Entertainment & Hospitality Leader; CEO of Salamander Hotels; President of WNBA's Washington Mystics; Co-Founder of BET
Sheila C. Johnson Biography
Sheila Crump Johnson is a business executive, philanthropist, and entertainment and hospitality leader widely recognized for her pioneering role in media ownership and luxury resort development. She is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), a historic media company that transformed the landscape of African-American television and entertainment. Johnson is also the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, a hospitality company she founded in 2005 that manages a growing portfolio of luxury properties across the United States.
Johnson holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to achieve a net worth exceeding one billion dollars. Through Salamander Hospitality, she oversees properties that blend luxury tourism with cultural and recreational experiences. One of the company’s flagship assets is the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Florida, a 72-hole championship golf destination that has hosted professional tournaments including PGA TOUR and LPGA events.
In professional sports ownership, Johnson is a prominent figure in American athletics as the team president, managing partner, and governor of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. She is also an owner or partner in multiple Washington, D.C.–area professional sports franchises, including the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, reflecting her longstanding investment in sports and community engagement.
A committed humanitarian and arts advocate, Johnson serves as a global ambassador for CARE, supporting global poverty reduction initiatives through campaigns such as the I Am Powerful Challenge. She has held leadership roles in education and cultural institutions, including serving as chair of the board of governors for Parsons School of Design in New York, where she helped support the establishment of the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center.
Johnson’s memoir, “Walk Through Fire,” was published in 2023 by Simon & Schuster, offering a personal account of her life, career, and leadership philosophy. Throughout her career, she has received numerous honors, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, the Lincoln Medal, and the Billie Jean King Leadership Award. She continues to be a major influence in business, sports, media, and philanthropy.
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Sheila C. Johnson Speaking Topics
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Creative Pursuits
Johnson spent her grade school and college years training to be a concert violinist. She is now an advocate for the arts and arts education, as she believes that they allow children an important outlet for their creativity and help with all other academic pursuits. She serves as chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design in New York and sits on the boards of VH1's Save the Music Foundation and Americans for the Arts. Johnson speaks authoritatively on the rewards and benefits of investing in the arts.
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The Rewards of Philanthropy
Leaders must be givers, sharing their time, resources and vision to help others who are less fortunate, and inspiring those around them to action. In addition to Johnson's contributions to the arts, she is a global ambassador for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty by empowering women, because they have the unique power to help entire communities escape poverty. "Sheila's I Am Powerful Challenge" raised millions for CARE, and "A Powerful Noise," the documentary Johnson produced about three remarkable women effecting change in Mali, Vietnam and Bosnia, helped raise awareness of women's issues around the world. Through inspirational stories and moving anecdotes, Johnson illustrates:
How to find a mission close to your heart
How to pass on the spirit of giving within your community or organization
How to give effectively within your means
Sheila C. Johnson Videos
67: Sheila C. Johnson - Running Away From Failure
In this interview with Dr. Willie Jolley successful entrepreneur and impassioned philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson.
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How do I book Sheila C. Johnson to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sheila C. Johnson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sheila C. Johnson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sheila C. Johnson or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Sheila C. Johnson
Speaking fees for Sheila C. Johnson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Sheila C. Johnson are $100,000 - $200,000 for live events and $30,000 - $50,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sheila C. Johnson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Sheila C. Johnson speak about?
Sheila C. Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Anti-Racism, Athlete, Basketball, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Business, Business Consulting, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Celebrity, Corporate Culture, Creativity, DEI, Diversity & Inclusion, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Female Leadership, Human Resources, Influential Women, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Personal Growth, Philanthropy, Social Activism, Sports, Sports Motivation, Strategic Leadership, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Women, Women in Business -
Where does Sheila C. Johnson travel from?
Sheila C. Johnson generally travels from Virginia, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Sheila C. Johnson’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Sheila C. Johnson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sheila C. Johnson for your next private or corporate function. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sheila C. Johnson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Sheila C. Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Creative Pursuits, The Rewards of Philanthropy and Lessons from a Groundbreaking Leader. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sheila C. Johnson for your event is $100,000 - $200,000. Sheila C. Johnson generally travels from VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Zack Kass, Eric Boles, Daymond John, Jelly Roll and Rocky Bleier. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sheila C. Johnson for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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