Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kristen Johnson of Richmond, VA

We recently had the chance to connect with Kristen Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Kristen, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely! Being selected for the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women in Business program has been a huge proud moment for me. It is not just recognition of my journey as a founder but also a reflection of the incredible growth of KR Scholars and the scholars we serve. I felt proud thinking about how our small idea has grown into a movement that has opened doors for so many students. Those moments keep me both grounded and grateful.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kristen Johnson, and I’m a proud graduate of Winston-Salem State University, as well as a wife, mother, musician, philanthropist, and HBCU advocate. I serve as the Co-Founder and CEO of KR Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the educational and professional success of students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
KR Scholars began with a simple act after the George Floyd tragedy, when my husband, I, and a few family members came together to fund three $500 scholarships. What started as that small step has grown into a movement: to date, we’ve awarded over $100,000 in scholarships and supported more than 1,000 students through financial literacy, college readiness, and workforce development programs.
What makes KR Scholars unique is that we are created by HBCU alumni for the HBCU community. Our work is rooted in culturally relevant programming and a commitment to supporting students not just in getting to college, but in thriving to and through graduation and into excelling careers.
Our initiatives reflect this mission in distinct but connected ways. The HBCU Bridge supports high school juniors and seniors from Title 1 schools in Richmond by preparing them for the transition into HBCUs. Through mentoring, workshops, and career exposure opportunities, students are guided through applications and equipped with tools to succeed as they step onto campus. The HBCU Campus to Career program provides students with free Google certifications in areas like data analytics, IT support, project management, UX design, and digital marketing—credentials that enhance their degrees and make them more competitive for internships and career opportunities. In addition, the HBCU Money Masters program builds essential financial literacy, teaching students how to budget, manage credit, understand loans, and build wealth so that they can create long-term stability for themselves and their families.
Together, these programs form a wraparound support system that not only honors the legacy of HBCUs but also equips the next generation of scholars with the skills and resources to excel in college, career, and life.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mom saw me clearly before I could see myself. She always recognized my potential, even in moments when I doubted what I was capable of. She instilled in me the importance of education, hard work, and faith, and she consistently reminded me that my gifts were meant to be used to serve others. Looking back, I realize how much her vision and belief in me laid the foundation for who I am today as a wife, mother, leader, and philanthropist.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: trust the process and believe in yourself. The challenges you face will shape your strength, and the passion you feel for helping others will one day grow into something bigger than you can imagine. Every step, even the hard ones, is preparing you for the purpose you are meant to walk into. Be patient, stay faithful, and remember that your voice and your vision matter more than you realize.
I would also remind myself to relax and have fun along the way. I’ve always been ambitious, driven, and determined, but sometimes I was so focused on what was next that I didn’t fully embrace the now. The journey itself is just as important as the destination, and there is joy, growth, and wisdom in each stage of the process. Embracing the present allows you to celebrate how far you’ve come, appreciate the people who support you, and find fulfillment in the work you are doing while you move toward what’s ahead.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what really matters to me is my faith and my relationship with God. That foundation has shaped every decision I’ve made and continues to anchor me through every season of life. It’s not just about religion for me, but about having a personal connection to God that fuels my purpose, keeps me grounded, and gives me the strength to push forward even when things feel uncertain. My faith is where I find my clarity and peace, and it is the reason I feel so passionate about serving others through KR Scholars and beyond.
They would also say that I care deeply about being a person of integrity. I’ve always believed that who you are when no one is watching matters just as much, if not more, than who you are in the spotlight. Whether it’s in my role as a wife, mother, leader, or advocate, I strive to make sure my actions match my words. Integrity means following through on commitments, treating people with respect, and leading with honesty, even when it isn’t easy. For me, living with integrity and faith at the center is the legacy I want to build.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I want the story people tell about me to be that I was someone who took visions and ideas from ideation to execution. I hope people can say that the work I poured into KR Scholars and the HBCU community will be counted for generations to come, that students who might not have had access to resources were able to graduate, build careers, and transform their futures because of the doors we helped open.
I want to be remembered as a true businesswoman, an HBCU advocate, a philanthropist, and a social impactor who used her gifts to serve others with excellence and integrity. Along my journey there were certain people who believed in me, guided me, and helped me get to where I am today. I want to be that kind of person for others, someone whose encouragement, support, and belief in their potential gave them the confidence to chase their own dreams and make them real. That is the legacy I hope to leave behind.

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Image Credits
Rufus Johnson

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