Rachel Ann Williams

I design and teach two flagship graduate-level courses in the Master’s in Computational Social Science program: Meaningful Careers: Strategies for Shaping Your Career With Purpose (COMPSS 215) – A course focused on self-discovery, values alignment, and career design at the intersection of data and social science. Students develop personalized career roadmaps through frameworks like Ikigai, VIA Strengths, CliftonStrengths, and practical tools in networking, personal branding, and career resilience. The course integrates reflective journaling, peer learning, and guest speakers ranging from scholars to executives. Mastering the Corporate Arena: Strategic Skills for Professional Success (COMPSS 223) – A practical, case-driven course on navigating organizational systems, leadership dynamics, and power structures. Students engage in simulations, workshops, and projects on workplace culture, politics, influence without authority, performance management, and career strategy. Special focus is placed on onboarding, productivity, emotional intelligence, feedback, and defining success in modern hybrid workplaces. Through these courses, I prepare graduate students to thrive in rapidly evolving professional environments by blending career discovery, leadership strategy, and the future of work.

I’m a member of the second cohort of Zeal Capital Partners’ BBFI Venture Scout Program. It's a unique, hands-on experience designed to expand representation in early-stage investing by developing the next generation of fund managers and ecosystem builders. As a Venture Scout, I: Develop and refine an investment thesis grounded in emerging trends, founder potential, and scalable innovation. Source and evaluate early-stage deals in underrepresented markets and communities. Lead due diligence efforts, including investment memo writing, market analysis, and basic return modeling. Construct a personalized portfolio, identifying potential investments and engaging in deal negotiations with founders. Collaborate with a robust network of scouts, founders, and VC leaders through peer sessions, leadership summits, and pipeline reviews. This 12-month program mirrors the full lifecycle of early-stage venture investing from thesis to check-writing to post-investment support with a clear goal: expand who gets to write checks and who receives them. We’re not just scouting companies; we’re shaping the future of venture: informed, inclusive, and opportunity-expanding.

As a member of the research community, provide insights to shape the content HBR develops and enrich the understanding of perspectives and ideas from HBR as well as the broader world of management and leadership.

As a Senior Advisor at Norwest Venture Partners, I worked closely with the firm and its portfolio companies to shape inclusive HR strategies. I advised leadership on creating an equitable workplace and developed a firm-wide strategy focused on hiring, retention, education, and investment sourcing initiatives to strengthen workplace culture and broaden opportunities.

Support Zeal Capital's portfolio companies with DEI, HR and Talent related projects.

Led talent acquisition and later expanded scope as Head of DEI at Google X, Alphabet’s innovation lab, building breakthrough technologies (self-driving cars, life sciences, AI). Directed recruiting strategy for technical and non-technical functions while establishing inclusive hiring practices and scaling teams for moonshot projects. Key contributions: Talent Acquisition Leadership: Built and led hiring strategies for emerging frontier technologies, partnering with engineering and research leaders to secure world-class talent across AI, robotics, hardware, and operations. DEI Leadership: Elevated to Head of DEI, creating X’s first equity and inclusion roadmap to ensure fairness and belonging were foundational to the development of multibillion-dollar companies and products. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborated with Alphabet leadership on inclusive workforce strategies, influencing how the company approached diverse founder pipelines, ethical innovation, and equitable leadership practices. Employer Branding: Strengthened X’s reputation as a destination for innovators, aligning brand storytelling with values of equity, belonging, and bold experimentation.

Served as Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion for StubHub, overseeing strategy and implementation across offices in the U.S., UK, Spain (Bilbao, Madrid), and China. Partnered with executive leadership and international HR teams to design a global DEI roadmap that addressed local context while building a unified company-wide culture of inclusion. Key contributions: Designed and executed StubHub’s first global DEI strategy, integrating inclusive practices into recruiting, leadership development, and employee engagement. Established cross-regional programs and employee resource groups (ERGs), connecting employees across continents under shared equity goals. Collaborated with global HR and legal teams to embed cultural awareness, equity, and belonging into talent processes, performance management, and leadership training. Advised senior executives on equitable practices that aligned business growth with inclusive culture-building in international markets.

As a participant in the prestigious CHRO Program at Wharton Executive Education, I have deepened my expertise in aligning human capital strategies with business objectives, driving organizational transformation, and leading at the executive level. This program, designed for senior HR leaders, focuses on enhancing strategic decision-making capabilities, navigating complex talent challenges, and fostering a high-performance culture within organizations. Through engagement with top faculty, peer learning, and hands-on case studies, I gained actionable insights to effectively lead in today’s dynamic and evolving business environment.