Dr. Gigi Lousia Johnson

Gigi Johnson, our Executive Director, “connects the digital dots.”   Her work at Maremel, as well as at UCLA and Rethink Next, focuses on how we can create intentionally healthier futures — as individuals and together — in a changing world.

She launched Maremel in 2001 to launch and grow media and educational projects.  Maremel has produced executive programs with universities and companies, three educational web series (starting in 2004), video oral histories with innovative leaders, and transformative talks at thought-leading conferences across the world.  She has counseled leaders from a variety of tech and media companies on next-generation trends and new markets.

She launched Rethink Next in 2018 to create programs with partner organizations to train trainers on live and digital literacy in a changing world, after running pilot programs with Next Careers since 2016.

In 2014, Gigi founded UCLA’s Center for Music Innovation at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where she is the Center’s Executive Director.  She also had taught Internet Marketing and Branding there since 2010.  From 2004 to 2011, she taught digital media and disruptive technologies at UCLA Anderson, and has taught programs at University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain; Columbia College; and Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi.  From 1999 to 2005, she ran a variety of thought-leadership programs at UCLA Anderson, including its Entertainment and Media Management Institute, Executive Media and Entertainment Program,  Certificate Program in Entertainment/Media Management for undergraduates, and Applied Management Research/Field Study Program.

Dr. Johnson’s for-profit background includes being SVP/General Manager of two video-on-demand channels at Studio 4 Networks and SVP/Managing Director at Bank of America. She spent most of a decade there as a corporate banker in Bank of America’s Entertainment/Media practice, focusing on entertainment conglomerates, movie studios, theatrical exhibition, radio and TV broadcast stations, publishing, cable television, theme parks, and wireless telecommunications. In addition, she has worked for leading advertising and public relations firms in media, as well as at a major studio in television finance.  She also has worked with a variety of non-profits and trade associations in advisory and leadership roles.

Dr. Johnson received her doctorate in educational leadership and change, focusing on media studies, organizational change, and technologies, from Fielding Graduate University.   She received her MBA in finance and accounting from UCLA Anderson, and her BA in Cinema-Television Production from the University of Southern California.