The life of self-made entrepreneur Sheila Johnson can be divided into three distinct acts. Act One: Music. An accomplished violinist who played with the Chicago Civic Symphony, she also formed the Young Strings in Action orchestra when she taught at the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC and went on to open a music conservatory in Amman, Jordan.
Act Two is television. Johnson cofounded the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network in the 1980s with her then-husband Robert Johnson, where she served as executive vice president, becoming a major force behind bringing Black voices to the mainstream.
Act Three is that of hotelier, which may be her most meaningful one yet. Johnson founded Salamander Resort & Spa, which opened in 2013 in Middleburg, Virginia, just 50 miles from DC in horse country (her daughter was an equestrian). As she was developing and building the ground-up Salamander, Middleburg was struggling financially. But the resort brought the town back to life. First came the 340-acre hotel and spa, and then she founded the Middleburg Film Festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Always adding and evolving, Johnson recently launched Family Reunion, a four-day culinary celebration of top chefs of color from around the country. That’s true for her hotel collection as well. The Salamander portfolio now encompasses six properties—from Aspen to Anguilla and, most recently, DC.
“This is the third act of my life and the happiest act of my life,” she says. “I’m having so much fun building a hotel company. I put my guests first. When they walk through the doors of my hotels, I want them to feel the warmth we have invested in our properties—that everyone, no matter their skin color or where they come from, feels welcome. I want [hospitality] to be for everyone.”
A pioneer for gender and racial equality, she is also the first Black woman to be an owner and/or partner in three professional sports franchises, including the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA). She says she has managed it all (and, yes, she is involved in all aspects of her business) by being flexible and collaborative. She also believes in lifelong learning—and perseverance. In fact, the name Salamander stands for perseverance, courage, and fortitude, and echoes the company’s guest-centric philosophy, as well as Johnson’s secret to success. “I believe in failure,” she says, “because that’s the only way you can move forward and learn from your mistakes. I do not like to give up.”
Sheila Johnson was inducted into HD’s Platinum Circle hall of fame in November 2022.
