Madison’s Sharon Johnson has joined Wisconsin Economic Development Corportation as Director of Entrepreneurial Access and Inclusing, a role in which she aims to increase awareness of WEDC’s resources, expand access and open doors to success for underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs, according to a post on the agency’s website.
Johnson said she hopes to connect people of color with resources available to entrepreneurs.
“When I’ve asked entrepreneurs of color if they’ve ever heard of WEDC, the Small Business Development Center or the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Center, the answer most likely is no—or if they have, they feel that those organizations won’t support them in their entrepreneurial journey at any stage,” she says. “Of course, that’s not true.”
Johnson, who comes to the job after serving as chief engagement officer for the Economic Empowerment Collaboration in Madison, says spreading the word about available programs and expertise is a matter of equity.
“Equitable access to capital and resources is not necessarily a right, but it’s a matter of fairness,” she said in the post. “No matter where you’re located in the state, we want you to have a place to go with your questions—no matter what your product is or what your business is.”
Johnson hopes not only to raise awareness of entrepreneurial resources in underserved communities, but also to improve access and impact to those programs across the state.
“WEDC found that there were not a lot of businesses of color applying for grants or seeking services, unless the grant was specifically targeted to them,” she says. “We want to make it become all-inclusive, so they feel welcome, no matter what the program is. That’s my ultimate goal.”
Aaron Hagar, WEDC’s vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation, says Johnson brings an energy and enthusiasm that will carry the organization’s resources and expertise into underserved communities.
“Sharon has a great background and knows the vital importance of creating an entrepreneurial landscape where everyone in Wisconsin can excel,” Hagar said on the WEDC website. “Sharon has seen firsthand that there are entrepreneurs with great potential that may not have access to the resources they need. She will help businesses and communities across the state get connected and succeed.”
Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and MBA from the University of Wisconsin. She started her new role in January after two years as Chief Engagement Officer at Economic Empowerment Wisconsin. Over the course of a 27-year career, she’s worked in sales, real estate, project management and consulting.
