We can all excel under pressure — and we all deserve to flourish.
We can all excel under pressure — and we all deserve to flourish.
Excel in the moments that matter
Suzanne C. Johnson, Ph.D., builds unshakeable self-assurance in leaders, professionals, and students - the kind that holds under pressure, fuels authentic performance, and grows stronger the more you use it.
Why Hire Suzanne C. Johnson
In times of uncertainty and pressure, performance depends less on external conditions and more on internal steadiness. I speak about how self-assurance helps leaders, professionals, and students stay in the challenge zone so they can think clearly, act decisively, and perform at their best when it matters most. My work draws on performance psychology, positive psychology, and research on threat vs. challenge responses, as well as the psychology of shyness and performance anxiety.
These insights help people keep more of their cognitive power under pressure — whether they are making important leadership decisions, presenting ideas, competing, interviewing, or taking high-stakes exams. After 16 years in senior leadership at a Fortune 500 company, I now share these insights through keynotes, workshops, and coaching.
Keynotes & Workshops
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Grounded in leading scientific research — including performance psychology, positive psychology, and Suzanne's own original research — this talk gives audiences the physiological and psychological tools to perform at their best under pressure. Practical, evidence-based, and immediately applicable.
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A practical, human-centered approach to leadership in challenging times. Drawing on behavioral science and decision-making research, Suzanne explores how leaders can stay grounded, regulate pressure, and create clarity through vision, meaning, and connection.
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The BISON Experience workshop helps flavor and fragrance professionals stay clear, confident, and composed when presenting to leaders and customers—so they can communicate their ideas effectively and perform at their best when it matters most.
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Suzanne develops keynotes and workshops tailored to your specific audience and goals.
Small group coaching sessions, half-day, and full-day workshop formats available.
It All Begins Here
Suzanne C. Johnson’s work draws on performance psychology, positive psychology, and research on threat vs. challenge responses, as well as the psychology of shyness and performance anxiety.
The B.S. Approach
The Breathe & Smile Approach is one of the signature tools Suzanne C. Johnson shares with her audiences to cultivate the self-assurance required to navigate uncertainty, excel under pressure, and transform challenges into meaningful opportunities for growth.
Overcoming Shyness
Even after 30 years in the flavor industry, I was the person in the back of the room hoping nobody would call on me. I had a Ph.D. and a VP title but that still wasn't enough.
When I was asked to serve as President of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association, I knew something had to change. When I figured it out using positive psychology I knew I had to go back to school to understand the science behind my own transformation, and more importantly, to begin to share what I had learned.
I did exactly that, earning a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2025.
My research focused on shyness and character strengths, and revealed that shy individuals systematically underuse their own strengths. With the right focus, self-assurance can be cultivated to create its own self-fulfilling prophecy allowing us to excel in the moments that matter.
In March 2026 I walked away from a thirty-year career to do this work full time because I believe self-assurance is the foundational human capability that determines everything else, and that the science to build it exists and is not reaching the people who need it most.
I speak to leaders, professionals, and students. The science is the same for all of them. So is the conviction.