Ben Johnson
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Operations
As Senior Vice President, Strategy & Operations at BioSTL, Ben leads strategy, finance, HR, and operational initiatives that drive BioSTL’s mission of ensuring St. Louis thrives through the building of a world-class innovation economy. Prior to this role, Ben spent 18+ years leading innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem-building for BioSTL, including initiatives in state and federal public policy, regional STEM education & workforce development, and community collaboration to ensure inclusive and equitable economic opportunity for all in St. Louis.
Ben currently serves as national Chair of the Innovation Advocacy Council (IAC) and Co-founder and statewide Chair of NEXT Missouri – advancing entrepreneurship policy in DC and Jefferson City – and as a board member of the Missouri Biotechnology Association.
In 2022, Ben received an Eisenhower Fellowship for travel to Brazil and Chile to explore how entrepreneurship drives economic mobility and how innovation is key in delivering solutions toward economic, health, and social inequity.
Ben moved to St. Louis in 2004 for the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, which ingratiated him to the charm and challenges of his adopted hometown. He has since served as a Board member of Coro Leadership Center – St. Louis, Focus St. Louis, Education Equity Center, The Green House Venture, Science Coach, StudioSTL, and St. Louis Makes – all with missions aimed at improving educational and economic outcomes for those in the St. Louis region.
Prior to moving to St. Louis, Ben served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer, leading small business and affordable housing finance programs in Evansville, Indiana, including the creation and capitalization of a Community Development Financial Institution.
Ben graduated with an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Economics and Political Science, with a Business German minor, from Northwestern University.