Cherie Johnston Looks Back to Shape the Future for Panasonic Veterans
Cherie Johnston Looks Back to Shape the Future for Panasonic Veterans
2 minutesIn an ever-evolving corporate landscape, it is important our service members are supported as they make the transition into the workplace and apply their invaluable skillsets. Meet Business Analyst at Panasonic Avionics (PAC) and President and Panasonic Veterans Business Impact Group (BIG) Chair Cherie Johnston, who has made it her life's mission to support military veterans inside and outside of the workplace. With an unwavering commitment, Cherie has not only championed the cause of veterans' integration but has also leveraged her deep network to import leadership perspectives from some of the nation’s highest ranking military members.
In a world where real connection can be tough to come by, Cherie’s dedication is testament to the power of empathy and the profound impact one individual can make within our workplace. In this Q&A, we delve into Cherie’s incredible journey, explore the tireless effort she has poured into ensuring veterans feel valued, supported, and empowered in their professional lives. Join us as we uncover what moves Cherie to be a positive force for veterans seeking their place in the civilian workforce.
What motivated you to join a BIG?
Originally, I started the chapter at Panasonic Avionics, after seeing the moving video testimonial shared by colleague and former United States Marine, Jared Darensbourg, discussing his service to our nation, and later his service to Panasonic as one of the leaders of the Veterans group at Panasonic North America.
Over a year of working closely with Jared and Joe Haury, they asked me to step forward to lead the organization, in a new effort to combine forces among all our Panasonic companies.
Our goal is not only to increase the support for our U.S. Veterans within Panasonic’s companies, but also, to contribute to our colleagues, our companies, and our communities through our unique shared life experiences.
How has being a member of this BIG positively impacted your Panasonic experience?
First leading the Veterans BIG at Panasonic Avionics and then more recently the past 13 months for Panasonic North America, has added an entirely new dimension to my career.
Prior to participating, I had been at PAC for 8 years already and enjoyed the social aspects of our work immensely. However, in moving into working directly with our U.S. Veterans, it has afforded me the opportunity to grow my own personal leadership skills, learn from talented and seasoned U.S. Military and Veterans through the Frontline Leadership series we developed, and most importantly, get to connect with so many amazing individuals across the many companies. Together, we get to share lessons learned and best practices. It has shifted me from simply a career at Panasonic, to having an instant network of over one hundred coworkers, across multiple companies, that have shared similar life experiences to my own.
What is your favorite BIG initiative?
My favorite initiative within our Veterans program is the current stage of it. Right now, we are still certainly in our infancy, with long term plans to grow into a nationwide hub of excellence in employment for our Veterans within Corporate America. Creating and then further expanding new programs and business processes from the ground level up is a challenge that I thrive upon. In a few years, these programs will be well established, governed, and accessible to the broader base of U.S. Veterans across the many companies based on the fundamental work we are accomplishing here today.
What should all employees know about being a BIG member?
Please join us! You DO NOT need to be a United States Military Veteran to participate, or even to take on a leadership role. In fact, I am not a Veteran myself, I was a military spouse and avid supporter. Actually, this month, our leadership team has been joined by another non-veteran from China, who is currently based in Japan. We are all connected by some of the core values that define the U.S. Military, such as discipline, teamwork, hard work, professional development, educational opportunities, career advancement, etc.
Why should your colleagues consider getting involved with a BIG?
One common reason employees might not want to become involved is time commitment, and this is understandable. However, first our corporate culture and experience as employees is what we each make of it – we are in control of that outcome. Second, given how many hours a week we do spend working, it is so important to step back and take mindful moments for connection and collaboration among our colleagues. Finally, the BIG team members are all in the same circumstances, with busy schedules and lives. Thus, you can contribute time as you have it available, be that a few minutes a week to a few hours a month. That is your own prerogative, but you will not know the value-add to your employment at Panasonic until you at least step forward to try it out. There are 5 different DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) initiatives within Panasonic, with the Veterans being just one of those. You can either belong to a few or join the one that you personally feel the deepest connection to.
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