Andre Johnson joins his Merit America coach, Anja Nikolic, to talk about turning an unexpected layoff after 25 years in healthcare IT into an opportunity to rethink his career direction. Faced with uncertainty, Andre chose to lean into emerging technology, exploring cybersecurity and AI while continuing to build his skills, which led him to a new role. He shares how he used AI to identify roles that aligned with his experience and long-term goals, how everyday conversations and networking opened unexpected doors, and why staying patient and knowing your worth can make all the difference. Andre’s story is a reminder that a setback doesn’t have to be the end of the road—it can be a redirection toward a new career path.

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CREDITS:

Host: Anja Nikolic

Guest: Andre Johnson

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Rachna Sukuru

Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni

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