Early Life
Winifred "Winnie" Johnson-Marquart was born in 1959 in Racine, Wisconsin. She is the daughter of Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr., who served as the chairman and CEO of SC Johnson from 1965 to 2004, and Imogene Powers Johnson, a philanthropist. Her early life was rooted in the family's business legacy, growing up in an environment closely tied to the privately held company founded by her great-great-grandfather, Samuel Curtis Johnson Sr..
Rise to Success
Marquart's wealth stems from her inheritance as a fifth-generation member of the SC Johnson family. The company, founded in 1886, evolved from a parquet flooring business into a global enterprise. As a shareholder, she benefits from the company's success and revenue, which was approximately $10.5 billion in 2023. While her brother, H. Fisk Johnson, currently serves as the chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, Winifred has focused on philanthropic endeavors.
Key Business Strategies
Winifred J. Marquart has not held any executive roles within SC Johnson. Her primary focus has been on philanthropy. The SC Johnson company has continued to grow and diversify. SC Johnson has expanded its cleaning products portfolio through acquisitions, including Drackett (Windex, Drāno), DowBrands (Ziploc, Saran, Fantastik, Scrubbing Bubbles), Method, and Ecover.
Philanthropy
Marquart serves as the President of the Johnson Family Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to community-building and facilitates dialogue on important issues. She has been involved in several philanthropic initiatives, including the 2017 pledge of $150 million to Cornell University to establish the SC Johnson College of Business. This gift helped integrate several schools within Cornell, supporting faculty, student programs, and innovative curricula.
