Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Williams.
Hi Cassandra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My professional background is in Human Resources. I am currently the Vice President of Human Resources for a nationwide Dental Support Organization (DSO) and a Career Coach for black career women. I’ve used my experience in HR to provide resources and tips to help black career women own their careers and become what I like to call a career boss. I have conducted workshops on interviewing, salary negotiation, resume writing, and career branding. I also co-founded a leadership development brand, Coins Over Gossip, to encourage and provide resources to black women interested in obtaining leadership positions with their company.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to getting here has not been easy. I had to learn how to get out of my way. I’ve always had big goals, but my confidence would be up and down. Often I was the only person of color in leadership positions, board rooms, or important meetings, and I would question if I was supposed to be there and think to myself, how did I get here? Am I that good? I felt lonely because I would serve in these leadership roles and didn’t see anyone who looked like me, so there was no one I could talk to who could relate to or understand me. I struggled with setting prices for my coaching services for a long time so that I would give my time and advice for free. People would come to me with testimonials and let me know how the advice I gave them was helpful. Many saw results through salary increases, career advancement opportunities, and successful counter offers. Even still, I questioned if I should charge people for career advice. I started to invest more in myself, and once I started Coins Over Gossip, it allowed me to meet and network with more women like me and understand more the value of my time and what I have to offer.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m currently the Vice President of Human Resources, specializing in building HR departments from the ground up. I’ve become good at putting policies and procedures in place, managing development, and working in fast-paced and high-growth environments. I’ve done a lot within the HR profession, but I’m most proud of the internship and leadership development programs I created and put in place for previous employers. It makes me smile when I look on LinkedIn and see the interns I recruited for those internship opportunities now in senior-level leadership roles and having a lot of success in their careers. What sets me apart from others is my passion for the HR profession (I truly enjoy what I do) and my creativity and willingness to collaborate. With everything I do, I always think about what I can do to make this unique. I’ve always wanted to stand apart and find a different and fun way of doing things. I’m also a very collaborative person. I understand the magic that can happen when you bring other minds together and hear different perspectives.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve learned that mentorship doesn’t always have to be a formal or structured relationship. I’ve been inspired and received so much motivation from people that I’ve never met through following their work. That can be watching their YouTube channels, listening to podcasts, reading books, attending workshops, etc. Sometimes when you approach people, you look up to and ask them to mentor you, that can put a lot of pressure on that person because it can feel like a huge time commitment. However, if you connect with people that inspire you and allow yourself to be mentored by meeting for lunch and being intentional about the questions you ask or if someone agrees to you shadowing them for a few hours or sitting in on a meeting they are conducting. You can learn so much from those types of experiences; often, the relationship you’re hoping for naturally takes form. A saying goes, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.careertalkwithcassandra.com
- Instagram: @cassandratalkscareers
- Facebook: Career Talk With Cassandra
- Other: www.coinsovergossip.com
Image Credits
@ndyimages www.ndyimages.com
