April Johnson

Lawyer turned tech startup founder. Making workplaces happier at @happied_co (backed by @trueventures). Tweets about the journey.

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

I grew up in Inglewood, California.
Just a little Black girl.
With big dreams.

Today I'm the CEO of a tech company.
Raised over $1.7 million.
Here's my story...

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@itssmayraaa 💀💀🫠

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

Team feeling burnt out from remote work? Break out of that cycle today: 👇🏾

Remote work has become increasingly common, but so has remote work burnout. It's when you feel exhausted, stressed, and disconnected from your work. Sound familiar?

Reasons vary — from overwhelming workloads to a lack of team camaraderie. Missing those office chats? You're not alone. The absence of face-to-face interactions can really take a toll on our mental health.

Shockingly, a staggering 86% of full-time remote employees experience burnout, and more than half feel unsupported by their employers in dealing with it.

Read the full article from Zippia here: https://t.co/zkKVsxLu8A

So, how do we tackle this? Boundaries. Rest. Connection. It's about finding that balance and nurturing those relationships.

I’m a strong believer that it is the leadership’s role to foster workplace happiness and nurture strong connections. At Happied, our biannual team offsites are a big part of that. Last year, our Playa del Carmen retreat in Mexico was off the charts.

We also have what I think is one of the coolest jobs ever. We help bring other teams together for top-notch offsites and retreats all over the world. Our north star - your employees should leave your offsite feeling PROUD and PUMPED to work for your company. And, your HR and people ops team should not be stressed out planning it (they’re already super busy). If your team is ready for an effortless offsite, Happied has you covered: https://t.co/FihUKxZzM1

What about you? What steps are you taking to prevent burnout for yourself and your team?

Follow me, @TheAprilJohnson, for the latest in team engagement.
And check out @Happied_Co for virtual team fun and team retreats / offsites.

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

5 Unique Ways to Celebrate Women’s History Month: 👇🏾

March is Women’s History Month, and if you haven’t yet - now is a perfect time to celebrate the accomplishments of women. Here are five easy and fun ways to celebrate with your team.

1. Host Women Guest Speakers: Invite prominent female voices in your industry to speak to your team about what it's like being a woman in business.

2. Play Women’s History Games & Trivia: If you’re looking for a stress-free way to play, consider trying a Mingle virtual trivia game, all about celebrating women's historical wins: https://t.co/Wd6FoocRFh

3. Host a Movie or Book Club: Everyone loves a good story! To celebrate Women's History Month, gather your colleagues for a movie or book club and learn the stories of inspiring women through literature and film.

4. Support Women-Owned Businesses: For remote teams, consider hosting an event led by a women-owned vendor, while in-person teams may enjoy dining at a women-owned restaurant.

5. Create a Spotify playlist of Inspiring Women Artists: Curate a Spotify playlist to inspire and motivate you and your team, showcasing female artists and promoting diversity.

Of course, celebrating women shouldn’t end in March. It’s important to honor your women employees, customers, and colleagues all year round.

Check out our Happied blog post for 5 additional ways to celebrate! 👇🏾https://t.co/LIwyWvhxz5

Follow me, @TheAprilJohnson, for the latest in team engagement.
And check out @Happied_Co for virtual team fun and team retreats / offsites.

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

Low employee engagement cost US companies $1.9 trillion in 2023.

And that’s just the beginning. The global economy was hit hard with disengaged employees costing a whopping $8.8 trillion in lost productivity.

So what happened?

In 2023, managers faced higher levels of disengagement, burnout, and job hunting. They also felt their organization didn't prioritize their wellbeing and struggled with work-life balance. These managers' challenges are bad news for organizations as they trickle down to their teams.

What do we do to tackle this issue?

Engagement isn't rocket science; it's all about making employees feel valued and connected to the organization's mission. Investing in your employees’ well-being isn't just a good idea—it's a strategic necessity for any organization.

Read the full article from Gallup here: https://t.co/XBtYwHyCoS

Check out how Happied helps employee engagement here: https://t.co/WvHYtrBDbO - and tell a friend to tell a friend who wants to be happier at work.

With workplace stress on the rise, what steps has your company taken to support #employeeengagement?

Pictured: Happied team engagement event in San Francisco, CA.

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

Your company culture is more than a nice logo.

At Happied, our customers always ask us for tips on how to create a strong company culture. The answer is that it involves being super intentional and consistent. You have to start by defining what your company culture even is and understand it’s not a one-size-fits-all. Are you all super competitive or are you more collegial? Do you believe in radical honesty or do you prefer more measured communication?

Whatever your company culture is, there are traps you need to AVOID to ensure it’s not TOXIC. Ever wondered why some companies struggle to retain employees despite offering competitive salaries and benefits? According to FlexJobs, a staggering 62% of respondents cited toxic company culture as the primary reason for wanting to leave their job—outranking issues like low salary, poor management, and work-life balance.

