Dr. Audrey Allen Johnson: Faith Meets Breakthrough

After 15 years in global investment banking, Dr. Audrey Allen Johnson traded corporate success for a higher calling — helping others grow through faith, education, and purpose. As the founder of Women Go Forward and New Arc Ministries, she empowers women to rebuild confidence, rediscover their worth, and step boldly into leadership.

“Faith isn’t just what I believe — it’s how I build.”

In a world where many are searching for meaning beyond titles and profit margins, Dr. Audrey’s work is a timely reminder that real success is measured not by wealth, but by purpose. Guided by faith and fueled by kindness, she proves that progress begins when we move with intention — trusting that every forward step can transform a life.

From the Boardroom to a Higher Calling

For fifteen years, Dr. Audrey thrived in the high-pressure world of global investment banking, working with four of the top international banks. “It was a season that sharpened my analytical mind, leadership skills, and resilience,” she recalls. Yet amid her achievements, she began to sense a deeper calling one not driven by numbers but by people.

“I realized that while I was helping businesses grow, what truly fulfilled me was helping people grow,” she says. “Education and faith gave me a platform to do that — to take everything I’d learned about discipline, vision, and excellence, and apply it to human transformation. It wasn’t just a career shift; it was a calling.”

Building Spaces Where Women Rise

That calling eventually became the foundation of two movements: Women Go Forward and New Arc Ministries. Both, she explains, were born out of compassion and conviction.

“I founded New Arc Ministries as a bridge between community, faith, and practical empowerment a place where people could be equipped spiritually, emotionally, and professionally. It’s about renewing lives through truth, training, and transformation.”

“Confidence doesn’t always start as a roar sometimes it begins as a whisper that says, try again.”

Her earlier venture, Women Go Forward, began from her own story of growth. Starting as a teenager in finance, Dr. Audrey was mentored, trained, and supported to pursue her degrees in Financial Economics and Education. She documented those lessons and created a program to help other women rebuild their confidence and move into leadership.

“We see talented women who’ve lost confidence through life’s challenges,” she says. “I wanted to create a safe space where women could rediscover their worth, rebuild their confidence, and step into their purpose. That heart to see women rise has never changed.”

Leadership with Kindness and Purpose

Throughout her journey, one message has remained central: leadership begins with kindness.

“Kindness is not weakness — it’s wisdom wrapped in empathy, order, and truth,” she reflects. “True leadership isn’t about position; it’s about people.”

When she co-authored The Book of Kindness, Dr. Audrey wanted to show that compassion can coexist with excellence and that we lead best when we remember we’re serving hearts, not just tasks.

“Kindness leaves a legacy that policies can’t.”

Her approach to mentoring blends mindset, motivation, and measurable action. “Lasting change happens when belief meets action,” she explains. “I’ve seen people go from doubt to doing extraordinary things not because everything changed around them, but because something changed within them.”

Faith, Leadership, and the Power of Transformation

Having led teams in both business and ministry, Dr. Audrey’s leadership philosophy is grounded in balance. “Business taught me structure, systems, and strategy,” she says. “Ministry taught me humility, vision, and service. Together, they shaped my belief that leadership is about leading with heart and head in harmony.”

Her faith plays an essential role in every decision she makes. “Faith is my compass,” she says. “Every major shift leaving corporate, founding New Arc Ministries, launching Women Go Forward began with prayer and a leap of faith. Faith gives me peace in pressure and vision in valleys.”

For Dr. Audrey, purpose is revealed in service. “Purpose often shows up where your passion meets someone else’s need,” she says. “What keeps me grounded is reflection, prayer, and gratitude. I constantly ask, ‘Does this align with my assignment?’ If it doesn’t, I let it go.”

The Meaning of Moving Forward

At the heart of her teaching is one phrase that sums up her entire journey: Women Go Forward. To Dr. Audrey, it’s more than a program it’s a way of living.

“‘Going forward’ means refusing to be defined by what went wrong, and focusing on what can go right,” she says. “It’s about progress over perfection, movement over fear, and faith over failure. Every time a woman steps into her next chapter because of something she learned through our work, I’m reminded that we’re all meant to go forward together.”

A Life of Significance

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Audrey sees every chapter — from the boardroom to the classroom to the community as part of a divine plan.

“The world doesn’t just need success stories; it needs significance stories.”

Her mission now is to help others discover that same depth of purpose. “Success with purpose doesn’t just transform lives,” she says softly. “It transforms generations.”