We recently had the chance to connect with Chiquanda “CJ” Johnson and have shared our conversation below.
Chiquanda “CJ”, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I am being called to step boldly into my Jubilee year—the season of restoration and freedom. For so long, I carried survival on my shoulders: raising three children as a single mother, including a son with autism; walking through challenges; and building businesses with little more than faith and grit.
What I used to fear was shining too brightly or claiming my vision out loud. Now, turning 50 and with over 30 years serving clients in accounting and tax, I understand that everything I’ve endured prepared me to lead with purpose. I am building a nonprofit cooperative, expanding the accounting firm, scaling the insurance and wealth agency and I’m amplifying real conversations through my podcast Empowered & Unfiltered.
This isn’t just about me anymore—it’s about leaving a blueprint of empowerment, wealth, and legacy for others. What once felt impossible is now my calling.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chiquanda “CJ” Johnson, and I’m stepping into a milestone year—turning 50 and celebrating 30 years in my profession as an Accountant and business strategist. I’m also the founder of a nonprofit cooperative and I lead a Wealth & Insurance Agency focused on helping families protect and build legacy. I support entrepreneurs through accounting and tax strategy, and I co-host Empowered & Unfiltered, a podcast for raw, real conversations. Beyond business, I’m a proud mother of three and a vitiligo advocate, committed to showing that resilience, faith, and authenticity can turn obstacles into purpose and legacy.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, creative girl who believed anything was possible. I loved helping people, solving problems, and making things better for others—even if it was just in small ways. But as I grew older, I learned the weight of responsibility early. Life told me I had to be strong, provide, and push through, even when I was exhausted or hurting.
What I’ve realized now, stepping into 50, is that the little girl I was back then was never wrong. She believed she could build, love, and create, and she was right. That same spirit has carried me through raising three kids as a single mother, living with vitiligo, and serving families and businesses for 30 years as an Accountant and entrepreneur. Today, I honor that little girl by letting her dreams live through me as I build not just businesses, but a legacy of faith, freedom, and empowerment for others.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I gave up more than once. At 19, I was diagnosed with PCOS and told I wouldn’t have children. I lost twin girls, and after years of trying, I stopped believing. It wasn’t until I began adoption paperwork that I learned I was pregnant with my first child. I also sank into depression when my mom passed, then hurricanes took everything I owned, and a broken marriage forced me to start over more than once.
What carried me through was prayer and faith. “Be still and know that I am God” became my anchor. Today, as a mother of three, an Accountant, and a CEO, I see those struggles not as endings but as fuel. Resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about rising again, and that’s what shaped me as a leader.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to building my non-profit ChaYah Global Foundation into a cooperative that will one day evolve globally. For me, this isn’t just a project—it’s a calling. I believe that true empowerment comes when families and entrepreneurs have access to both protection and generational wealth-building tools.
No matter how long it takes, I will keep building spaces where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive. Legacy work isn’t built overnight. It’s built step by step, with resilience and prayer, and I know the seeds I plant today will grow into something that outlives me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I was a woman of faith who turned struggle into strength and left a legacy of empowerment. That I didn’t just build businesses, but I built people. That I showed women, single mothers, and anyone who ever felt invisible that their story mattered and that resilience could be transformed into purpose.
I hope they say I raised three incredible children, stood boldly as an advocate, and built a foundation that created access to wealth and community for generations to come. Most of all, I hope the story is that I loved deeply, I gave freely, and I lived in alignment with what God called me to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cjohnsonaccounting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnsonsaccounting
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnson-s-accounting-b27893217?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Johnson’sAccounting
