Money And Wealth With John Hope Bryant

Episode: "The Business of Government Nobody Explains"

Host: John Hope Bryant
Guest: CEO Lorraine Johnson (CEO, DeKalb County, Georgia)
Date: January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores a facet of wealth-building that is seldom discussed: the critical and often misunderstood role of local government—specifically county government—in personal wealth and community opportunity. John Hope Bryant sits down with Lorraine Johnson, the first African American female CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, to demystify the business of government, its profound impact on daily life, and the practical pathways to economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and equitable community development.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. The Unseen Power of County Government

Timestamps: 00:20–06:44, 25:15–29:43

• County government operates as the “super agency” above cities and townships, with greater impact on individual wealth than most federal actions.
• Counties control property taxes, infrastructure, courts, public safety, housing permits, and economic development—key levers for personal and community wealth.
• Many misunderstand or resent government because its mechanisms and opportunities aren’t transparent or explained.

Quote [05:23]:
"Most people don't realize...that the county government affects your wealth more than Washington, D.C. does.”
—John Hope Bryant

2. Lorraine Johnson’s Personal and Professional Journey

Timestamps: 06:44–17:02

• Johnson’s family legacy of Black entrepreneurship: her grandfather was a sharecropper turned first Black cotton gin owner in Butler County, Alabama.
• The legacy of self-reliance: Civil Rights legislation (Title VII of 1964) unintentionally shifted aspiration from independence to dependency, creating a “glass ceiling” few foresaw.
• Johnson's educational path: three degrees (B.S. in Political Science & Criminal Justice, Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration, MPA in Public Administration + Harvard Certificate).

Quote [11:02]:
"My grandfather would always argue that...after Title 7, many people bought into the American dream...only to find that it was not [accessible].”
—Lorraine Johnson

3. Navigating Barriers: Racism, Opportunity, and Self-Worth

Timestamps: 18:37–24:54

• Racism and systemic income disparity persist, evidenced by studies of pay inequities even at high professional levels in Atlanta.
• Personal affirmation and resilience—family, community, and church—were vital in overcoming external barriers.

Quote [22:38]:
"Racism is like rain. It’s either falling someplace or it’s gathering. You might as well get out an umbrella to color your light, start strolling through it.”
—John Hope Bryant

Quote [24:05]:
"The through line for Lorraine Johnson's life is not the title or position…it’s self-esteem, confidence, and the information of then how do you navigate in this system.”
—John Hope Bryant

4. DeKalb County by the Numbers & Economic Blueprint

Timestamps: 25:17–31:15

• 789,000 residents; one of the most diverse counties in the U.S.
• $4.8 billion annual operating budget; county’s GDP exceeds $52 billion (as big as a small nation).
• The county is the largest “business” most residents interact with, and is a massive procurer of services—prime opportunity for local entrepreneurs.

Quote [28:11]:
"If you have a business and you’re not doing business with government, then you need to reevaluate if you’re really doing business.”
—Lorraine Johnson

5. Demystifying County Revenue and Procurement

Timestamps: 29:43–31:14

• Main revenue from property and business taxes, plus special SPLOST sales tax (1% brings in nearly $886 million every six years).
• Practicality of “the discipline of consistency”—applies to both saving for individuals and sustainable public revenue for counties.

Quote [30:28]:
"It’s the consistency, and most people can afford to do that. But having the discipline to do it is what separates those who do from those who do not.”
—Lorraine Johnson

6. Economic Development: Small Business, Franchising, and Opportunity

Timestamps: 31:15–40:44

• Local government actively recruits small business and franchise development—opportunity zones provide enhanced incentives.
• Johnson details bringing Chipotle to South DeKalb as a case of strategic economic engineering.

Quote [34:33]:
_"If it sells fried chicken, fried rice, or burgers, it doesn’t work for me."
—Lorraine Johnson (on steering economic development away from unhealthy, low-margin food options)

Quote [35:25]:
"Nothing changes a community more than a 700 credit score.”
—John Hope Bryant

7. Financial Infrastructure, Efficiency, and Government Innovation

Timestamps: 44:15–55:26

• Johnson approaches the county as a business—conducted audits, found new revenue streams (e.g., launching transient landing fees at the county airport for $1.8 million revenue), and streamlined inefficiencies (eliminated 562 unused cell phones saving $238k/year).
• Prioritizes asset ownership: transitioned the county to purchase, rather than lease, public buildings, reversing decades of poor financial stewardship.

Quote [49:17]:
"562 phones being disconnected...saving over $19,000 a month and $238,000 a year, almost a quarter million dollars by shutting off phones from people who didn’t even realize, in many instances they had been turned off.”
—Lorraine Johnson

Quote [53:53]:
"We had been renting the [tax and voting] facility for 28 years...spent 18.9 million in rent, another 8.6 in capital improvements...We bought the building for 18.5 after spending in rent almost $29 million."
—Lorraine Johnson

8. Homeownership and Wealth-Building as a Civil Right

Timestamps: 55:36–61:34

• 80% of Black wealth is tied to homeownership—lifelong renting perpetuates the racial wealth gap.
• DeKalb programs invested $20M in new homeowners and down-payment assistance via Operation Hope.

Quote [58:00]:
"Either you’re going to pay for someone else’s [home] or you will pay for yours…your zip code shouldn’t determine your outcome.”
—Lorraine Johnson

Quote [60:46]:
"If you solve the economic problem, you solve the crime problem.”
—Lorraine Johnson

9. Advice for Individuals and Public Leaders

Timestamps: 64:17–68:51

• Detach from popularity—leadership requires hard, necessary choices, not easy or popular ones (Johnson approved the largest water rate increase in Georgia history to meet compliance).
• Seek knowledge, build diverse networks, invest in self and community, and offer open access and mentorship.

Quote [66:32]:
"At some point in your life, you have to detach yourself from what is popular and simply do what is necessary.”
—Lorraine Johnson

Quote [68:53]:
"If it’s really important, put it in your sock drawer.”
—Lorraine Johnson (on the importance of keeping contact with mentors and being prepared to reach out)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Hope Bryant: "My rich friends need my poor friends to do better, if only to stay rich...the economy is 70% consumer spending.” [00:19]
• Lorraine Johnson: "Most businesses don’t plan to fail. They fail to plan.” [38:58]
• John Hope Bryant: “No one’s coming to save you. You’re going to have to do that.” [24:55]
• Lorraine Johnson: “Don’t allow other people to define who you are and where you go...seek people who can help you.” [67:46]

Practical Takeaways

• Government is a service provider—and a business. Understand how local government budgets, spends, and invests, as it holds abundant opportunity (procurement, entrepreneurship, support).
• Consistency and discipline matter in both personal finance and community wealth-building.
• Homeownership is crucial to wealth—explore local programs for first-time buyers and leverage county resources.
• Build networks, seek mentorship, and plan your moves. Preparation and research are keys to accessing opportunity.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Lorraine Johnson’s story exemplifies how public leadership, entrepreneurship, and community affirmation converge to create opportunity and agency. Bryant urges listeners to:

• Engage with local government as partners, not adversaries.
• Build financial literacy as a new civil rights agenda.
• Research, plan, and take action—no one will hand you power or prosperity.

Final Quote [70:26]:
"If I’m not helping you, then I’m failing miserably. So determine what you want to do...Start from the top and say you can. It’s really up to you.”
—Lorraine Johnson

End of Summary.