Her Story
About Lanika
Lanika Johnson is the founder and CEO of Body and Crown, a wellness app for women focused on community support, healing, and whole-person care. She began her career in pre-med before transitioning to social work in 2003, accumulating 21 years of experience across nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including work with San Francisco County on program development for HIV, mental health, substance abuse, parole, probation, and homelessness. Johnson holds certifications in DBT and CBT, and she has been recognized with a San Francisco County award for achieving a 96 percent HIV retention rate and another for training doctors and nurses. She volunteers with Black Girls Code and programs supporting girls in tech. Johnson attributes her success to helping people, drawing from personal experiences and a desire to change systems that failed to support those with mental health challenges. Her values center on empathy, compassion, honesty, and meeting people where they are, and she advises young women entering the field to avoid taking things personally, know their limits to prevent burnout, and maintain consistency in care.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lanika
01What do you attribute your success to?
Helping people. It's really that simple. It comes from my personal experiences where I didn't feel comfortable or supported, and seeing family members with mental health issues treated poorly. My intention was to go in and change the systems.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't take anything personal. Know your limits and when to walk away if overwhelmed or burnt out. Be careful because people need someone consistent in their care.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include not taking things personally amid traumatic stories leading to high burnout rates, and fighting government restrictions in public health. Opportunities include using tools to help people rise from rock bottom.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy, compassion, honesty. Being direct and meeting people where they are at to build trust.
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