About Me

 Kwame Johnson is President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta (BBBS). He is also an active Keynote Speaker, Author, and Leadership Development Coach. Recently named the “Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, he uses his platform to inspire students and business professionals to reach their fullest potential.

Born in Syracuse, NY, and the son of two educators, Kwame has a diverse background with humble beginnings. Kwame found his passion while incarcerated during his senior year of high school. During this challenging time, he decided to change his life and made history by becoming the first youth ever to take his SATs in jail. Kwame was accepted into Hampton University and, at 19, decided to leave college to become a social entrepreneur and help others through service.

His experiences of overcoming many circumstances to reach Harvard University and becoming a successful CEO have given him a unique perspective on what it takes to handle adversity and maximize opportunities while positively impacting others. Through his innovative presentations, he teaches individuals, teams, and organizations how to transform their personal and professional lives through leadership and high performance. He is a visionary leader and highly competent professional with a 20 + year reputation for producing growth and results. 

As CEO of BBBBS, Kwame oversees the largest mentoring agency in the Southeast, which has experienced 3X program and revenue growth under his leadership. He is also the award-winning author of The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career. Kwame is a highly sought-after public speaker and consultant specializing in revenue development, leadership, strategy, marketing, and program innovation.

Kwame has received national recognition for his work, including the Social Entrepreneur Program of the Year Award from the Manhattan Institute. Kwame has been named one of the Top 500 Most Powerful Leaders by Atlanta Magazine. Kwame has received the Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 Award and the Georgia Trends 40 Under 40 Award. Kwame recently received “The Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award” from the Secretary of State. This is the highest honor a citizen of Georgia can receive. 

Kwame is a Leadership Atlanta graduate with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He also holds Executive Education Certificates in Nonprofit Strategy and Fundraising from Harvard University. He is a proud member of Rotary and has been featured in USA Today, Fox, Rolling Out, The Huffington Post, BET, AJC, and much more.

When Kwame is not mentoring, speaking, or coaching, he usually spends time with his son or catching up on one of his favorite hobbies: working out. Kwame is a man of faith, humility, integrity, and resilience.