Precious L. Williams

Have you ever met the full-figured diva who has taken the business world by storm and won BIG? Well now you have! Precious L. Williams, also affectionately known as the #KillerPitchMaster, can help you #slayallcompetition with her “killer” elevator pitches, media pitches, and investor pitches. Precious is a world class master communicator who works with successful entrepreneurs and speakers and helps them take their professional pitching and speaking skills to the next level. With over 25 years of experience in creating unique speaking and public speaking techniques, Williams is also known for her innovative training programs and services to her clients and sales teams at Fortune 100 companies. These companies include Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, eBay, etc.

As a 13-time national business elevator pitch champion, Williams has been on top television shows and publications for her pitching, branding, and professional speaking skills. She was featured on Season 8 of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Forbes Magazine, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal, the movie, “LEAP,” as well as several others around the world. In 2019, became a best-selling author of the #1 business book, “Bad Bitches with Power Pitches: For Women Entrepreneurs and Speakers Only” and has been featured on time square billboards, top podcasts and stages around the world.

The philosophy of her “killer” pitch is evident in the strategic and personalized creative communications and presentations solutions Williams puts forth. As serial entrepreneur, international professional speaker, and corporate trainer, Williams is equipped to bring life, authenticity, strategy, and boldness to all your oral and written communication needs.

Williams is a graduate of Spelman College and Rutgers School of Law. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Vocal Readers please enjoy our interview!

Tammy Reese:

What inspired you to get into your industry?

Precious L. Williams:

I've been a professional speaker since I was 16, but what lead me to this business and to where I am today is back in 2010 I ended a 7 year relationship with a man I've known since we were in high school. I ended that relationship and a girlfriend of mine said I need to start dating again. So we put a ad on a website I dare not to mention. I met a record producer , a swimming instructor at a private school, and a famous actor. I couldn't believe it when I went on the date with this famous actor, he brought out things in me I never knew existed. I was also 327 pounds so I thought this is cute for now, but oh no it kept going. I wanted to celebrate women who were like me at the time. I was an Attorney and at that time I was like I don't want to do this. Everyone told me I was too fat, too black, I didn't have a Ivy League degree it would never happen.

I had negative 40 dollars in my bank account and I went to this event I could not afford. I encourage people to do that at least twice a year. I walked up to the Producers of MSNBC I didn't know what a pitch was, but I knew I was there for a reason. When I walked up to the Producers they were looking at me. I had my best Calvin Klein dress on, I went into pitch mode and didn't know how to do it. I said hi my name is Precious Williams and I'm the proud Founder and CEO of Curvy Gurlz Lingerie. We are the ultimate shopping experience for full figured divas and plus size. They started laughing. I'll never forget that experience. I was so hurt. I thought that was my best work . They were like have you heard of our show Elevator Pitch? I hadn't, but when you're in Rome you do as Romans do. I said of course! They told me they were bringing the host over to talk to me and they thought that I'd be great for the show. So what I learned from that experience is stay visible even when everything is against you keep moving forward. The people that you want to be in front of are not the naysayers or the haters. The haters never made it, I was determined I was going to make it. My first pitch got me on MSNBC. I had to prove naysayers wrong.

Tammy Reese:

What do you love most about the work you do ?

Precious L. Williams:

I love when women achieve things they never thought they could. I have a client right now who is going to be on Shark Tank Season 12. My clients go out of their way to send me things. I don't ask for it. I am just grateful that they are invested in me. I love that my clients feel they've got so much more than what they ever thought was possible and when they achieve the dream they've been working so hard for, something that I saw in them. I want to see women fly higher than their wildest dreams in business.

Tammy Reese:

What are so hardships in your line of work?

Precious L. Williams:

As a black woman it's sometimes hard to get the recognition that others can get so easily. I am not suffering from that problem anymore, but it happened in the beginning. People assume that you would work for free and for exposure. I've been in this business for 25 years I don't need exposure. I've had a Billboard in Times Square and been on everything from CNN, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Shark Tank, InStyle Magazine, and Forbes Magazine. What black woman you know gets a write up in Forbes for having a number one best seller. I am a LinkedIn content creator, I have my own LinkedIn live show called Keeping it Real. I understand that I am a professional , but I am a professional that is unapologetically herself. People love when I come real raw and real funky with it. I don't want to fit in I want to stand out.

