Leadership Spotlight: An Interview with Bernard Johnson, Vice President

In November, Bernard Johnson joined Fourth Economy as its new vice president. Bernard previously spent fifteen years at Interise, a nonprofit that supports the growth of established small businesses that are minority-owned or located in low- and moderate-income communities. He is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership and Performance Management program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

We asked Bernard a few questions about his past professional experiences, his guiding principles, and what he’s excited to accomplish at Fourth Economy this year. We also had to hear this hip-hop fan’s take on the most enduring, canonical albums of past and present.

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In your time at Interise, you were instrumental in expanding the organization from a Boston-based to a national non-profit serving over 80 sites. Why did it feel so vital to bring Interise’s model for inclusive economic development to more communities? 

Expanding Interise nationally was not just a professional goal; it was deeply personal and a calling that reflected my upbringing and values. As the son of two civil rights veterans from rural Alabama during the 1960s, I learned early the meaning of justice, resilience, and the responsibility to give back. When my parents migrated north, they carried with them a vision of opportunity and instilled in me a profound sense of duty to pay it forward. For me, paying it forward meant creating real change through intentional action by designing and scaling a proven model that could address inequality and lift communities. At Interise, this translated into partnering with organizations dedicated to supporting underserved communities, often minority-owned, with a true competitive advantage through thoughtful strategy, careful planning, and hands-on implementation. Our work went far beyond immediate business growth. It created sustainable outcomes for the business owners, their employees and families, and the communities they serve. 

What were the greatest challenges and most rewarding successes of expanding this work to serve over 9,000 small businesses? 

One of the greatest challenges was knowing that, even as we expanded, there were still countless communities and businesses without access to the tools, strategies, and support they needed. The need is so vast that it can feel overwhelming, but it reinforced the importance of designing a scalable, adaptable model.

The most rewarding part, however, was seeing the real, human impact of our work. Small successes often felt monumental. I’ll never forget a business owner sharing that they were finally able to offer health benefits to employees, or another celebrating their first vacation since starting their business. Seeing a business increase revenue, secure a contract they didn’t think was possible, or expand in a meaningful way — these were evidence-based outcomes that showed the approach was working. Knowing you helped people unlock opportunities they hadn’t thought attainable made every challenge worthwhile.

What are the guiding principles you apply to work with partners?

In all my work, I am guided by a few core principles: integrity, truly understanding the needs of the partner, building on existing knowledge, and creating lasting impact through meaningful collaboration. I approach every partnership with humility and curiosity, aiming to leverage the strengths of both sides to ensure results that are sustainable and equitable. I believe that lasting change comes from working together in ways that respect expertise, lived experience, and shared goals.

What are you hoping to achieve in your first year at Fourth Economy? And where do you hope to take Fourth Economy in the coming years?

In my first year, I am determined to dive in fully to learn from our incredible teams, strengthen relationships with our clients, and uncover new ways to expand our impact by turning strategy into tangible, lasting change. My goal is to ensure that everything we do leads to measurable, sustainable results that make a lasting difference for the communities and organizations we serve.

Looking ahead, I envision Fourth Economy reaching new heights of influence and impact. I want to broaden our work while creating powerful collaborations that help more communities build equitable, inclusive, and resilient economies. I believe our work can prove that intentional, thoughtful economic development is not just about growth — it is about fairness, opportunity, and shared prosperity for everyone.

You’re a big old-school hip hop fan. What are the top 3 albums that have stood the test of time and you couldn’t live without, and what are some recent hip hop albums that you think you might still be listening to 3 decades from now?

Top 3 albums that have stood the test of time

1. A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders

2. Jay-Z – The Blueprint

3. The Roots – Things Fall Apart

Recent hip hop albums I see myself still listening to in 30 years

• Travis Scott – Astroworld

• Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city

Hip hop has always been about storytelling and reflecting real-life experiences, and these albums combine both musical brilliance with cultural relevance. These albums are timeless in my opinion.

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Interested in connecting with Bernard? You can reach him at [email protected].