Randi Johnson

Age: 35

Job title/company: Managing attorney/owner, Lilac City Law.

Education: J.D., Lewis and Clark Law School; B.A., Florida State University. 

Tell us about your career so far. I started out my career in New York City with a large firm, clocking a billion hours per month. I received amazing training that would have taken me many years in a different environment. In 2009, I moved to Seattle to open a branch office for that firm. From there, I went to a medium-sized firm and also volunteered with a couple of nonprofits. 

We moved here in 2012, with a newborn, because we knew there was so much opportunity for personal, professional, and financial growth in Spokane. For the last decade, I have fought for disabled children, workers, and veterans in their claims for federal disability benefits. In the last year, we have expanded into guiding parents through the estate-planning process to make sure children are raised by the right people if something were to happen to mom and dad. We have also been helping families who are raising children with special needs recognize the urgency around leaving those instructions and documents in place when children are living with unique medical and financial needs.

Most recently, I was selected to join the Leadership Spokane class of 2018. I’m really excited about those upcoming experiences to learn with and from other movers and shakers in our community.

What are your aspirations? I aspire to live long and prosper. But seriously, I aspire to live and grow in all areas in my life by the model of servant leadership. 

Tell us about your mentor, or someone you look to for inspiration. I am inspired by so many in my life and by thought leaders globally. I’d love to share a story of a teacher who inspired me long ago and whose guidance continues to shape my choices. My middle school band director, Mr. Helm, was so committed to his students’ success. Every single day, he asked that we do our very best and taught us how to do that. There was a banner posted above the door frame that read, “Discipline Turns Talent Into Ability.” At the beginning of each class, we would stand, recite the motto, set our intention for our class period, and “pursue excellence,” as Mr. Helm put it. These words are written on my heart. Whenever things get tough, my inner voice reminds me HOW to keep going. 

What generational stereotype do you feel strong about? Honestly, I don’t have an answer for this. I don’t care for stereotypes, I don’t pay any attention to that sort of rubbish, so I just don’t really know any off the top of my head.

Something interesting/random about yourself. For many musical genres, but not all, after hearing a song one or two times, I generally know all the words. It’s a weird thing.