Her Story
About Krystle
Krystle Williams serves as Center Director with a decade of experience in that role and a total of 17 years in early childhood education. After earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from Kean University, she transitioned from retail leadership positions into the field, beginning as a teacher at a daycare center before advancing to office administration and covering maternity leave for director and assistant director positions. She spent six to seven years at her first company before joining her current organization in New Jersey, where she has remained since. Williams, a first-generation college graduate, credits her family for their ongoing encouragement and support throughout her journey. She values honesty, discipline, prioritization, integrity, and accountability in both her professional and personal life, particularly when managing tuition collection, state regulations, and emotional attachments that arise with children who attend from infancy through graduation. She aspires to advance into higher positions involving curriculum development and staff training while exploring entrepreneurial opportunities inspired by her daughter.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Krystle
01What do you attribute your success to?
My family. Everything goes back to my family and the way they've supported me my whole life. They encourage me, they cheer me on. They're the reason I do what I do and the reason that I became the person that I am. I wanted to make them proud as a first-generation college graduate.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is to have confidence in yourself. A lot of times we think that we're not gonna be good at something because we've never done it before. But not to say it's not the role for you or the position for you just because it's foreign to you, because you don't know until you try. Apply yourself, learn from your mistakes, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and don't be afraid to ask questions because that's the only way you're going to learn.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is putting your emotions to the side. In the administration field, we're dealing with collecting tuition and parents wanting things done their way, but we have to follow state regulations. Sometimes parents can't afford tuition and you sympathize but still have to do your job. Also attachment issues with children who start young and graduate after years, making it emotional.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being honest, being disciplined, knowing how to prioritize, and overall integrity. Accountability is key because no one's perfect and taking accountability for your actions gets you further than pretending it didn't happen. Being a woman of your word is important, especially in this field dealing with people's children.
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