Shavannia Williams
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Georgia World Congress Center Authority,
Atlanta, Ga.
Describe your job.
My work at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) focuses on driving key transformational initiatives: sustainability, CSR, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I work to strengthen community support and expand the overall brand visibility of our campus, which includes Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia World Congress Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Signia by Hilton (opening in January). These facilities exist for the primary purpose of promoting and facilitating events and activities that generate economic benefits for the citizens of Georgia and the city of Atlanta. The authority is a self-sustained state agency entrusted as a steward of these state-owned assets.
What made you choose the meetings and events industry?
I grew up around meetings and events in west Michigan. My mother, Helen Anderson-Williams, was on the opening team of a Hilton franchise and served as its director of catering and sales when I was a child. I remember watching her plan events from bar mitzvahs and weddings to awards dinners and conferences. There were times when I would assist her and the team with arranging décor, folding napkins, packaging materials, preparing name tags, setting tables, registration, wayfinding signage, and other tasks. I enjoyed the creativity and impact it had on making special lifetime memories for so many people. It was also pretty cool for me to stay in the hotel when my mother had manager-on-duty weekend responsibilities. That sparked my interest in working in meetings and events. It’s in my DNA!
How did you get started, and what got you from there to today?
I got started while I was studying at the University of Michigan. I worked in the admissions department and the athletic department. In both roles, I planned events for alumni, students, student-athletes, and visitors. I also worked on the events and/or publicity committee for every organization I joined. In my senior year, I chaired the university’s Multicultural Programming Committee. As chair, I was responsible for planning diverse events and activities on campus. My compassion for people, thirst to innovate and learn, and desire to do everything with excellence—even the smallest tasks—has taken me from those college days to my current role.
How do you keep up with industry trends, changes, and cutting-edge developments?
I keep up with trends, changes, and cutting-edge developments by reading industry publications, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, and being involved with industry organizations. I served on the Women in Sports and Events Atlanta board for five years. I am a board member of the National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter and serve on the Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Committee for the International Association of Venue Managers.
What essential skills should every industry professional possess?
Every industry professional must have strong communication, organization, and time-management skills. It is equally important to be collaborative and detail oriented.
What is the philosophy or approach to work that gets you through stressful times?
One of the tenets of my faith is that the Lord does not give you more than you can bear. With this belief as my foundation, I approach stressful times by:
■ Focusing on the why.
■ Identifying the stress points to understand them.
■ Considering what matters most.
■ Remembering what is in my ‘trophy case’ (a collection of kind notes, cards, and performance reviews that remind me of my accomplishments and the people I have touched).
■ Reflecting on what I am blessed to be able to do and how I have hurdled obstacles also fuels me to overcome challenges.
What is the best professional advice you ever received, and what advice do you have for others in the industry?
The best professional advice I received is to remain intellectually curious and never stop learning. In addition to sharing that advice, I encourage others to bloom where they are planted. This means giving your best in all situations and striving for excellence. Do not be defined by or limited by your professional title.
Describe your biggest professional success.
I have been blessed to work on large events and meetings, from the 1996 Olympics to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference. I have not defined one moment as my biggest success.
This year, I am proud of the proclamation that the GWCCA received from Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp and Atlanta City Hall acknowledging our women’s leadership program and declaring March 29, 2023, ‘Making HERstory Day.’
Share an anecdote about a meeting or event that did not go as planned (something funny or odd) and how you handled it.
There was a launch event, and I was new to the client and the market. The evening before the signage was to be installed, I noticed the client’s logo was incorrect. The color was not the true black. I did not have many contacts in this market, but if anything needed to be correct, the logo had to be! I worked through the night sourcing printers, splitting the needs between vendors, and planning digital solutions in some areas. The load-in went smoothly, and we beat the deadline. The event ended up being a success.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is the people I meet and creating new experiences.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love to travel, spend time with family and close friends, cook, and watch documentaries and Michigan football.
