profile: Sheila johnson
Walk Through Fire
By ASHLEY WARD / Photography By Scott Suchman
Sheila Johnson, founder of Salamander Collection, offers insight into her career and memoir, the advice that led her to her business success and the foundational spirit behind her company.
Success stories aren't born
overnight. The same is true for Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television) and entrepreneurial icon, who, as suggested in her memoir, "Walk Through Fire," published by Simon & Schuster, had to walk through flames to get there.
From humble beginnings growing up in Maywood, IL, Johnson dreamt of pursuing her passion as a talented, young violinist and cheerleader. However, her life took a tragic turn when her father announced that he was taking off in the thick of her adolescence, leaving her mother high and dry and Johnson without a childhood. Institutional racism, betrayal and overcoming self-doubt were only some of the setbacks that followed.
Amongst these was a hurdle far more heartbreaking: an emotionally abusive marriage spanning over three decades that would leave Johnson divorced and depressed, albeit not defeated.
Johnson's fearless candor paints the story of a true American Dream, a profoundly poignant reality of love and loss, and the resilience required to surmount it. Rising from the ashes in her third act, Johnson shares pieces of her journey, from tragedy to triumph, and the lessons that led her to find true love and the way back to herself.
SM: Your career has been diverse and long-lasting. What is your secret to success?
SJ: I started my career in the arts - as a violinist and music teacher which helped me to become both creative and organized. I used those skills as a building block to help me first succeed in the cable business, followed by the hospitality industry and sports team ownership. I'm now in the third act of my life, but I'm as passionate as ever about as passionate as ever about pushing the boundaries, and new and current projects.
SM: What have been some of your favorite memories since Salamander Middleburg opened its doors?
SJ: Opening day in August 2013 was a particularly momentous occasion for me, as there had been many people who doubted my ability to both get the resort approved and built. But it's gone on to achieve great acclaim and the recurring events we hold there are very special to me: the Middleburg Film Festival, which is almost as old as the resort itself, and the Family Reunion, which celebrates diversity within the hospitality industry and has quickly become one of the premier food and wine events in America.
SM: What did you do to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Salamander's flagship resort, and do you have plans to expand or revamp the resort brand/collection?
SJ: To mark our decade milestone, we held a beautiful community gathering, and we also rebranded our company as Salamander Collection because we now represent much more than hotels and resorts. For the past decade, our unique culture of inclusion, kindness and warmth has created a genuine sense of belonging, and this new chapter truly encapsulates my vision and tells a story that's been evolving for years. We're not a cookie-cutter company and that distinguishes us from other luxury brands. Specifically at our resort in Middleburg, we have recently begun welcoming our first community members in our Residences at Salamander development. We are building 49 homes over the next several years and look forward to welcoming many more residents.
SM: Your parents were supportive of you pursuing your passion for music. Can you discuss the importance of amplifying the voices of the young?
SJ: It's imperative we do all we can as a community and individuals to help our youth. As they are our future, it's arguably the most important gift that adults, especially older adults, can do for society. A few years ago, I set up a fellowship at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government for 50 students from underserved communities. It's been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and those young people have become leaders of today and tomorrow.
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