Her Story
About Annastacia
I currently work as an Electrical Systems Design Analyst at the Boeing Company, where I've been for four years since graduating from college. Boeing was the first company that hired me out of college, and I've been with them ever since. Before that, I did research at the Air Force National Laboratory in Rome, New York, and previously worked as the cybersecurity president for the National DoD Convention back in 2020. I also founded Williams Travel Agency, named after my grandfather who was a retired Air Force Major and a driving force in my life. We always talked about traveling together, which motivated me to get through school and want to see the world. With over two years in the travel industry and having traveled to over 35 countries, I help clients book cruises, entertainment tickets, luxury travel, and am working to add corporate travel. My philosophy is to make the mistakes first so my clients don't have to. I wear multiple hats and am passionate about leadership, mentorship, and networking, which I consider my main areas of expertise.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Annastacia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family, especially my grandfather. He was a retired Air Force Major and was a driving force in my life. We always talked about traveling together, and that motivated me to get through school and want to see the world a lot more, because he did it in the military. His influence and our shared dreams of exploring the world together really shaped who I am today and inspired both my education and my travel business.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received came from my mentor, Corrine Beckett, who is like a father to me. He always tells me that every small step equals big steps. I take that to mean that every opportunity given to me, even if it may seem small, can amount to big things. This advice has helped me appreciate and seize every opportunity that comes my way, knowing that even the smallest steps can lead to significant achievements.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I definitely would say explore everything. There's no wrong or right path to success. It's all about what you put your mind to. If you have an idea, chase it, because sometimes it can lead you to millions. One of the things that I hold onto is that failure is okay. I know that Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before his idea came to fruition, so it's okay to fail. But it's never okay to quit. Keep trying until you get it right, because persistence is what ultimately leads to success.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Most of the challenges would be being able to be in the same spaces as everybody else, especially coming from a male-predominant field. Sometimes it's harder just to stand out. When it comes to the travel industry, there's a lot of females that do it, but a lot of people don't really stick with it because of the economy and everything. They look at it as they can't afford it. So I try to show everybody that even with having debt, if you put just a portion aside, like a small payment, it does add up to where you're able to take that dream vacation. Just don't wait too late to take it, because sometimes tomorrow's not promised. That's how I look at my life.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say communication, specifically effective communication, is most important to me. I also value trust, because you can't build meaningful relationships or succeed without it. Open-mindedness is another key value, as it allows me to consider different perspectives and opportunities. These three values guide both my professional work and my personal relationships.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Missouri
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.