Episode 86 – She Did It First
Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen
Guest: Dr. Sandra K. Johnson
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Episode Description:
Dr. Sandra K. Johnson made history as the first Black woman to earn a PhD in computer engineering — and she’s just getting started. In this inspiring conversation, she joins hosts Kyla and Jeremy to share her journey from Louisiana to IBM, her leap into fintech and venture capital, and how she’s empowering the next generation of African diaspora entrepreneurs. Tune in for insights on resilience, innovation, and thriving in spaces where few have gone before.
Bio:-::
Sandra’s Bio–
Sandra K. Johnson is the CEO, SKJ Visioneering, LLC, a technology consulting company. She is an Independent Director at Regional Management Corporation and Pan-American Life Insurance Company. Dr. Johnson is the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer engineering. Her 26-year IBM career included serving as the CTO, IBM Central, East and West Africa, and CTO, IBM Global Small and Medium Businesses. She has a background in high performance computing and is a Master Inventor with over 45 pending and issued patents and over 80 technical publications.
She has authored five books, including her memoir, Soft Power for the Journey: The Life of a STEM Trailblazer. Dr. Johnson earned B.S. (summa cum laude) and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering, from Southern University and Stanford University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Rice University. She is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and an IEEE Fellow.