Heather Johnston is an attorney at Meriwether & Tharp. In her free time, she started Blueprint Bridge, a nonprofit organization connects previously incarcerated individuals with information and resources upon their release.
1. Why are you passionate about this work?
I believe in the community mindset. Our communities improve when we work together.
2. What was the most challenging aspect of starting a business, and how did you overcome it?
It was challenging to figure out the requirements to make it official. Business acumen does not come easy to me because of my rural, low-income background. It requires a lot of time and research! But I focused on my goal of helping my community to push through complicated material I didn’t understand.
3. How does your company use technology?
Right now, our website is one of the only sources of technology. Once we get bigger, we hope to expand into providing funding for released inmates. That will require a lot of data and financial management.
4. How did your IAC degree help you succeed?
Public policy helped me understand the different stakeholders. It also helped me to ask questions to focus the business — who does this help? And what do they need?
5. What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs at Ivan Allen College?
Do the things you’re passionate about. More people than you know are looking for what you’re offering, and it can make a big difference.
Heather Johnston graduated with a B.S. in Public Policy in 2017. See more profiles of our alumni founders!
