LaTonya Williams
LaTonya Williams is a leader driven by purpose, service, and a deep commitment to her community. Her work sits at the intersection of nonprofit leadership, public service, and advocacy for children and families. As Executive Director of the Bartlett Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, she leads programs that provide early childhood education, youth development, and trauma-informed support, meeting families where they are and helping them move forward.
Her leadership extends into public education, where she has served on the St. Joseph School District Board of Education, including as Board President. In that role, she has prioritized transparency, accountability, and policies that center students, families, and educators.
Currently pursuing her doctorate in organizational leadership, LaTonya is focused on strengthening organizations and improving outcomes for the communities they serve. She believes leadership is not about position, it’s about responsibility. Whether in a boardroom, a classroom, or the community, she is committed to showing up, listening, and doing the work to create meaningful, lasting change.
• Missouri Western State University
• University of Phoenix
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, discipline, and the motivation I’ve drawn from being underestimated throughout my life. Growing up in challenging circumstances—including poverty, being the child of a teen mother, becoming a teen mother myself, and living with a stutter—taught me to turn adversity into drive rather than limitation. Instead of allowing doubt from others to define me, I’ve used it as fuel to stay focused on my goals, work harder, and continue progressing toward achievements such as completing my doctorate degree.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice would probably be no one's going to do it like you, because a lot of times people complain about things. People complain, complain, complain. Okay, well, if it's important enough for you to waste your time complaining about it, it's important enough for you to fix it. And that's what I live by. I know that no one's going to work like me. No one's going to care like me, put these kids and the organization, uplift them like I'm going to. No one's going to do that.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to stay persistent, work harder than the circumstances they’re facing, and remain focused on long-term growth. Be willing to put in extra time and effort, especially when others are not, and take ownership instead of simply pointing out problems. Real progress comes from consistency, discipline, and being willing to be part of the solution.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunities in my field come from being intentional about identifying and creating solutions, especially in addressing real community needs like meaningful support for special needs families rather than just awareness. The main challenges I face relate to perception and bias as a Black female with a speech impediment, where I am often judged more on how I am received than on the content of what I say. Despite this, I remain focused on being authentic, solution-oriented, and consistent in proving my intent and capability through my work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are integrity, authenticity, and keeping my word, because the community and the children depend on me. In my personal life as well, I wouldn't accomplish anything unless I was able to keep my word, to always follow through, and to work hard as hell. Because as a female, you have to.