Jill Johnson is a dynamic leader, veteran strategist, and a pioneering voice in the movement to build inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. As the CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), a Newark-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that she co-founded with her father, she has spent nearly three decades understanding and addressing the systemic barriers to entrepreneurial success. Under her leadership, IFEL has evolved into a national thought leader, serving nearly 14,000 businesses, 600+ investors, and a community of over 200 active volunteers annually.

 

Jill’s work is defined by a holistic approach that centers relationship connectivity as the primary determinant of access to capital and resources. In 2023, she spearheaded IFEL’s acquisition of Pipeline Angels, an angel-investing training program focused on increasing investor diversity. This strategic move merged two trailblazing organizations, expanding IFEL’s ability to influence the "supply side" of the capital equation.

 

Jill’s expertise is grounded in an analytical foundation that began in the investment banking financial analyst program at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in mergers and acquisitions. Her subsequent career includes managing advertising and strategic partnerships for YES Magazine at her family’s business, City News Publishing Company, and serving as President of On Point Consulting, where she provided guidance to early-stage businesses and wrote business plans for entrepreneurs seeking capital during the dot-com boom.

 

An active contributor to the community, Jill serves on the board of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and is a member of the Women’s Forum of New York, Chief, the Women Business Collaborative, and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs. She was honored to be named to the NJBIZ Power 100 list in 2021, and her contributions were recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a "Whole Health Hero" in 2022. 

 

A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in economics, Jill is a dedicated advocate for creating a world where opportunity and wealth creation through entrepreneurship are accessible to more people in more communities.