My Life on Purpose: Angela F. Williams

Angela F. Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, shares her insights from over three decades of leadership in the nonprofit and corporate sectors, emphasising the pursuit of purpose. Her impactful contributions led to her inclusion in Forbes’ prestigious 2021 ‘50 Over 50: Impact’ list of women creating social change at scale. She is based in Washington DC and Chicago. 
 

How did growing up in the civil rights movement impact you?

I’m the daughter of civil rights leaders. My father worked closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr and was also the head of the NAACP for South Carolina. In 1957, My father wrote a powerful letter urging pastors to be courageous and stand up against injustice. Growing up in such a household instilled those ideals in me. That’s a part of who I am.

My purpose, therefore, is to serve in multiple ways and in multiple world roles to ensure that everyone can thrive and has the opportunity to access health, education and economic mobility.

You’ve led in many settings. What do you think makes a good leader?

To be an effective corporate leader, you must also be a committed civic leader. As a CEO, your employees live, work and play in a community. You need to question: what’s the condition of these communities? Are they thriving or constantly grappling with challenges like natural disasters, transportation deficiencies, inadequate healthcare or struggling education systems?

A good corporate leader must be conscious of and intentional about showing up. It’s about ensuring that employees can return to homes with decent wages and have access to education, healthcare and childcare. Corporate responsibility extends beyond the workplace into the community, and leaders should actively engage in making positive changes beyond their company’s walls.

What social issues do you feel passionately about addressing?
 

I’m a 60-year-old Black woman. Having grown up during the civil rights movement, I have insights to share. Now that I’m in this seat, I can talk about how we must keep rocking the boat and waking up the comfortable sleeping giant.

In the United States, particularly after the events surrounding George Floyd and amidst the Covid pandemic, there’s been a heightened focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. However, we’re also witnessing some regression as people want to return to the status quo.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak in Belfast at the One Young World Summit, joining thousands of young leaders from around the world for four days to exchange ideas and learn about solutions from other communities that could work in our own. What inspired me the most at the summit was the incredible passion and wisdom the young people demonstrated. I left feeling as if our future is in great hands.

What message would you give to the next generation of leaders?

We live in a VUCA world – Volatile, Uncertain, Chaotic and Ambiguous. I encourage leaders to examine their spheres of influence and consider how they can make a difference.

The Covid pandemic marked a significant shift for humanity – it signalled the start of a new era, a time for resetting. I challenge the notion of returning to the ‘normal’ that existed pre-pandemic, as that wasn’t working for us. I don’t want to go back there. Instead, jump into the new, embrace it and envision what the world could be. We have an opportunity to re-evaluate and overhaul systems that are maintaining power imbalances. We need to create systems and pathways that allow everyone to thrive. Because how many geniuses are out there who don’t have access to food, clean water or education, but hold within them the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges?

What are your hopes for the future?

Every generation has a group of people who aspire to revolutionise or change the world for the better. But how this shows up is different, as do the tools they employ. For example, this current generation is making proactive use of social media and has a keen interest in artificial intelligence and technology.

Our efforts must be rooted in our relationships with each other. Changing the world for the better cannot be achieved alone; it requires collaboration, combining different skill sets and purposes. My purpose married with yours, and yours with another’s, increases our chances of making a meaningful impact.

What would you like your legacy to be?

I hope people say, “Angela lived a life of purpose.” This naturally leads to the next question: what was her purpose? My purpose is to create a world where everyone can thrive. And where people treat others the way they’d like to be treated.