Jill Johnson

Jill Johnson is a pioneering leader and nationally recognized thought leader dedicated to fostering inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. As the Co-Founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), she leads a Newark-based non-profit that serves nearly 14,000 businesses and over 600 investors annually. Jill is widely known for her work in reimagining access to capital, most notably leading the 2023 acquisition of Pipeline Angels to expand funding opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs. With nearly thirty years of experience, Jill’s background spans investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co., strategic leadership at City News Publishing Company, and consultancy for early-stage startups. She is a vocal advocate for systemic change, focusing on how relationship connectivity drives economic opportunity.

In addition to her role at IFEL, Jill serves on the board of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and is a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs. Honored as a Crain’s New York "Whole Health Hero" and named to the NJBIZ Power 100, Jill holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard University and is dedicated to creating a world where opportunity and wealth creation through entrepreneurship are accessible to more people in more communities.