Kara Leonard
Kara leads the global HR strategy for Vision, including advancing the organization’s end-to-end talent agenda through efforts focused on talent attraction, diversity and inclusion, and building critical capabilities to drive growth. She will join both the Vision Leadership Team (VLT) and the MedTech Global HR Leadership team.
Kara’s superpower is her ability to build connections with employees throughout the organization across every level, globally. She has been integral to Vision business growth, spearheading HR strategies in the Americas with a deep focus on talent, change management, and key organizational capabilities. She has also been instrumental in shaping our talent agenda, with a focus on enhancing the depth, breadth, and diversity within the MedTech pipeline. In addition, Kara is highly respected for her business focus, relentless passion for unlocking the potential of every employee, and is a champion of our ERGs.
Kara joined Johnson & Johnson 23 years ago, previously holding global HR roles within Vision, helping to set our global talent agenda and has been a driving force behind the shift in our succession planning to accelerate talent moves across the whole of Vision and cross-regionally.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Kara’s impact extends beyond the walls of J&J to the broader community. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Before joining J&J, Kara worked in the airline industry, where she held various HR roles. Kara holds a B.A. in Human Resources from the University of Nebraska.