Sheila Johnson
Sheila Johnson is Founder and CEO of the Salamander Collection, which in August 2023 was named as the 1 Luxury Hotel Brand by readers of USA TODAY. The company operates a portfolio of luxury properties centered around unique destinations in the US and the Caribbean that includes Salamander Middleburg in Virginia, which has achieved Forbes Five-Star ratings for both its accommodations and spa. Johnson’s award recognitions reflect her extensive track record in hospitality, and she was recently inducted into Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle Hall of Fame and named Washington Business Journal’s CEO of the Year 2022.
As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Johnson is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
A fervent supporter of education and the arts, she serves as chairman of the College of Performing Arts at The New School. Additionally, the Sheila Johnson Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School supported a cohort of 50 fellows – emerging leaders dedicated to improving the lives of the underserved community.
She is also a board member of the Metropolitan Opera, Jackie Robinson Foundation, and Advisory Board Member of the NeuroArts Blueprint: Advancing the Science of Arts, Health and Well-Being.
Ms. Johnson has long been a powerful influence in the entertainment industry, starting with her work as co-founder of Black Entertainment Television. She has served as executive producer of documentary and feature films and is founder of the Middleburg Film Festival. Ms. Johnson’s memoir, Walk Through Fire, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2023.