Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Stephen Johnson of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Stephen Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Stephen, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now my days are full of working with rising seniors on their final SAT and ACT prep, meeting with families of juniors who want to start early, and growing the AptivPrep platform and community that I’m so excited about. At the same time, I’m developing a new resource that speaks directly to teachers and personal finance, because as a parent, educator, and someone with a finance background, I know teachers are notoriously underpaid and deserve so much more.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Stephen Johnson, founder of AptivPrep. I help students and families navigate the SAT and ACT with a system that blends proven strategy, AI-powered tools, and the kind of community support usually reserved for elite tutoring. What makes AptivPrep special is that it’s built on both sides of my life—as a parent of four who knows the pressure families feel, and as an educator who’s guided students to top colleges.

I didn’t take the straight path here. I studied science at UCLA, worked in finance and venture capital, and came back to education because I saw how much impact I could make. That mix of experiences shapes everything I build. Right now, beyond helping students, I’m also working on a project for teachers that focuses on personal finance. Teachers give so much and deserve so much more, and I want to help create resources that support them too.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For a long time, I bent and shape-shifted to serve everyone else’s needs while ignoring my own. I became very good at being what others needed me to be—whether that was for students, families, colleagues, or even my own community. I don’t regret that season because it taught me resilience, empathy, and the ability to operate in many different spaces. But I’ve realized that kind of thinking eventually leads to frustration, and it comes at the cost of your own happiness. What I need to release now is that instinct to constantly sacrifice my needs in order to meet everyone else’s. Letting that go opens the door to being more fulfilled, and ultimately, to serving others at an even higher level because I’m coming from a place of strength and balance.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. It gave me an unshakable belief in myself and in the idea that everything is ultimately working out for me. Every door that has closed was simply a door to a room that wasn’t meant for me, and no one can close the doors to the rooms that I am meant to be in. That perspective allows me to move forward with confidence, even when the path isn’t clear.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what really matters to me is intention and purpose. Every decision I make is rooted in positioning myself to provide value to the world. Whether it’s through my work with students, the AptivPrep community, or new projects for teachers, I’m always asking: does this serve a bigger purpose and does it create real impact?

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I was a straight-A student and, like many kids, was told I should become a doctor. I followed that path all the way through college before deciding to strike out on my own. The funny thing is, everything I learned in science ended up serving me anyway. It trained my mind to analyze patterns, test hypotheses, and look at problems in a very structured way. That way of thinking now shapes how I run my business and how I approach education. It makes me see things differently than most educators in my field, and that difference has become one of my greatest strengths.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than