Sissi Johnson

As the Founder of the Cultural Diplomacy Innovation Center, Sissi stands at the vanguard of creative industries, commerce, and global cultural affairs. She advises brands and heritage institutions on designing experiences, products, and spaces that enhance how we live, learn, work, and play.

From Airbnb to Disney and LVMH, her counsel is sought-after to navigate the ever-shifting tides of consumer behavior and cultural shifts.

Under her inaugural presidency of the Berlin Fashion Film Festival, a showcase for motion pictures featuring independent talents and the likes of Bvlgari, Prada, and Hermès since 2012, submissions expanded to nearly 100 countries. During her tenure, Sissi introduced 30 new award categories and long-form content in collaboration with HBO and Apple TV+. Her ‘Runway Exodus’ academic framework shaped BfFF’s new direction as fashion houses expand their investments into narrative film, scripted development, sports, branded residences, hospitality, gastronomy, music, and even space exploration; as reflected by an eclectic jury featuring NASA, NFL, Roblox, Estée Lauder, TikTok, Rolling Stone, Marriott Group, and Sotheby’s. Her Luxury Brand Management MBA curriculum has been taught at the world’s top fashion and business schools including HEC and Yale.

Sissi’s work has been featured by Forbes and Vogue, echoed through CNN, and found a home in the hallowed halls of London’s V&A Museum.

She is a Member of The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences (GEMA),  Telly Awards Judging Council, NASDAQ Center for Board Excellence, and Trustee Emeritus of The Hip Hop Museum, a world-class institution backed by JP Morgan Chase and Microsoft, set to open in 2026 under the patronage of New York City.