Sheila Johnson, entrepreneur, philanthropist and co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, opens up about her life journey in her new memoir, “Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph.”

The guide, out Tuesday, delves into Johnson’s experiences, from her achievements to the non-public hardships she has confronted, giving readers an intimate look into her life. The memoir sheds gentle on Johnson’s early dedication to develop into unbiased, pushed by her mom’s emotional collapse when her father left their household. Johnson mentioned her dedication to monetary and emotional safety was a theme that formed her life.

Johnson revealed that writing her memoir was a type of remedy and that she’s been battling post-traumatic stress.

“I’ve been through a lot,” she advised “CBS Mornings” on Monday. “It’s been a tough journey.”

Her guide is revealed by Simon & Schuster, which is a division of CBS News’ guardian firm Paramount Global.

Johnson, together with her then-husband Robert Johnson, made historical past in 1980 after they launched BET, a cable channel that’s now owned by Paramount Global. BET bought for practically $3 billion in 2001, catapulting Johnson into the historical past books because the nation’s first Black feminine billionaire.

But it additionally got here with some laborious instances. Johnson has accused her husband of infidelity and emotional abuse and mentioned she used to see herself as a failure. Her former husband advised her she was a failure and “wasn’t worth anything,” she mentioned. 

“I was young enough, and I really did believe him because I put him up on a pedestal. I really did. And I thought that everything he said was right, and I had to keep fighting through that. That’s what upset me more than anything,” Johnson mentioned.

CBS News has reached out to Robert Johnson for remark about her guide.

Now Sheila Johnson mentioned she urges younger girls to not get into relationships with out first realizing themselves.

“I tell this to many young girls: do not get involved in a relationship until you know who you are. I didn’t know who I was. You know, I was planning my life as I was going along,” she mentioned. 

Johnson, an completed violinist, mentioned the humanities saved her grounded. 

Johnson has additionally pioneered reveals like “Teen Summit” and now serves because the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts and co-owns three skilled sports activities groups in Washington, D.C. 

As for who she is right now, she mentioned, “I’m a very powerful entrepreneur.”