808: Nataki Williams on Transformative Leadership: Changing Decision-Making Habits & Embracing Diverse Voices

IN THE EPISODE

In this conversation, Nataki Williams, CFO of The Guardian US, shares powerful insights on transforming corporate leadership through inclusive decision-making practices. Drawing from her experience moderating a panel on advancing women in leadership and her role as a sustainability ambassador, Williams discusses how changing the habits of how decisions are made can lead to more innovative, profitable, and sustainable businesses. She emphasizes that true diversity isn't just about having different voices at the table, but actually creating space to hear and incorporate those perspectives. Williams also shares her personal journey of overcoming age-related insecurities to become a leader who champions collaborative approaches, transparency, and hope as a discipline for creating meaningful change in business and society.

Bard’s Graduate Programs in Sustainability cultivate leaders who break through existing systems, innovating solutions to critical social, environmental and economic challenges. 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class from M.S. in Environmental Policy degree at Bard CEP and the 10th graduating class from the Bard MBA in Sustainability program. The 2024 graduating MS EP, MS CSP, MEd and MBA classes brought the Bard GPS alumni community to over 500!

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Nataki Williams:

Nataki Williams, MBA, serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at The Guardian US, overseeing IT and Facilities while acting as Regional CFO for North America, managing a team of 12. Previously, Nataki held the role of Vice President of Finance at Coach USA, supporting North American operations and supervising Controllers for US subsidiaries, and served as Controller & Financial Consultant at Aya Group of Companies. Earlier experience includes Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis at MTV Networks, where strategic initiatives drove significant revenue growth, as well as various financial analyst roles at Johnson & Johnson and Cendant Corporation. Nataki's academic credentials include an Executive MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Montclair State University, with further studies at The Wharton School in 2023-2024.

Renay Loper:

Renay is a Clinical Faculty in Organizational Leadership for the Bard MBA in Sustainability, where she focuses on JEDI Transformation in the workplace. Previously, she was the Vice President of Program Innovation at PYXERA Global where she served on the Executive Leadership Team, led five country offices, drove the development of new business and programs, co-led the organization's work on inclusive circular cities, and advised corporate clients on their social impact strategies. Renay also led the organization’s ARC (Antiracist Collective) initiatives, which included internal and external efforts toward dismantling unjust systems. To this end, Renay created Rhetoric to Action, a series of conversations to bridge sectors toward collective action around social and racial justice.

Prior to PYXERA Global, Renay led the grassroots exchange and education grant portfolio at the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and has served in a variety of leadership roles in higher education, nonprofit, and business prior to that. Renay is an avid speaker and facilitator, has authored and edited numerous publications, including a resource journal, Student Affairs Professionals Cultivating Campus Climates Inclusive of International Students (Jossey Bass). Renay serves on the board of directors of nonprofits including Community Change, Harpswell Foundation, and Girl Rising.