College of Business faculty Natasha Johnson named 2020 NBJ Woman of Influence
Natasha Johnson is leading the way through her impact in the classroom and on the community.
Kim Chaudoin |
Natasha Johnson, right, not only shares her business knowledge in the classroom but with the community through her commitment to serving others.
Natasha Johnson, instructor of management in Lipscomb University’s College of Business, has been named one of the Nashville Business Journal’s 2020 Women of Influence.
According to a release by the Nashville Business Journal, “The Women of Influence Awards honors the region's most influential business women who not only work hard, but love what they do. They are women from every industry and profession — women who have made a difference in their communities, blazed a trail for the rest of us and are leaving a mark on Nashville.” Honorees are recognized in one of ten categories. Johnson, a professor, small business owner and entrepreneur, is recognized in the Trailblazer category which “honors women who have led the way for others to follow in their footsteps.”
Natasha Johnson
“I am honored to be recognized among such a dynamic group of extraordinary women,” said Johnson. “To me, being named a Trailblazer as a result of dreaming big, setting goals, and simultaneously achieving them is a gentle reminder that I can do ALL things through Christ. I am grateful for this recognition and the opportunity to inspire other women while continuing to make a difference in the community and in the world. May God receive the glory.”
She will be recognized at a virtual celebration hosted by the Nashville Business Journal on July 15. Click here for ticket information. She was also profiled in a special edition of the Nashville Business Journal print and online editions.
Johnson has been on full time faculty at Lipscomb for 4.5 years. Along with teaching human resources and core business courses at Lipscomb, she also has more than 10 years of direct and progressive human resources and business experience spanning across the healthcare, public utilities and entertainment industries. Prior to her faculty appointment at Lipscomb, Johnson was on the team at HCA Healthcare. Her primary areas of interest are in human resource management and organizational behavior; however, the expansion of her experience includes coaching, consulting, business development, and strategy as well as managing multicultural, intergenerational workforces. Johnson is also owner of The Beignet Bar and DEN Public Relations. In 2019, Johnson was recognized with the Rising Star Award by the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce for her leadership initiatives, service to the community and ongoing commitment to excellence in the academic and business arenas.
In October Johnson received the Rising Star Award by the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce.
“We are honored in the College of Business to work with Natasha Johnson — a mentor, teacher, and entrepreneur who is making a difference at Lipscomb and in our community,” said Ray Eldridge, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Business. “Natasha’s 2020 Women of Influence award is a great recognition. She is well respected in the community and has initiated service projects that have enabled business faculty, staff and students to serve those most in need in our community. Natasha has a positive impact on everyone around her and we celebrate with her this tremendous honor.”
Johnson has led Lipscomb’s College of Business efforts to host the annual Black Professional Organizations’ Fair for the past four years, which connects over 20 prominent organizations to all university students. She also coordinated another signature initiative for the college with the Hero of Business event honoring Jeff Clanagan, CEO and president of Codeblack Films, who is a Black Enterprise Magazine Top 50 Hollywood Power Broker and Ebony Magazine's Power 150.
Johnson holds bachelors degrees in Business Administration and Spanish from Tennessee State University, an MBA from Lipscomb University and is a Doctor of Business Administration candidate at Jacksonville University.
To select the Women of Influence class each year, the Nashville Business Journal solicits nominations from the public. Nominees then complete questionnaires, which are later scored by an independent panel of judges made of past Women of Influence winners. Now in its 14th year, the program recognizes women who are shaping their companies, improving our business community and paving the way for the next generation of influential female leaders.
In addition to Johnson, past Women of Influence honorees from Lipscomb include Charla Long, former management faculty and dean of the College of Professional Studies, 2007; Susan Galbreath, senior vice president for strategy and professor of accounting and former interim dean of the College of Business, 2008; Linda Schacht, leader-in-residence in the College of Leadership & Public Service, 2012; Lisa Shacklett, former assistant dean of marketing and enrollment in the College of Business, 2014; Susan Morley, former assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, 2016; Aerial Ellis, an instructor of communication in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, 2017; and Allison Duke, senior associate dean and professor of management in the College of Business, 2018.
Lipscomb University’s College of Business is recognized nationally as a leader in business education. For the past four years Lipscomb’s undergraduate business program has been ranked among the top in the nation and the best in Tennessee by Poets&Quants for Undergrads, the leading online publication for undergraduate business education news. In the 2020 Best Undergraduate Business Schools ranking, Lipscomb was ranked in the No. 46 in the nation and is the highest ranked in the state and one of only of two universities in Tennessee included in the entire ranking. Lipscomb’s College of Business was also named to the Top 10 Undergraduate Business Schools to Watch in 2020 list by Poets&Quants.
Its accounting program was ranked the top program in Tennessee and among the top 10 percent in the nation in the 2019 College Factual rankings. It is the third year Lipscomb’s accounting program has been named the top program in Tennessee. The department of accounting also earned a ranking of 14th in the nation and number one in the state of Tennessee for the second consecutive year for Best Accounting Programs for Veterans. In addition, it was named the No. 1 accounting program in Tennessee and No. 2 in the nation in 2017 by Christian Universities Online. Other recent honors include: No. 2 Part-time MBA program in TN, Top 50 in the Nation (Bloomberg/Businessweek) - 2015; No. 1 accounting program in TN and top 10% in the Nation (College Online) - 2018; No. 1 Christian Accounting program in TN, #2 program in the Nation (Christian Universities Online) - 2017; No. 2 Bachelor's in Human Resources Degree program in TN and #26 in the Nation (College Choice) - 2016 and 2018; No. 1 in Tennessee and No. 36 in the Nation International Business Degree (College Choice) - 2017; and Top 50 marketing program in the Nation (College Choice) - 2016.