We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Johnston. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

A defining moment for me came when I visited Haiti in March of 2012. This was my second time there with a group from my college ministry/church. I had been on a path to get my degree in Elementary Education for as long as I could remember. When I started college, there was no doubt in my mind about what I would study and the job I would have after college. My grandmother, aunt, and cousin were all teachers and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. However, something wasn’t quite right and I had an unsettling in me. The month before leaving for Haiti, I decided that I needed to take a break from school as I wasn’t sure teaching is what I wanted to do and attending a private liberal arts college is expensive. So I talked to my professors and stopped school, not exactly sure as to what would be next. The trip to Haiti in March came and while there I kept getting a sense that I would get some clarity on next steps. We served in a few orphanages, visited the nearby tent city, and helped with smaller projects on the mission base. On the last day, I had this strong feeling that I needed to come back to Haiti and stay. In my zeal, I went home, talked to people, started raising funds, and gave away everything that wouldn’t fit in my backpack. Then I waited. Two weeks later, an airplane ticket from Seattle to Port au Prince came up for under $300. This was my sign. I booked my one way ticket to Haiti and did my final preparations.

Once in Haiti I got to help with hosting short-term teams, teaching in the school on base, and going to the nearby tent city to teach literacy and writing to women. I felt right at home among the people, the culture, the food, and I thought I would be there for at least five years. Due to a series of unforeseen events though, I ended up flying back to the US three months later as the base leadership was having some transitions.

I arrived back in the US and knew that I loved teaching but I didn’t want to do it in the traditional setting. After staying with my family in Idaho for a short time, I headed back to Tacoma and began nannying as I figured out next steps. Ultimately, I returned to school to finish my Elementary Education degree and instead of student teaching in my final semester, I interned with the education department at the Tacoma Art Museum—graduating with a new endorsement called “outreach education”.

For the next 6 years I would find myself working from the Seattle area for global non-profits that would reinforce my love for travel and serving people across the world. In this time, I would begin counseling and uncover how trauma and neglect in my own childhood gave me an empathy for vulnerable and underserved communities both in my own city and places around the world. I traveled to Colombia, Ecuador, Thailand, and Myanmar and got to meet people who have given their lives to provide resources and a place of safety for children in need and each time would wonder if I would end up in one of these places. Through the years though I saw the need for empowering and resourcing locals in these far reaching places.

Fast forward to 2024 and I have now worked for nearly 4 years at Atlas Free—a global nonprofit based in Seattle with a vision to end sex trafficking. What drew me to Atlas Free, previously known as Rescue:Freedom, was that their model is focused on building a global network of local organizations. Their mission to accelerate and resource the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation means that organizations are no longer fighting alone. It means that these leaders now have a community of support, that staff are being cared for to prevent burnout, and projects are being funded to disrupt demand, provide education and job training, house more survivors on their journey to restoration, provide education for children in vulnerable communities, and ultimately break the generational cycle of trafficking.

To tie it all back, the defining moment of going to Haiti in 2012 ultimately shook me from the life I had meticulously planned. Since then I have worked in areas where I have been able to tap into other passions such as training and preparing people to go overseas, educating churches on sending people well, and leading youth at a local climbing gym. This all led to my work at Atlas Free where my passions for the world and serving the vulnerable have come full circle. I get to apply my love for networking, educating, learning, and more through roles in development and fundraising while also making an impact and connecting with leaders from around the world. It has not been a straight path to where I am today, but I am grateful for the journey which was catalyzed nearly 13 years ago with that trip to Haiti.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello! My name is Emily Johnston, and I wear several hats: I’m an abolitionist, fundraiser, and grant writer for Atlas Free; a wife and mother; an athlete; and the owner of Mountain Rise Coaching. My journey to where I am today has been shaped by a deep passion for both social justice and physical fitness.

While I’ve spent the last 12 years working in the non-profit sector, a major part of my story is rooted in my personal experience with physical fitness and body image. Struggling with body dysmorphia and eating disorders throughout high school and into college, I found healing through a body image course during my freshman year at PLU. This experience sparked my passion for helping others—especially young people—recognize their value beyond physical appearance and embrace fitness as a means to have fun and achieve goals of lifelong movement.

After college, I began working in the non-profit sector, but I also took a part-time job teaching youth how to climb at the YMCA. It was during this time that I realized just how much I loved teaching and training people in their fitness journeys and empowering them to dream big and pursue their goals. When my husband and I moved to Everett in 2019, I joined Summit Everett, where I worked in various roles—from front desk staff to camp counselor, and ultimately Youth Coordinator. This position allowed me to deepen my connection within the outdoor and fitness community and build lasting friendships, many of which I still have today.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, gyms closed and uncertainty set in. I decided to use this unexpected downtime to pursue my NASM Personal Training Certification. After receiving my certification and setting up my business, I began training clients virtually, writing personalized plans for people from as far away as Nome, Alaska, and New York City. Some goals were focused on increased strength for climbing or hiking, while others simply sought consistency in their fitness routines. It was during this time that I had the opportunity to train one in-person client, and we got creative, holding sessions outdoors—training under closed school awnings on rainy days and at the marina with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains on sunny days.

Mountain Rise Coaching started as a side business, and it quickly became a meaningful outlet that allowed me to connect with people in my community and across the country. It’s also given me the flexibility to build relationships wherever I go, from exchanging services like massage therapy and photography with local friends, to coaching at a nearby gym.

I’m incredibly grateful for my business. It allows me to connect with a diverse range of clients, learn from their unique goals, and stay motivated in my own athletic pursuits. More than just a job, it’s a way for me to build community and empower others to discover what they’re capable of—whether that’s through climbing a mountain, achieving a personal fitness goal, or simply embracing the joy of movement.

If there’s one thing I hope readers take away from my story, it’s that no matter where you’re starting, you can always make progress. I believe fitness is about finding freedom in movement. I believe that fitness is attainable for everyone and it is simply a matter of finding what works for YOU. It’s not just about getting fit; it’s about fostering resilience and confidence that lasts a lifetime.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Throughout owning my business there have been many times where I have had to pivot. When I first started I had a number of clients both locally and across the US. However, when I started my work at Atlas Free and my husband and I moved out of Everett I found that my workload at the nonprofit was not sustainable for the amount of individualized clients that I was working with. Luckily, as Covid-restrictions lessened, people were looking for more in-person training opportunities and naturally stepped away from individualized coaching. It was during this period that I had to make a choice whether I would try to take on more clients or allow myself a season with only 1-2 clients as my nonprofit work had increased.

Another pivot happened recently as the garage gym where I train clients became full with our bathroom remodel equipment. The in-person clients I was working with got the option to switch to virtual or some of us would meet and do some training together at a local gym. In order to not break gym rules, I invited these women to simply join me for my workouts and I would help adapt it to where they were at.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

This is by far word of mouth and sharing on Facebook (who would have guessed?!). I have met people while hiking with my toddler and our moms’ hiking group; my husband has shared my business card with someone who started talking with him at the DMV; and ultimately, it is through friends sharing in their circles when someone brings up that they have some fitness goals and looking for a coach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mountainrisecoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtnrisecoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/em.johnston18
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-johnston

Image Credits

Brooke Shepard of @alexabeephotography

Matt Sagen of Cascadia Films