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Photo Credit: The Economic Club of Washington, D.C./Joshua Roberts

Sheila Johnson

Author of "Walk Through Fire" and Founder and CEO of Salamander Collection | January 04, 2024

David Rubenstein interviewed Sheila Johnson, Author of Walk Through Fire and Founder and CEO of the Salamander Collection on Thursday, January 4th.

Walk Through Fire is a uniquely American success story. From humble beginnings, Sheila Johnson rose to become one of the most accomplished businesswomen in America and the first African American female billionaire.

A Co-Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), she became an entrepreneur and philanthropist at the highest levels. As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Sheila is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA).

Sheila is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also serves as Chairman of the College of Performing Arts at The New School and through a gift to the Harvard Kennedy School, the Sheila Johnson Fellowship supported 50 fellows over five years.

She is a board member of the Metropolitan Opera, Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the NeuroArts Blueprint. Additionally, she is the Founder and Chair of the Middleburg Film Festival.