Brandy Johnson

Brandy Johnson is chief people officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she helps shape the organization’s workforce culture and drives initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.

Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, Johnson served as vice president of human resources at Compass Minerals, where she was responsible for talent management, organizational design, and people strategy. In that role, she provided executive leadership across global business units and corporate functions, overseeing comprehensive HR strategy and service delivery. Prior to that with PPG Industries, she also led people operations across North America, South America, and EMEA, building scalable systems to support diverse workforces and aligning HR practices with global business priorities.

Earlier in her career, Johnson served in the United States Army as an ordnance officer, where she developed her foundation in leadership, logistics, and operations management. Her military service instilled in her a strong sense of discipline, resilience, and commitment to team success — qualities that continue to inform her leadership approach today.

As a former Boys & Girls Club member in the 1990s, Brandy gained invaluable experiences through the Club’s activities and learning opportunities. Today, she gives back by serving on the board and staying actively engaged to ensure the Clubs remain a strong foundation for developing young leaders. 

Johnson earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University of Missouri.