and the Chances of a "Reversible Destiny"
Political Studies
For nearly half a century, Jamaican "dons" have held sway as community leaders in impoverished urban areas, garnering both local acceptance and a degree of unofficial political acknowledgment. Their systematic, coercive control and counter-hegemonic influence mirrors the "godfather"-led criminal structure and power of the Italian Mafia. However, recent years have seen the Mafia's power significantly diminished by increased state intervention and civil resistance, particularly from women within Italian communities. This article explores whether a similar decline in power is conceivable for Jamaica's "dons."
See and Blind, Hear and Deaf: 'Informerphobia in Jamaican Garrisons'
Journal of Crime Prevention and Community Safety
This article investigates the phenomenon of "informerphobia" in Jamaica, exploring the fear that prevents individuals from reporting violence and crime to authorities. Through interviews and research, it examines the causes and implications of this fear, highlighting the need for effective, trustworthy state agencies and a culture of citizen engagement. The concept of informerphobia itself, along with its application to the Jamaican context, offers a fresh perspective on addressing societal challenges.
Teaching
My Teaching Philosophy
Teaching - for me - is a practice of self-discovery and actualization for me. It is rooted in my commitment to personal branding and growth, critical identity development, and transformational leadership.
I approach teaching not as a one-way transmission of knowledge, but as a co-creative and dialogic process where students are encouraged to explore their personal brand - who they are, the unique value they can deliver in their niche through their unique skills, what they believe in or stand for, and how they wish to engage with the world.
The classroom is therefore a space where students cultivate the confidence and clarity to become change agents in their professions and communities. For me, personal branding is not only a reflective inward-facing process of identity formation; it is also an outward-facing, skill-driven practice.
Whether students are learning to speak persuasively, craft clear messages, navigate crisis communication, or analyze organizational culture, these competencies are part of how they define, embody, and express their unique voice and leadership potential.
Higher education, in my view, should not be about imprinting students with our ideas but about equipping them with the capacity for self-awareness, critical thought, purposeful communication, and meaningful action. In this sense, personal identity and leadership are not peripheral to the teaching and learning process; they are its foundation.
What Students Are Saying
Courses I Teach: Personal Branding, Public Speaking, Communication in Organizations, Communicating in Crisis, and Media Studies.
Professor Hume Johnson, you could make me nervous but in the best way possible. Your class was one of the most interesting in my life, and your teaching style made it easy to remember the information. Making us do group work was effective and prepares us for our jobs in the future. You were a good mix of being light and funny but also vocal when we could improve. I learned a lot.
Kate
Introduction to the Mass Media
Professor Hume Johnson has been my best professor at RWU. She made public speaking interesting to learn. She created a positive atmosphere; the class was a tight knit community. She pushed me out of my comfort zone and I rose to the challenge. Everyone should take at least one class with Dr. Johnson during their time at RWU.
Aidan
Introduction to Public Speaking
Your courses taught me how to prepare and execute effective speeches, create an appealing presentation, and to define my personal brand. Enrolling in your Introduction to Mass Media helped me outgrow my shyness! I enjoyed finishing my college career taking your Communicating in Crisis course and found the curriculum incredibly helpful and important.
Sarah
Communicating in Crisis + Introduction to Mass Media
Moments that Matter
A glimpse into the experiences and people that inspire and motivate me to empower leaders to unlock their full potential.
