Condoleezza Rice Women Who Inspire Lecture with Sheila Johnson

Sheila Johnson discussed the challenges and satisfaction of being a First as a woman entrepreneur and CEO of celebrated enterprises in entertainment, hospitality and sports. As the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams, Ms. Johnson will speak to the role of sports in bridging divides, with a focus on “Sports and Diplomacy”.

In the early 1970s, the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China made the initial contacts through Ping Pong Diplomacy. The World Cup, played most recently in Qatar in 2022, brought teams from around the world in contact with the Iranian team, a country otherwise isolated.

Ms. Johnson addressed her strong support for education and the arts and her record of investment in female-led enterprises with a goal of promoting social impact and financial success.