About Ms. Dena Williams

“Work hard and you can have everything you want in life,” they told me. What they didn’t tell me was that, as a black woman, I would need to work three times as hard and practically shout just to be recognized for my efforts. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are three words that all have meaning in my story, but the one that resonates the most is equity. Not to be confused with equality, true equity actually “levels the playing field” so to speak, for all contestants in this game we call life. My mission is to help my clients discover how to be more equitable by teaching them about diversity and inclusion practices.

My experience in advocating for underserved and underrepresented communities began when I was 16 years old volunteering for a Black and Brown LGBTQ youth HIV outreach program in the inner cities of Connecticut. It was an eye-opening experience as I witnessed firsthand the failures of the governmental systems for these marginalized groups of people, with the absence of representation from the affected communities where decisions were being made.

I relocated to California in 2009 and continued my advocacy work with the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. I was TCLA’s first Black Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Chair, the latter of which I held for almost five years. The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles is a non-profit organization that provides a safe space for trans folx, and under my leadership, the chorus created visibility and awareness for trans people in places where they had not previously been included.

For more than 20 years, I’ve been a staunch advocate for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our lives. While I have witnessed some definite positive changes in the Entertainment industry and corporate world over my years of service, we still have a long way to go to “level the playing field,” I believe that the combination of the dedication shown by many business leaders and guidance by DEI professionals like myself will enable us to pave the way towards true equity.