Meet Jill Johnson

Jill is the co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), based in Newark, NJ. IFEL, founded in 2002, is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports economic development through entrepreneurship. As a 30-year champion for black businesses, Jill is a pioneering voice for inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and is creating a new paradigm for the access to capital conversation.

 

She recently led the acquisition of Pipeline Angels, an angel investing network focused on increasing investor diversity and increasing funding for women. The acquisition unites two trailblazing organizations committed to increasing capital access to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Jill is a member of the Women’s Forum of New York, the Women Business Collaborative, and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs. She also serves on the board of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

​

In 2022, Jill was named one of Crain’s New York Business “Whole Health Heroes'' for her work creating pathways for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs and small business owners to have entrepreneurial success.
Jill has a B.A. in economics from Harvard and is married with four amazing sons.