Empowering African-Americans, an Interview with Robert L. Johnson, published in LEADERS

Robert Johnson is Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies. In July 2007, Johnson was named by USA Today as one of the 25 most influential business leaders of the past 25 years. Prior to forming The RLJ Companies, Johnson was Founder and Chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET). In 2001, Johnson sold BET to Viacom for approximately $3 billion and remained the Chief Executive Officer through 2006. Currently, he serves on the following boards: KB Home; Lowe’s Companies, Inc.; Strayer Education; NBA Board of Governors; Deutsche Bank Advisory Committee; The Business Council; and Smithsonian’s National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture.