Brittani Williams
I started in healthcare a few years ago, but realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. I found myself wanting a different type of environment and work experience.
While working at UCLA, my team went on a tour of a tech company during a systems merger, and they came back speaking highly of the organization and the work culture. I kept hearing positive things, so I decided to apply and transitioned into the tech industry in 2018.
I started at the front desk at a tech company, where I stepped in to cover a leave and quickly found that I really enjoyed the Executive Assistant role. I like to call myself an “octopus” because I was constantly multitasking—answering phones, checking people in, and supporting day-to-day office needs. I naturally became very visible in the office by saying yes to different tasks and stepping in wherever I was needed. HR noticed my involvement and gave me additional opportunities to support executive assistant coverage roles, which eventually led to an executive asking me to become his full-time EA.
Today, I work at Meta supporting seven directors across multiple teams and locations. I serve as the main point of contact and gatekeeper for calendar management, travel coordination, expenses, and incoming requests from both directors and their direct reports, as well as external communications. My core strengths are calendar management, travel, and expenses.
My role aligns well with who I am naturally—I’m highly organized, structured, and detail-oriented. I enjoy managing schedules, maintaining clear to-do lists, and keeping everything running efficiently, so the work feels like a natural extension of how I already operate.
• California State University (attended
• Did not graduate)
• High School Graduate
• Highlighted as one of the women at Cornerstone doing good things
• Recognized for social engagement involvement
• Cedars-Sinai Hospital (meaningful cause due to mother's care)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being comfortable starting from the ground up and building from there. I didn’t mind beginning at the front desk and gradually working my way into new opportunities.
Networking has also played a significant role in my career. I’ve always focused on being approachable and helpful, and I’ve found that people tend to remember that and stay connected. I’m also naturally resourceful—I don’t wait for answers to come to me; I take the initiative to find solutions on my own.
Being open to saying yes and consistently making myself available for additional responsibilities helped me stay visible, and that visibility ultimately created opportunities for growth and advancement.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to not take things personally. In an Executive Assistant role, you’re often closely supporting leaders who are managing high-pressure situations, tight deadlines, and unexpected challenges.
There are moments when an executive’s tone or approach may shift simply because of the demands they’re navigating that day, and it’s important to understand that it’s rarely personal. As assistants, we can sometimes be in the middle of those pressures, especially when leaders are dealing with difficult or fast-moving circumstances within the business.
A key example of this is during times of organizational change, such as company-wide restructuring or layoffs in the tech industry, when stress levels are naturally higher. In those moments, maintaining perspective and staying steady is essential.
Ultimately, learning to separate emotion from circumstance has been an important part of staying effective, professional, and grounded in this role.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I’d tell young women entering this industry to stay open and willing to start wherever you’re needed, even if it’s not the “dream role” right away. A lot of growth comes from being in the room, showing up consistently, and building trust over time.
Be resourceful and proactive—don’t wait to be told everything. The more you take initiative and figure things out on your own, the more confidence and credibility you build.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of relationships. Be kind, be helpful, and stay connected with people, because networking often opens doors you didn’t even know existed.
And finally, learn not to take things personally. In fast-paced environments, especially supporting leadership, situations can be high-pressure and constantly changing. Staying steady, professional, and focused on solutions will take you far.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges right now is the pace of change in the tech industry. Priorities can shift quickly, and leaders are often managing heavy workloads, organizational changes, and constant communication across multiple teams and time zones. For an Executive Assistant, that means staying highly adaptable, organized, and proactive at all times.
Another challenge is managing information flow—knowing what needs attention immediately versus what can be prioritized or delegated, especially as responsibilities become more global and complex.
At the same time, there are strong opportunities. The role of an EA is becoming more strategic and trusted, not just operational. There’s more opportunity to act as a true business partner, anticipate needs, improve processes, and help leaders operate more efficiently. Technology is also creating new tools that make it easier to streamline scheduling, communication, and workflow management.
Overall, it’s a space where strong organization, emotional intelligence, and adaptability can really stand out and create long-term growth.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, reliability, and strong relationships.
In my career, I value being dependable and consistent—someone people can trust to follow through, stay organized, and handle responsibilities with care. I also value adaptability and professionalism, especially in fast-paced environments where priorities can change quickly.
On a personal level, maintaining strong relationships with family, friends, and colleagues is very important to me. I believe meaningful connections are built through trust, communication, and showing up for people consistently, whether in everyday moments or when it really matters.
Overall, I try to carry those same values across everything I do—being grounded, supportive, and intentional in how I show up for both my work and the people in my life.
Locations
Buckeye, AZ