Tracy L. Williams, President and CEO
Tracy L. Williams, President and CEO
Tracy Williams, a nationally recognized leader committed to equity, social justice, and diversity and inclusion with expertise creating and executing strategies that uplifts underserved populations through entrepreneurship, philanthropy, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. She is the President and CEO of YWCA Southeast Wisconsin and served in several senior leadership roles at UW-Madison. Prior to her leadership at UW-Madison, she became the Diversity and Inclusion Advisor of American Family Insurance Corporate Headquarters, charged with leading the development and execution of a company-wide diversity and inclusion strategy. Within one year has made major impacts by spurring diversity conversation through the award-winning Maya Angelou and Still I Rise Film in partnership with executive producers and filmmakers. This effort alone created major impacts in the company among American Family’s leaders, employees, agents, and customers. Through 25 years of experience, she has served in numerous leadership positions addressing disparities, creating inclusive environments, engaging communities, and ensuring that resources are directed to businesses, organizations, and communities in need.
As an entrepreneur, she provided research and development consulting and led the development and implementation of projects of national and international impacts. She is a member of TEMPO Milwaukee, and formerly was a TEMPO Madison member. She has served several years as Commissioner for Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission and volunteers her service in many capacities. Most recently, she served on Youth and Families Commission and the Mayor of Sun Prairie’s Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, responsible for recommending nondiscrimination ordinances, in which the Housing Discrimination Ordinance was passed 8-0 by the City Council.
Williams’ education includes a bachelor’s degree in individual and family development with a minor in psychology from Northern Illinois University, a master’s degree in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University, and additional study at Harvard University, New York University, and University of Washington.
Milwaukee Business Journal – Leadership Trust articles by Tracy L. Williams