Inspired By the Women in Her Family, PG&E Leader Mentors, Advocates for Others

(Pictured from left to right: Stephanie Williams' sister Michelle, Grandmother Lois and Stephanie.)

Women’s HERStory Month is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on influential women who’ve made a difference in history and in each of our lives. It’s also a moment to realize we continue to write women’s history today—we can take what we’ve learned from women before us and challenge ourselves to be role models for future generations.

Inspiring women in my life 

My grandmother was kind, caring and extremely humble, and one of the most courageous and independent people I’ve known.

She was known as her town’s caregiver and guardian angel. She provided rides to appointments, church services and grocery shopping. She spoke up for people to get appropriate care at doctor’s appointments and even grew flowers for display around town. She did this while holding down a full-time job and caring for her home and family.

When my mother and my uncle hired someone to paint her house, my grandmother immediately turned him away, stating she paints her own house. She fixed the roof herself and mowed the lawn, being resourceful with an electric lawnmower plugged into an indoor outlet through the mail slot.

My mom embodies my grandmother’s kind and caring nature, and my sister has her tenacity, courage and resolve. My mom stayed home to care for me and my sister when we were young but went back to work to be the sole income provider during a difficult time in my father's career.

She asked for unconventional working hours, which was unheard of at the time, where she left the house early to ensure she was home for her family by the time school was out. My mom modeled living for what was most important to her.

My sister taught at an inner-city charter school in San Francisco. She campaigned for access to quality education and helped to make sure each student safely returned home after school.

These women have taught me how to advocate for myself and speak up for others with true love and care.

Finding love in sports 

My first opportunity to be a proponent for myself and others was through sports. At first it was an outlet, but then it turned into competition and eventually into a love. I loved to be on the soccer field, in the swimming pool or around the track. It was my goal to work harder at what I did and be better each time I played.

I realized I had this amazing opportunity in front of me, thinking back to my grandmother and the example she showed me of how to think of others and their needs. I started to turn my focus and attention to my teammates. I encouraged their talents, and I inspired them to be their best, to love the game and to love it more because we could play together.

I started to become a leader to these girls and noticed a change in myself and my teammates. I became invested in them. I became captain of many teams, speaking up often to lead my teams to achieve extraordinary results on and off the field.

Becoming a mentor and leader

It was during college at the University of Southern California and at my first job out of business school that my passion for leadership really took hold.

I signed up for every opportunity to mentor both within and outside my company and found ways to be a part of the leadership team even when I didn’t officially have a leadership title. I had a spirit for becoming a leader who inspires, deeply cares for, and invests in others.

I’ve deliberately sought out teams and individuals working through extremely challenging circumstances who need to overcome struggle and have low morale and engagement. Like the times I led our Gas Operations Business Finance team following the San Bruno explosion, the IT team during a period of tight budgets and the Electric Operations Business Finance team immediately following the wildfires.

I had a passion to lead these teams through the drastic rebuilding phases, creating hope and opportunity along the way and advocating for their success.

I see these situations as opportunities to achieve extraordinary outcomes. I advocate for the right skills, tools and resources and help coworkers see they all have unique and beautiful gifts to overcome the challenges they’re facing.

I’m forever grateful for the many teams and mentorships I’ve been a part of and for the women in my life who invested in me, loved me and taught me how to persevere and achieve outcomes I couldn’t have imagined. I hope to do the same for others.