Sheila Johnson left the crowd wanting more. The powerhouse entrepreneur captivated the crowd at our second Waves of Change Luncheon on March 10th as she shared her remarkable journey from basic survival on a music teacher’s salary to unparalleled success as a billionaire businesswoman. Along the way, she launched Black Entertainment Television (BET) with her now ex-husband Robert Johnson. She became the first female owner of three professional sports teams, founded Salamander Hotels & Resorts, produced a series of documentaries and launched her own line of scarves. Last year, she and 11 like-minded women launched WE Capital, a venture capital consortium to invest in female-led startups that focus on social impact work.
Presenting sponsor Johnson and Johnson Global Services along with their sister company Vogue International was there in full force with J&J’s Vice President Erin Champlin giving a compelling introduction to Sheila and the Poynter Institute’s Vice President Kelly McBride for an onstage conversation. Kelly’s witty and intelligent questions prompted thoughtful and amusing responses from our honoree.
In a conversation sprinkled with lessons learned, Sheila relayed her remarkable life’s story. The audience was enthralled. Board President Chris Jimenez and Ann W. Madsen were then honored to present Sheila with the 2017 Helen Gordon Davis Women’s Leadership Award — a beautiful Wave sculpture by renowned artist Robert Wyland.
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Thanks to Women in Film & Television Florida for Video of the Event with special thanks to Fabiana Lowe and Victoria Jorgensen
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