* Name: Helen Davis Johnson, 38
* Job Title: Co-founder and creative strategist
* Location: CreateHere is a downtown nonprofit dedicated to building the economy through art and cultural development efforts.
* First job: Working at TCBY, baby-sitting.
* Favorite part of job: The people. “We have an amazing crew here. I think it’s the most incredible team of people. We live in an amazing community. What I love about what I do is getting to interact with people who work at CreateHere. We have a number of different programs and initiatives that introduce us to people with a really diverse background. I love knowing we live in a place that has a great quality of people and such a diverse community. We have such talent in this community that I think we can be proud of. Makes me love our city more every day.”
* Worst part of job: Trying to choose what to do next because there are always a variety of options. She deals with the challenge by figuring out the priorities. “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was to seek wise counsel. You always have to talk to people and weigh the urgency and importance of an issue.”
* Special rewards: “Seeing people grow and succeed at what they love doing.” She referenced the LeadHere fellowship program, which is geared toward aspiring young community leaders. “Those rewards are real and they make this city a better place.”
* Best advice: Think big and bold. She recalled the quote by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, who said: “Make no small plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood.”
* Making a career of it: Don’t sit around. Find a way to get involved. Volunteer at an organization. Learn how to accomplish things. Learning how to do things and learn the mechanics of how things work. “Learn to use both your left and right brain.”
— Compiled by staff writer Holly Leber, hleber@timesfreepress.com