Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Johnson is the subject of a feature in California Leaders magazine, written by Ed Mauss, spotlighting his leadership as the city gears up for a historic run of global events — the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Golden Globes, the Milken Institute Global Conference, and the 2028 Olympic Games.

The piece centers on Johnson’s core belief that “the job isn’t about you.” He describes recognition, not money, as what truly motivates people, saying acknowledgment is “what moves the bar.”

That people-first approach shows up in how Johnson has built his team: he wants the Chamber running so smoothly that “if I drop over tomorrow, someone can step in, and the organization shouldn’t skip a beat.”

Service is the word that anchors the whole profile. Johnson frames leadership itself as an act of service, arguing that a leader’s real job is to build an environment “where people can succeed, organizations can thrive, and communities can grow stronger.”

The article also highlights Johnson’s willingness to do unglamorous work himself — from fixing an industrial dishwasher to mopping restaurant bathrooms — under the philosophy that “people will follow you” when you’re willing to do the dirty work alongside them.

On decision-making, Johnson pushes back on the idea that leadership means having every answer, saying it’s really about “listening carefully, communicating transparently, and making decisions based on values rather than convenience.”

The numbers back up the impact: under his leadership, the Chamber has grown into the third-largest standalone chamber in Los Angeles, with more than 620 members and a nearly $1.5 million operating budget. The article also ties his work to the $10 billion One Beverly Hills development.

Johnson traces his philosophy back to his upbringing in a small Pennsylvania town, crediting his adoptive parents and a formative question from his father — “Are you going to be a leader or a follower?” — with setting his trajectory from class president to Chamber CEO.

On hiring, his approach is simple: he looks for the “give a damn” factor above all else, saying, “I can teach the job… but I want to make sure people have what they need to be successful, and I want them to exceed.”

Mauss, Ed. “A Bright Light in Beverly Hills.” California Leaders, Summer 2026, Issue 02, pp. 24–25. Edited by Christopher Luna. Flipsnack. https://www.flipsnack.com/AB9C759BDC9/complimentary-california-leaders-summer-2026-issue-02