Darryl
Johnson

About Darryl

From borrowing to ownership.

Darryl Johnson is an entrepreneur, financial educator, author, and nonprofit executive with more than 20 years of experience in banking, real estate, mortgage lending, and business development. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Darryl has dedicated his career to advancing financial literacy, entrepreneurship, access to capital, and economic empowerment.

His professional journey includes working with leading financial institutions such as Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and BNY Wealth Management. Despite his success in corporate America, Darryl often felt that he did not truly belong. That changed after attending Dr. Boyce Watkins' presentation, "Get Off the Corporate Plantation," which gave words to feelings he had carried for years and inspired him to pursue business ownership.

In 2017, Darryl founded Business Credit Works, a formerly DBE- and MBE-certified company focused on teaching entrepreneurs how to financially "divorce themselves from their businesses" by establishing separate business credit profiles under their EINs. His mission is to help business owners reduce personal financial exposure, strengthen their creditworthiness, and expand access to capital. He is also the author of Business Credit Works.

Inspired by Dr. Claude Anderson's principles of group economics, Darryl is developing The Cooperative Lender, a cooperatively owned commercial lending school and lending company designed to move communities from borrowers to owners. Currently in its membership development phase, the initiative seeks to create opportunities for financial education, cooperative ownership, access to capital, potential dividends, and generational wealth.

Darryl also serves as Vice President of The Better Black Business Project (B3P), an organization dedicated to empowering Black entrepreneurs and authentic allies through business education, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and economic opportunities. Its mission of collaboration over competition aligns with Darryl's commitment to strengthening businesses and closing the wealth gap.

As Executive Director of Brighter View Foundation, an Arizona DES/DDD Qualified Vendor, Darryl leads programs supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, caregivers, and underserved families. The Foundation provides vocational rehabilitation, employment services, adult day programs, and community support while expanding workforce development through its Direct Care Worker Training Center and CPR/First Aid Training Center.

He also serves as Treasurer of the Amar'e Stoudemire Foundation and has worked with organizations including SCORE (KC and Phoenix), Operation HOPE, the Urban League Atlanta, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Black Economic Union of Kansas City. His civic leadership includes serving as a Business Commissioner on Kansas City, Missouri's first LGBTQ Commission.

Darryl is a graduate of Dr. Velma Trayham's Millionaire Mastermind program, Local First Arizona's We Rise program, and Pace Morby's Subject-To real estate investing program. He is also a Certified Transaction Coordinator through Pace Morby's training program.

Across his entrepreneurial ventures, nonprofit leadership, and community partnerships, Darryl remains committed to one mission: helping individuals and communities move from financial dependence to financial independence, from borrowing to ownership, and from economic participation to generational wealth.

"True economic empowerment begins with ownership."

Talk topics

Leadership roles

• Founder, Business Credit Works
• Founder, The Cooperative Lender (in development)
• Vice President, The Better Black Business Project (B3P)
• Executive Director, Brighter View Foundation
• Treasurer, Amar'e Stoudemire Foundation
• Partner, Sumlin Media Group

Formats

• Keynotes
• Panels and fireside chats
• Workshops and trainings
• Chamber and association events
• Community and nonprofit events
• Podcasts and radio