Showing Up With Presence: How Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO Alonda Williams Drives Impact Through Mentorship
Community leader, tech veteran, and author Alonda Williams joined host Sean Goode on The Pop-Up! Presents: Movement Makers. Currently serving as the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, Williams brought a wealth of personal reflection, organizational wisdom, and inspirational narrative to the Black Media Matters studio.
Williams unpacked her career trajectory, the need for youth mentorship, and how the lessons learned from her family set her on a lifelong path of purpose.
The Art and Science of Youth Mentorship
Williams highlighted the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, a non-profit youth mentoring organization that pairs adult volunteers with children facing adversity in one-to-one relationships. Fresh off the organization's 61st annual gala, she dispelled common misconceptions about mentorship, emphasizing that it does not require extraordinary feats, but rather dependable commitment.
"You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be present and you have to be consistent with your presence,” she said of the mentors.
Addressing the high demand for volunteers, particularly the need for male mentors of color, Williams explained that adults often hold back due to self-doubt. Her advice to prospective mentors is to strip away the pressure of feeling like a savior.
"We're not rescuing anyone. The goal is really just to walk alongside and to be another positive adult in their life,” she said.
To streamline the process and clear out waitlists, Williams leveraged her background in technology to introduce AI-assisted matching into the organization. By analyzing assessment notes, the technology recommends the most suitable potential matches to staff, accelerating a process that previously took up to a year.
From Direct Marketing to Mission-Driven Leadership
Williams’ career began with direct marketing and catalog merchandising, where she discovered an innate talent for data analysis and consumer storytelling. That skillset eventually led her to corporate giants like BMG, Verizon, and Microsoft.
Despite her corporate success, Williams felt pulled toward a higher calling. Guided by her faith and a conviction that she would always "have what I need when I need it," she transitioned into the non-profit sector, initially working with the YMCA before taking the helm at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Power of Generational Storytelling
Goode and Williams explored the impact of being truly seen by others. Williams recalled a pivotal moment in the fourth grade with her French teacher, who recognized her potential during a turbulent time in her youth.
"[My teacher] saw beyond my pain. She saw my potential, and that meant so much to me—that someone paid attention to me and that made a difference in my life in such a huge way,” Williams said.
That spirit of attention and intention extended to her family. As a mother, Williams wrote the acclaimed children's book Penny and the Magic Puffballs to instill pride in her daughter during moments of cultural isolation.
Looking ahead, Williams revealed her next literary endeavor: a series based on the stories her grandmother, Alice, told her on the floor during childhood thunderstorms. She hopes the project inspires modern families to reconnect through intentional narrative.
A Call to Movement Makers
Goode asked Williams to share a closing message for future leaders and community changemakers. Her parting words offered a succinct summary of her life's work and philosophy.
"My hope for you is that you continue to show up powerfully and tell your story powerfully,” she said.
Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound at inspirebig.org
Catch The Pop-Up! Presents: Movement Makers with host Sean Goode Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on the Converge Media YouTube channel.
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