UP FRONT

I came away from my recent interview with cable TV pioneer and luxury resorts owner Sheila Johnson captivated by the impact she is making on the world. Her professional and philanthropic accomplishments are too numerous to list here. Even more impressive are her courage, commitment and passion.
She told me that she began challenging the status quo at a very young age. She said her mother recently relayed a story about how Johnson, growing up in the racially segregated southern U.S., reacted when she was told she couldn’t attend a white elementary school. She said, “I don’t understand, because the bricks of the school aren’t even white, they’re red. So why can’t I go?” In fact, she did end up attending that school for a year, passing as white with her fair complexion, in order to receive a good education.
Johnson’s recollections of the ugliness and unfairness she witnessed as a child left a strong impression on me, as did her honesty. It’s rare to encounter someone at her level of success who is willing to appear vulnerable. Often I find that high-profile CEOs are uncomfortable discussing challenges they’ve faced in personal terms for fear of seeming weak. Not Johnson, who speaks eloquently about the sexism and racism she has confronted throughout her life. She seems to understand that true power comes from understanding oneself and from addressing difficulties head-on.
While you’re reading the Johnson interview and enjoying the rest of this issue, we’ll be busy preparing our next edition, which will feature results of our fourth annual Readers’ Choice Survey. Our thanks to those of you who took the time to vote, raising the level of participation beyond that of all our prior polls.
Our objective at BJT has always been to help you make the most of your investment in business aviation. The results of this survey will further that goal by providing you with useful information while also communicating your likes and dislikes to the bizav companies that serve you.