TOXIC company culture traits:
• Nepotism
• Lack of transparency
• Racism, sexism, ableism (or any other ism)
• Lack of inclusivity
• Being ultra-cutthroat
• Enabling or turning a blind eye to abuse (verbal, physical, and/or sexual)
• Lack of accountability

Investing in a positive company culture is vital to a company’s success.

But how can you achieve it? By fostering open communication, providing opportunities for professional growth, acknowledging & rewarding employees, and promoting a culture of inclusivity & belonging. The ultimate goal is for employees to feel valued, motivated, and engaged.

Here are five easy steps to build your company culture: https://t.co/9HVGlW4VbF

What positive company culture attributes have you seen at your company? Have you ever been in a toxic workplace?

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

Taking a moment to reflect on #BlackHistoryMonth as a Black CEO. Feeling grateful for the sacrifices that paved the way, and humbled by the journey. Each step forward is a tribute to those who came before. Let's honor the legacy and continue breaking barriers together. ✊🏽

If you haven’t tried Mingle, Happied's virtual engagement tool, I invite you and your team to experience it for free: https://t.co/qgS88ZJ5Dw We've curated a virtual tour that spotlights Black art history — a great way to recognize Black artists throughout time. 🤎

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@hpierrejacques Congrats!! We just welcomed our little boy last month, and it's been the best experience ever. What a blessing it is to create life.

[Happied @Happied_Co]

So, our team MAY not be comprised of the best singers. 😂 But, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy some virtual #karaoke à la Mingle. We get the joy of experiencing the same Mingle #virtualevents enjoyed by our customers all over the world.

Try Mingle Free: https://t.co/ONTxRIhNqt

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

Pregnancy + startup life has been quite the adventure.

Navigating the ins and outs of growing a company in today’s economy while growing a tiny human is most definitely challenging. The excitement and unexpected twists of building a company from scratch make me feel just a liiiiittle more prepared for this new chapter, but the biggest game-changer for me is having an all-star team of colleagues, advisors, and investors leaning in and cheering me on during this pregnancy.

Shout out to my team!

Here’s what we’ve done while this baby has been baking:
• Launched Mingle, our automated virtual team engagement tool, surpassing our 2023 user sign up goal by over 120% and putting a dent in the $8.8 trillion that unhappy employees cost the global economy
• Grew our international reach with 64% of our most active platform users being outside of the U.S.
• Achieved over $1M in retreat revenue in the last year, creating memorable experiences for teams across the world.
• Helped increase workplace happiness for thousands of employees, with 97% of employees reporting feeling more connected to their team after using Happied.

And, oh how I love this photo. It reminds me of how strong women are - as Beyonce says, “smart enough to make these millions, strong enough to bear the children, then get back to business.”

It's a wild ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way. How do you balance the hustle with the joys of life?
#PregnancyJourney #StartupLife #HappiedTeam

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@MoonHoneygrove @leahfrombklyn Is your mom eligible for Medicare or Medicaid? My mom recently became ill and she is housed in a skilled nursing facility paid for by Medicare with a Medicaid supplement. It’s all so hard to navigate for sure. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

[Happied @Happied_Co]

Try our newest fast-paced, fun #virtual Mingle game, shedding light on the daily challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Get started with Mingle free now: https://t.co/YSFOooawKc

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@mylesgrote @unusual_whales The world needs more @Happied_Co. We’re happy to help.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Don’t mistake silence for apathy. When people are quiet, they’re often busy thinking and learning.

Extraverts like to process ideas by talking them through. Introverts prefer to reflect before they speak.

I'm not disengaged. I'm listening to your views and formulating mine.

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@heistimi @ChampionsLeague @Mastercard @pepsi 👋🏽 @heistimi, I’m interested in learning more. Can you send me the details please?

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@MacConwell This is absolutely awful. I remember her pitching at Techstars Demo Day, and thought she was an absolute star. Sending condolences to her family and all that knew her.

[Happied @Happied_Co]

The Happied #team is back from an awesome #retreat in Washington, DC!

Our time in #DC was a blast, filled with reflection and recharging, so we can continue to bring you the absolute best in team experiences.

Start your next #teamretreat with us today: https://t.co/LdjyoMj70X

[Happied @Happied_Co]

Celebrate Mingle's launch! $1 per Like donated by Happied to Mental Health America, up to $5,000 by Sep 2023*.

Mingle fosters connections at work, nurturing mental health through virtual team events, activities, games, & meditations.

Try Mingle free now: https://t.co/KnPXbVS3aj

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

Monday gratitude: I get to wake up every day and work with an incredible team to build a company that was once just an idea in my head. #grateful #startuplife

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@SquarespaceHelp Sending a DM now. For reference, this is the prior response we received via DM. This repeated hard line against providing a credit when Squarespace's bug caused significant harm to our site is unacceptable.

[April Johnson @TheAprilJohnson]

@squarespace had a bug last week that deleted our entire webpage structure, AND opened our private pages to the public. We requested a credit, and they referred us to the TOS re: warranty of service. As an attorney and entrepreneur, I am appalled at this response.