Candy C. Johnson is President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, the organization's first female leader. She began her career early, becoming the youngest person ever elected to Chattanooga's City Council at age 25, and went on to run a nonprofit education foundation, serve as policy director at a chamber of commerce, and act as senior advisor to the Mayor of Chattanooga.
Johnson describes her leadership style as "boundary spanning," connecting disparate problems and solutions through strategic relationships and a systems-thinking approach rather than treating issues in isolation. Within her first year as CEO, she launched the inaugural State of Black Chattanooga report, examining racial disparities in education, economics, and health, and in 2021 she established three empowerment centers focused on education, workforce development, economic advancement, and inclusive leadership.
Aware of the compounded racial, gender, and age bias facing women of color in leadership, Johnson makes a point of mentoring women through both formal and informal channels, working to build their confidence and connect them to opportunities in supportive environments.
