Dr. Geneva Williams

Dr. Geneva Jones Williams is a powerful change agent. She is a spark that ignites change in communities, classrooms and corporations. She is cited among those “game changers” in Detroit that gets things done in the community through collaboration – using her oft-called-upon confident communication skills.

A defining moment came when, as a teenager, her family received hate mail and had crosses on her family’s front lawn saying “get out” of their home in New Jersey. Inspired by her father’s tireless role as courageous civil rights leader, leadership became an emphasis of Dr. Geneva’s [Williams] career.

Well known for her celebrated career as a non-profit leader and trail-blazer, she became the first female executive vice president of the United Way in southeastern Michigan. Always ready to roll up her sleeves for a challenge, she became the founding president of City Connect, Detroit’s first public/private philanthropic organization to engage public and private partners in fundraising programs that brought more than $100 million in national and local monies to Detroit’s youth, urban neighborhoods and working poor.

Dr. Geneva blazed trails also as the first female president and chief executive officer of United Community Services and launched many organizations that help people and make a difference for others.

Seeing her dad in action shaped her view about what you’re expected to do in life: overcome the tough times, raise up, train and ignite leaders to make impact in urban communities and leave a legacy of greatness for generations to come.

Whether it’s revolutionizing the way an organization does business, or inspiring individuals to lead with greater purpose, Dr. Geneva is committed to stimulating big thinking, while facilitating and delivering the tools needed to ignite unimaginable success.

Her career has lauded many awards for her work for including: Bank of America’s Local Hero award; Ford Motor Company’s Heritage Award; and the National Association for Community Leadership’s Distinguished Leadership Award. She is among Detroit’s 100 Most Influential Women identified by Crain’s Detroit Business.

As a master leadership strategist, she works with women entrepreneurs and nonprofit executives to provide proven strategies for leadership in their work and in their community. She helps startups develop and mentors GenXers and Millennials to succeed in their careers and explore possibilities beyond the corporate world.

In addition to hosting a weekly podcast, Ignite2Impact, Dr. Geneva is traveling the world facilitating workshops, speaking on panels and at conferences. She is the leader's leader encouraging others to "get their leadership on" to learn luminary leadership lessons and make an impact for greater purpose.

“My father’s example gave me a strong belief in reciprocity: that those who have received much in life should be willing to give back, and should do so with enthusiasm. Ultimately, the giver gets as many or more benefits than the receiver,” said Dr. Geneva Williams.