Consciousness as a Strategic Edge: How Charley Johnson Is Redefining Leadership

Business has always chased the next big edge. First it was technology. Then it was data. Now? It just might be something far less obvious, but infinitely more powerful: consciousness.

That’s right—consciousness. And no one is pushing this conversation further than Charley Johnson, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, former nonprofit president, and the world’s first Chief Consciousness Officer. When he joined me on The Six Figure Speaker Spotlight, we didn’t just talk strategy—we talked about how awareness itself can completely change the way you lead, decide, and build a business that actually thrives in today’s chaos.

This isn’t about incense and meditation pillows. This is about clarity in the boardroom, neutrality in conflict, and authenticity that cuts through the noise.

From Utah Roots to the Boardroom of the Future

Charley’s story doesn’t follow the standard playbook. Raised in Utah with zero spiritual framework, he rocketed through the business world, shifted into nonprofit leadership, and then—plot twist—found himself studying under an enlightened teacher.

That blend of grit and awakening gave him a lens most leaders never get. He realized consciousness wasn’t some mystical add-on—it’s the operating system running the whole show.

As Charley puts it: “The brain isn’t creating consciousness—it’s receiving it. Like a car radio picking up a signal from outside the car.”

Once you start seeing consciousness that way, it becomes more than an abstract idea. It becomes the sharpest tool in the kit.

Enter the Chief Consciousness Officer

Here’s where Charley went from thinker to trailblazer. He had a moment of realization: just as companies once needed CTOs to navigate the digital revolution, now they need CCOs to navigate the human one.

A Chief Consciousness Officer isn’t a consultant you bring in for a retreat. They’re embedded. Permanent. Sitting alongside HR, marketing, sales, ops—you name it.

What do they actually do?

- Expose blind spots in strategy.

- Expand awareness across teams.

- Mediate conflicts without ego.

- Normalize authenticity and full-spectrum humanity in the workplace.

- Keep leadership grounded when AI and tech start moving faster than common sense.

Or as Charley told me: “The CCO is a bridge—grounded, neutral, and tactical. Not far out. Not mystical. Just human.”

Making Consciousness Practical

The brilliance of Charley’s approach is that he makes this usable, not fluffy. He breaks it down into clear moves leaders can use right now:

1. Lead with neutrality and authenticity. Drop the mask, share your real story, and create space for your team to do the same.

2. Keep consciousness practical. Use quick awareness check-ins before major decisions, track the impact on creativity and conflict, and skip the mysticism.

3. Embed it everywhere. Every department. Every meeting. Every 365 days a year. Consciousness isn’t for offsites—it’s for Tuesday at 10 AM.

4. Apply it to AI. Don’t just ask if we can—ask if we should. Use consciousness as the human edge against machine logic.

5. Normalize the full human experience. Stress, fear, frustration—they’re part of the deal.

Speaking with Authentic Energy

And when Charley takes the stage? Forget polished scripts and over-rehearsed lines. He doesn’t just deliver a talk—he transmits energy.

That’s the wake-up call audiences need. Not another slide deck. Not another five-step framework. But someone standing on stage saying, “Here’s the truth. Here’s my humanity. Here’s yours. Let’s use that to lead better.”

That’s the kind of authenticity that makes people sit up straighter in their chairs.

Why Now?

Because the speed of business isn’t slowing down. AI isn’t taking a breather. And division—inside companies and in society—isn’t magically disappearing. Consciousness isn’t optional anymore. It’s the next competitive edge.

The Takeaway

Charley Johnson isn’t waiting for the world to “get it.” He’s living it now. And if the future belongs to the leaders who can combine intelligence with awareness, neutrality, and authenticity… then the role of Chief Consciousness Officer may just become as standard as CEO.

And honestly? After talking to Charley, I’m convinced that future can’t come fast enough.