Early Life and Education
Helen Johnson-Leipold was born in Racine, Wisconsin, to Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr. and Imogene Powers Johnson. She is the great-great-granddaughter of S. C. Johnson & Son founder Samuel Curtis Johnson Sr. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in psychology.
Rise to Success
Helen began her career at Foote, Cone & Belding in Chicago in 1979. She joined S. C. Johnson & Son in September 1985. In March 1999, she was elected Chairman and CEO of Johnson Outdoors. She was elected Chairman of Johnson Financial Group in July 2004. She is the first woman in five generations to lead a major Johnson family enterprise.
Key Business Strategies
As the head of Johnson Outdoors, her tenure has emphasized innovation and sustainability. Under her leadership, Johnson Outdoors has generated significant revenue through global brands like Minn Kota and Humminbird. She also serves as a Director of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., her family's consumer household products company.
Philanthropy
In philanthropy, Johnson-Leipold founded and chaired Next Generation Now, an organization focused on child development and family education. She chairs The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, which supports initiatives in environmental conservation, democracy, and health. In 2017, she and her siblings pledged $150 million to Cornell University to establish the S.C. Johnson College of Business.
