Sheila Johnson
Vice Chair, Trust for the National Mall
Founder and CEO, Salamander Collection
Sheila Johnson is Founder & CEO of the Salamander Collection. The company operates luxury properties centered around unique destinations in the US and the Caribbean that includes Salamander Middleburg which has achieved the Forbes Triple Five-Star ratings for its accommodations, spa and dining.
As a Partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Johnson is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and the Washington Mystics.
She spearheaded the formation of WE Capital, a venture capital consortium to support and invest in female-led enterprises.
Ms. Johnson is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences where she serves on the Education Committee. She also serves as chairman of the College of Performing Arts at The New School. The Sheila Johnson Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School supported a cohort of 50 fellows. She is also a board member of the Metropolitan Opera, Jackie Robinson Foundation, Simon & Schuster Publishing Advisory Board, PBS Foundation and a committee member of the NeuroArts Blueprint: Advancing the Science of Arts, Health and Well-Being.
A powerful influence in the entertainment industry, she was the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, served as executive producer of documentary and feature films and is founder and chair of the Middleburg Film Festival.
Ms. Johnson’s memoir, Walk Through Fire, was published by Simon & Schuster in September 2023.