Tammy Reese:

What is your stance on the Black Lives Matter Movement?

Precious L. Williams:

I think the Black Lives Matter Movement is something to support and an organization that needs to be supported. We all can support in different ways. I don't have to be protesting in that way, but I can support by opening the door for others. Black Lives Matter should not just matter in protesting, but getting into places that many of us would love to be in. Someone has to crack that door and bust it wide open. I protest by taking my skills, talents and abilities and walk into spaces and bring more of us in.

When I spoke at InStyle Magazine it felt like all my dreams where coming true. I was homeless three years ago. On the day I tried to commit suicide in 2017 on my 38th Birthday you couldn't tell me on my 41st Birthday I would end up being named Microsoft January 2020 Game Changer. They catered everything, they did the marketing, it was standing room only. It was in the Microsoft loft on 5th avenue. When I walked out I was so full of emotion I didn't know how good it was going to get. The love of my life, the actor I was telling you about he had died. I didn't know how to grieve. I was drinking to numb the pain and to sleep. It was crazy! I've been clean and sober for three and a half years now.

Tammy Reese:

What are some most memorable moments in your career so far?

Precious L. Williams:

Speaking at InStyle Magazine and these big companies I didn't have to fight my way in, the door just opened. My client being on Shark Tank season 12 which is coming up. Some of the things I am more impressed by in my life is that I did overcome severe alcoholism. I am proud that I am a much better person now than I was back then. I always rise like the phoenix stronger in everyway. I'm just creating global movements around pitching, creating my own pitch competition. People seek me out because they know that I am the best at what I do. I am literally hired to tell them to slay all competition , the power of the killer elevator pitch, media pitch, speaker pitch and investor pitch. I am hired by Colleges and Universities , Fortune 500 companies, top Non Profits and Foundations and I was homeless three years ago.

Tammy Reese:

How has the pandemic reshaped your life?

Precious L. Williams:

I'm so used to being on flights and in hotels. I don't catch feelings I catch flights. I now have a deeper relationship with some members of my family. Business has increased 100 percent. Every minute there are opportunities.

"I thought it was all about achievements , it wasn't it was about the journey and learning my craft in a totally different way."

-Precious L. Williams

Tammy Reese:

What advice would you have for someone who wants to get into your industry?

Precious L. Williams:

I would tell them you can either be quiet and work your way up or you can just be loud . Every time a conference is over everyone knows my name. Loud like my presence is huge before I open my mouth. Go big or go home. When I started in pitching I went straight national. I didn't go local or regional I went straight to national. Some people may think that was probably stupid, but it worked out for me. You know the vision placed in you, work on your craft and learn it. I don't respect anyone who doesn't put in the effort for their career to get their business off the ground. I had to work through homelessness and addiction to get here. I thought it was all about achievements , it wasn't it was about the journey and learning my craft in a totally different way.

Tammy Reese:

What words of encourage would you give our Vocal readers to get through the pandemic?

Precious L. Williams:

To really use this time wisely so if you know that your job is ending you need to be networking. I don't mean sun up to sun down, but be real strategic about who you are approaching. Think about what types of organizations you need to be associated with or volunteer with just to get in the front door. We need to be doing things outside of the box now. Develop relationships that can lead to further opportunities. Don't allow your pride or fear to get in the way.

Tammy Reese:

What is next for you Precious?

Precious L. Williams:

Working on a television show , creating my own virtual live events that don't mirror what everybody else is doing, creating a pitch master school to train others to do what I do naturally. Really being able to provide opportunities to young people and working with them on their LinkedIn profiles, helping them to secure positions they never thought was possible. Along with working on more books. Staying relevant, being consistent and knowing that persistence means resistance every time.

To learn more about Perfect Pitches by Precious, LLC, please visit:

https://www.perfectpitchesbyprecious.com