HPU Expert Johnny C. Taylor Shares Career Advice with Students
Johnny C. Taylor, president and CEO of SHRM, a leading human resources company, and High Point University’s Human Capital Expert in Residence, provided students with career advice during his Sept. 1 visit to HPU’s campus. Student moderator Hailey Crouse participated in a Q&A with Taylor in Congdon Hall’s Callicutt Life Skills Theater.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 4, 2026 – High Point University students received mentoring and advice for their future careers from Johnny C. Taylor, president and CEO of SHRM, a leading human resources company. He also serves as HPU’s Human Capital Expert in Residence.
Taylor led a Life Skills and Leadership Series session titled “People Are Your Greatest Asset – Leading Through Talent” in the Callicutt Life Skills Theater on Sept. 1. During his visit to campus, he also met with Principles of Management and Organizational Behavior classes and shared lunch with human resources minors.
To find their career sweet spot, he encouraged students who attended his life skills session to ask themselves three questions and answer honestly:
- What can I be great at?
- What am I passionate about?
- What will someone pay me to do?
“Here’s the secret if you want to know your career sweet spot. It’s where all three meet,” Taylor said. “It is OK for you to begin taking agency of your life and say, ‘I’m going to find my career spot.’”
Taylor told students that another career consideration is whether their values align with a company’s culture. Too many people who take a job make the mistake of thinking they can change the company culture, he said. The ability to fit in, solve problems and relieve stress for others adds value to companies.
Taylor noted the top skills that employers said they want from their employees include:
- 89% for adaptability and willingness to learn
- 87% for work ethic and reliability
- 81% for communication
- 78% for teamwork
- 77% for critical thinking
- 69% for time management
His message aligned with a new national study from HPU that reveals C-Suite executives and Human Resources professionals view life skills as the decisive factor in hiring decisions and achieving career success even in today’s age of artificial intelligence.
“What I learned is that the Gen Z employees he hired were really skilled and communicative people who knew exactly what they were learning,” said Zachary McCarty, a sophomore finance major from West Palm Beach, Florida. “He also mentioned if you have a really good degree, but you don’t follow the aspects of the position that you still won’t get the job.”
Taylor shared with students that 42% of the core skills that were important in 2020 are now outdated. He said 39% of today’s core skills will be obsolete by 2030. He advised students to be adaptable and demonstrate their ability to work with anyone.
“I learned the importance of teamwork when running a business, definitely choosing the right people with writing skills and just being a good leader,” Kaylie Johnson, a freshman event management major from Roanoke, Virginia.
Taylor is part of HPU’s Access to Innovators program, which connects students with industry leaders for networking and mentorship opportunities. His talk in the Callicutt Life Skills Theater was one of a continuing series of life skills sessions that HPU students are encouraged to attend. Students who attend four designated sessions can earn a tuition-free life skills certification and enhance their professional credentials.