Real name:
Biography:
Dr. Memuna Williams is an executive on a mission to drive sustainable change through education, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Raised by first-generation educated Sierra Leonean parents dedicated to public service, Dr. Williams brings over 30 years of global career experience, offering a unique understanding of cultural nuances crucial for impactful interventions.
CAREER
Dr. Williams’s portfolio for empowering sustainable change includes writing, training, consulting, and research. She recently served as the Lead for a Social Equity Project at one of Africa’s largest organizations working on youth economic empowerment. There she oversaw and laid the groundwork for the project attaining or surpassing 100% of direct targets in Year 2 of the program. Dr. Williams also previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at a non-governmental organization in Lagos, Nigeria. Her leadership journey also includes tenure as a Special Projects Manager at a prestigious Leadership Academy in South Africa, where she spearheaded a $1.8 million flagship project, among other achievements. Her career in language services started at an independent, public railway company operating across North America, later transitioning to a premier global language services provider headquartered in the United States.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING
Dr. Williams extends her expertise beyond the workplace, actively engaging with trade and volunteer organizations. Recognized as a trusted voice on women in entrepreneurship and education, she has represented women business owners as a panelist at a Small Business Administration conference gathering insights for President Obama. Dr. Williams regularly contributes articles and delivers conference presentations on language services and business management and participates in community service.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Acknowledged for her excellence, Dr. Williams has received prestigious awards in small business and woman-owned business categories for her firm, Avantgarde Translations. She has also been honored as a Woman in Business by the Charlotte Business Journal. She has also consistently received honors and awards in the workplace.
EDUCATION
Dr. Williams holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool, UK, complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in Translation from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, a Master of Arts in Translation from Université de Montréal, Canada, and a Master of Business Administration from the McColl School of Business at Queens University, Charlotte, North Carolina.
FAMILY Dr. Williams shares her life with her husband, Victor Williams, and their three sons, Victor, Alex, and Arthur. Currently residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has previously lived across Europe, Canada, and the United States, and is fluent in French and Krio.