There’s a reason Dawn Johnson is referred to as “The Self Esteem Queen.”™

An internationally recognized motivational speaker, author, business coach & small business consultant, serial entrepreneur and spoken word artist, Dawn Johnson, the acclaimed "Self Esteem Queen™" is one of today’s leading experts on self-esteem enhancement, personal & professional leadership, and entrepreneur personal development.

Dawn the Survivor.
From being abused by a family member to being abandoned at age 14, it was said by some that Dawn would be lucky if she weren’t, "institutionalized before the age of 18".  Labeled an “at-risk” teenager by teachers and counselors, Dawn was told by one high school guidance counselor to, “..take up a trade as your career path.”

Not one to settle for mediocrity,
Dawn found a love for debate and thematic interpretation while taking a speech class in high school.  Dawn’s persistence & personal motivation took the Gardena High School Speech Team to the California Forensics Speech & Debate Championships for the first time in over 10 years!

Dawn went on to graduate from prestigious Loyola Marymount University in California with a B.A. in Communication Studies. She then went on to get a MBA with an emphasis in marketing; all before the age of 28!

Dawn the Serial Entrepreneur.
Successfully starting her first business at the age of 14, Dawn owns several corporations including The Desi Hope Foundation, which rescues teenage runaways and temporarily houses them safe from the dangerous and unforgiving streets of California. Dawn’s goal is to provide safe-houses throughout the United States and overseas for teenage runaways.

“It’s hard to imagine that there are so many kids on the streets and so few milk cartons with pictures on them. I am constantly in awe when I place phone calls to parents who have not even bothered to report their children missing. There is a problem here, and society’s lack of compassion doesn’t excuse the fact that there are over 8,000 teenagers on the streets of Southern California on any given night. I can only imagine how many other teens in other states are not being looked for.”

Believing in the importance of reaching back to where she first started, you will still see Dawn patrolling the streets of Hollywood, Compton, and Van Nuys talking to and mentoring teenage runaways and teenage prostitutes. A tireless advocate for the thousands of nameless faces of teenage runaways, Dawn spends countless hours counseling and mentoring “at-risk youth”, educating teachers on how to deal with youth in today's society, and equipping parents with the essential tools needed to raise teenagers in the United States, Canada, and Africa.

“The goal,” Dawn says, “is to bridge the communication gap between parents, teachers, and teenagers through love, compassion, and education. I want to take the “at risk” label off our teenagers and instead focus on the communication practices between adults and teenagers.”

Dawn the Executive Coach / Mentor.
An expert in assisting those driven to excel to the next level, Dawn has consulted with Fortune 100 & 500 companies and start-up companies in developing strategic communication to achieve both corporate and individual objectives. Her experience in partnering with corporate executives, entrepreneurs and artists allows Dawn to give clients “clarity with strategy”, while mapping out a success path within their careers and personal lives.

Dawn the Author.
Dawn has authored 3 books including Dear Diary: A Letter to my Sister, which chronicles Dawn’s struggle with having no parents and surviving on the unforgiving streets of California, and Continue the Journey..., a book co-authored by Dawn's mother, that tells the true story of forgiveness between a mother and daughter who reconnect after being estranged for 10 years.

She has developed numerous programs that teach unemployed women in low income areas how to build their own successful home-based businesses, and continues to consult with government agencies on the improvement of the foster care system.

Dawn is currently working on a children’s book series with a scheduled release of Winter 2007.

Dawn the Motivator.
Her exceptional achievements in the constant face of adversity have demanded supreme levels of patience, personal motivation, and perseverance. Dawn uses her personal life experiences to empower and inspire others, both individually and in group settings.

Dawn the Servant Leader.
More important that anything, Dawn practices what she preaches. After being estranged from her mother for 10 years, Dawn has reconnected with her family and now counts her mother as one of her best friends.

“I personally believe in loving my way to forgiveness, and I can say that forgiveness has been my way to happiness and internal peace.”

Dawn still finds time to give back to the college that, as she states, “took a chance on a girl with a dream and no real plan.” Dawn is one of the co-founders of Loyola Marymount University’s African American Alumni Association Mentoring Program which provides academic support, life skills, and professional development mentoring to undergraduate students.

“Mentoring is the best way to give to the future. Teaching another young person the secrets to living a life of happiness and success is something I love to do.”

Dawn’s message is simple: Don’t make excuses for your life, make adjustments to accommodate your future! Dawn has rekindled the spirits of millions of people throughout the world, and continues to uplift and inspire all those she encounters.