Shawn Johnston
Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer – Healthpeak Properties
The way you succeed is to do one thing better than anyone else in the world rather than trying to be well rounded and average at everything.
What got him started
I was in the first generation of my family to go to college, so I really had no clue about the link between accounting and business. The EY organization provided me with that foundation. I was exposed to dozens of businesses, and I began to understand how to add value for clients.
How he found his focus
Being the conservative accountant that I am, real estate resonated with me, and I became nearly 100% focused on real estate audits. I still worked with many other clients, including health care, entertainment, technology and others. At the time, I didn’t love being pulled away from my focus. But looking back on it, I would tell the younger version of myself to absorb those experiences. I learned something new on every audit, and that variety of experiences was fundamental to later career success. I learned to apply leading practices and think outside the box to solve problems.
What his EY experience means
Whenever anyone asks about my career, I always start the story of my time at the EY organization, even a decade later. It is part of my identity. I still think of the name as synonymous with quality, and I have fond memories of my time there and the people I worked with. I keep in touch with many of them. The firm has been so supportive of me along the way, and I enjoy the EY alumni events. They help me continue to build a strong business network.
Professional advice he shares with colleagues
I still believe the way you succeed is to do one thing better than anyone else in the world rather than trying to be well rounded and average at everything. Whatever it is, stay humble, work hard and never stop adding value. The more value you add, the more your career will prosper.
His advice
I still believe the way you succeed is to do one thing better than anyone else in the world rather than trying to be well-rounded and average at everything. Whatever it is, stay humble, work hard and never stop adding value. The more value you add, the more your career will prosper.
