2008 Woodie Awards
HP Senior VP brings her experience to the masses
Allison Johnson shares with Skyline students that work can be playtime rather than a chore
Elizabeth Sinclair-Smith
Date created: 4/5/04 Section: NEWS
Allison Johnson's schedule is packed tighter than a can of sardines.
On a recent Monday, the Senior VP of computer company Hewlett-Packard spent the day with Apple's Steve Jobs plotting out the future compatibility of the iPod and HP computers. Tuesday was spent in New York City helping Starwood Hotels market to a business crowd. Wednesday saw her in Santa Monica working with Starbucks to help establish "music booths" at which a customer could burn their own CD for a price. Thursday was spent brainstorming the launch of the iPod with the heads of Universal Records, and come Friday she was at Skyline College. And you thought your week was busy.
"I have the best job in the world," Johnson said. "It's not tough so much as it's fun."
While she might thoroughly enjoy her job, Johnson hasn't always been in the technology field. She certainly never intended to end up in such a place, either, stressing the importance of getting out in the real world and taking chances.
"I'm a communications and journalism graduate," she said. "I don't have a Masters-I come from the school of hard-knocks."
Johnson originally set out to become a doctor, but decided to stick with something she was better with, which was writing. After graduating, her first job found her working at a public relations firm, covering Senate hearings. Though it only earned her $9,000 per year, she saw it as "a way to start."
From there, she headed to New York to be a public affairs assistant for Chemical Bank, which involved more coverage of government happenings. She felt this was her first "fun job," as she met others working in public relations. After this, she began working with Apple.
"Apple wanted people who could write, which is what I did for six years," she said. "I had no technological background, which can be hard if you don't know what you're writing about. I had to do a lot of work getting up to speed."
It was at this time that many people from Apple went to IBM, including Johnson, and here she got her feet grounded as a specialist. Whether it was fighting to keep a dying operating system alive or taking business to the budding Internet, Johnson established a name for herself. Eventually, Hewlett-Packard came knocking at her door and has been working there since then.
On a recent Monday, the Senior VP of computer company Hewlett-Packard spent the day with Apple's Steve Jobs plotting out the future compatibility of the iPod and HP computers. Tuesday was spent in New York City helping Starwood Hotels market to a business crowd. Wednesday saw her in Santa Monica working with Starbucks to help establish "music booths" at which a customer could burn their own CD for a price. Thursday was spent brainstorming the launch of the iPod with the heads of Universal Records, and come Friday she was at Skyline College. And you thought your week was busy.
"I have the best job in the world," Johnson said. "It's not tough so much as it's fun."
While she might thoroughly enjoy her job, Johnson hasn't always been in the technology field. She certainly never intended to end up in such a place, either, stressing the importance of getting out in the real world and taking chances.
"I'm a communications and journalism graduate," she said. "I don't have a Masters-I come from the school of hard-knocks."
Johnson originally set out to become a doctor, but decided to stick with something she was better with, which was writing. After graduating, her first job found her working at a public relations firm, covering Senate hearings. Though it only earned her $9,000 per year, she saw it as "a way to start."
From there, she headed to New York to be a public affairs assistant for Chemical Bank, which involved more coverage of government happenings. She felt this was her first "fun job," as she met others working in public relations. After this, she began working with Apple.
"Apple wanted people who could write, which is what I did for six years," she said. "I had no technological background, which can be hard if you don't know what you're writing about. I had to do a lot of work getting up to speed."
It was at this time that many people from Apple went to IBM, including Johnson, and here she got her feet grounded as a specialist. Whether it was fighting to keep a dying operating system alive or taking business to the budding Internet, Johnson established a name for herself. Eventually, Hewlett-Packard came knocking at her door and has been working there since then.
