Freda Johnson’s influence, leadership and mentorship has touched many women and men in public finance over more than four decades in the industry.
When her career began, the industry was not an easy one for women.
“In order to succeed, Freda of course was very smart and capable, but I think she persevered at a time when it was so difficult for women to do so because she did it in a non-threatening manner that propelled her forward,” said Vivian Altman, managing director and head of public finance at Janney.
DONNA ALBERICO
She took her first job in public finance at Dun & Bradstreet Corp., and its then-subsidiary, Moody’s Investors Service. Her journey in public finance began there and she went on to head the department, becoming the only senior woman executive at the agency at the time. The second half of her career was as president of Government Finance Associates, Inc., an independent public finance advisor consulting on debt and financial management and strategic planning for large and complex state and local governments and public authorities.
One of the things she saw early in her career was the lack of women mentors. “There just weren’t women there in the business that I could look to,” she said. “There weren’t that many women in positions of authority, even in the 80s, certainly not in the 70s.”
This led Johnson to become a founding member of the Northeast Women in Public Finance organization, which for the past 13 years has given out the Freda Johnson Awards to trailblazing women in public finance, named in her honor. She also spearheaded NEWPF’s mentoring program, which is credited with getting many more women involved in the municipal bond business.
“I felt mentoring was very important so that we could provide role models and guidance to younger women in the industry,” Johnson said.
Beyond her “groundbreaking professional achievements, her role as a mentor has been transformative to a multitude of people in the industry, myself included,” said Kimberly Lyons, vice president-product manager at Moody’s Ratings. “Her dedication to supporting women in the industry has fostered an inclusive and supportive community, contributing significantly to diversifying the field.”
Johnson started as Lyons’ mentor “and quickly became family and one of the most important people in my life,” she said.
“Freda is deeply committed to mentoring women and serves as a role model who truly walks the walk,” said Alice Cheng, vice president and municipal credit analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott.
Cheng, who is co-chair of the NEWPF Mentor Program, said she has had the “privilege of witnessing Freda’s unwavering dedication” to mentorship.
“Working alongside Freda on the mentoring committee and the NEWPF board allowed me to see firsthand her tenacity, vision, and steadfast commitment to ensuring women from diverse backgrounds are considered for every opportunity,” Cheng said.
Johnson’s career accomplishments are vast. One of the more recent achievements of which she is proud is being the recipient of the 2022 President’s Medal from Queens College, where she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Queens College Foundation, and where she graduated with a degree in political science and government.
She is active with Carnegie Hill neighborhood groups and is an advisory committee member to the Board of Directors of Tri-State Maxed Out Women’s PAC, which works to expand the participation of women in government.
Johnson is the editor for her husband, J. Chester Johnson, a writer of poetry and non-fiction, and former public finance professional himself. She has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Four Way Books, a selective publisher of poetry and short fiction, and the co-chair of the Senior Program Committee of the Harvard Business School Club of New York. She was an adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, past president of The Municipal Forum of New York, and treasurer of the National Board of Directors of The Transition Network, a not-for-profit organization which works to promote women.
“At every stage of her career she always considered how to advance others, how to help others achieve — particularly those underrepresented — once she had her seat at the table,” Altman said.