Dr. Joanna Johannes
Dr. Joanna Johannes is the founder of Lighthouse, a mission-driven school built on faith, grit, and relentless hope. Growing up lower-middle class in Beach Grove, Indiana, she learned self-reliance and a strong work ethic early. After being bullied throughout high school, she left Indiana at 17 on scholarships for Florida, determined to build an independent future. In finance, she managed hundreds of people at 22 and became a CFO who turned struggling businesses around before leaving to launch her own ventures. Several early ideas failed, but they taught her that timing and execution are just as important as vision.
Lighthouse began after Hurricane Ivan destroyed her home and she felt called to start a school. What started in a borrowed church space with 18 students grew rapidly, including the pivotal zoo school and a move toward owning school buildings. Today Lighthouse is a love-first education model without covenant requirements, focused on restoring hope and emotional intelligence in young people. Joanna measures impact by transformed lives, not just growth, and is building a legacy her sons can carry forward.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How Dr. Joanna Johannes turned the devastation of Hurricane Ivan into the founding vision for Lighthouse.
- Why growing up lower-middle class in Beach Grove, Indiana, forged her lifelong self-reliance and work ethic.
- How being bullied in high school shaped her mission to protect and advocate for young people.
- Why leaving Indiana at 17 for Florida scholarships became the first step toward her independent path.
- How managing hundreds of people at 22 taught her confidence and early leadership decision-making.
- Why leaving a CFO role to build her own ventures required financial and personal risk.
- How early business failures taught her that timing and execution matter just as much as ideas.
- Why Lighthouse's love-first, mission-school model sets it apart from traditional and even Christian schools.
- How the zoo school story became a pivotal proof of concept for Lighthouse's momentum.
- Why words and emotional intelligence carry such weight in both leadership and parenting decisions.
about the show
Women In Power is an entrepreneur TV series featuring female entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, and industry leaders who are building companies, leading teams, and creating impact in their industries.
Each episode gives viewers a closer look at the real stories behind these women’s success, including the challenges they faced, the decisions that shaped them, and the leadership lessons they learned along the way. The series highlights women who have built businesses, broken barriers, grown brands, and created opportunities for others through their work.
Women In Power was created to spotlight female business leaders whose stories deserve to be seen and heard. From early setbacks to major breakthroughs, each episode shows the journey behind the title, the business, and the public success.
For viewers, the show offers inspiration, practical insight, and a deeper look at what it takes for women to lead, grow, and succeed in today’s business world. For featured guests, it provides a platform to share their story, build authority, and inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs and leaders.
