GenXYZ 2023 — Angel Johnson

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Angel Johnson, 31

CEO/Founder, ICONI | Denver

Angel Johnson is reinventing the activewear industry to make it more inclusive and diverse. Her company, ICONI, makes leggings and other clothing designed to deliver motivation and empowerment to people of different body types, ages, ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations and abilities. Johnson has streamlined the design-to-door time to shorten the manufacturing process, which leaves her customers satisfied and happy.

ICONI stands for “I Can Overcome, Nothing’s Impossible.” Johnson overcame barriers when she launched the business, as there was a lack of resources for Black and woman-owned businesses. As a veteran, she was not easily discouraged. She self-funded the launch and looked to her chamber of commerce, small business development center, and other nonprofit organizations to provide resources. The business got a boost in 2020 when Oprah featured ICONI leggings in her “Favorite Things.” Sales exploded and the company gained new fans.

From the beginning, Johnson made it part of ICONI’s mission statement to donate 10% of profits to charities. Last year, ICONI donated 100 unreleased hoodies to Clothes To Kids of Denver (CTKD). The mission of CTKD is to provide new and quality used clothing to students from low-income or in-crisis families in the Denver Metro Area, free of charge. The hoodies were intended to remind the recipients, teenage girls and boys, to stay motivated and take it one step at a time — Next Rep, Next Set, Next Level. Johnson wants to show kids it’s possible for them to do anything no matter their size or color of their skin.