Lady Boss: Black Tech Founders – Episode 006 – Video

Episode 6 – Lady Boss: Black Tech Founders

Hosts: Dr. Kyla McMullen and Dr. Jeremy Waisome

Guest: Dr. Angelique Johnson (@thevissionaire)

Description: In this episode you’ll meet Dr. Angelique Johnson, Founder and CEO of MemStim. Learn what it’s like starting and running a company that combines computing and medicine to develop microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for cochlear implants. She shares some of her strategies for pitching to investors and gaining business skills. She describes why she turned down funding from an investor because she kept in mind the golden rule: he who holds the gold makes the rules. We (of course) also talk about who Dr. Johnson is, including her chrome dipped nails and faux hawk hairstyle and the importance of expressing her individuality at work.

Dr. Angelique Johnson is CEO/founder of MEMStim LLC, a company that produces implantable electronics to treat neurological disorders. With a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, her work on microfabricated electrode arrays has resulted in several national and international patents, funding from the NSF and NIH, and a feature on the cover of Hearing Research. As an expert in Lean Startup Methodology, Dr. Johnson has educated several founders on how to build successful companies. She is an authority on innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr. Johnson has delivered a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill, served as a speaker for the eighth district of the Federal Reserve, and delivered several international talks. She has been featured on NBC Universal, National Public Radio (NPR), The Root news site, Louisville Insider, Business First, and other media outlets.

Passionate about people as well as entrepreneurship, Dr. Johnson has led numerous outreach programs to promote tech careers to underrepresented minorities and women. One such program involved her traveling to Abu Dhabi to increase opportunities in STEM for Middle Eastern and North African Women. Dr. Johnson is CEO/Founder of Vissionaireum, an organization that promotes, trains and equips underrepresented entrepreneurs.