Ursula Williams, Executive Vice President of Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), joins TheEdge to discuss her career in the staffing industry and the lessons and knowledge she’s gathered along the way. With over 25 years of industry leadership experience and tenure with global organizations, Ursula’s unique background includes everything from corporate strategy and brand transitions to delivering workforce solutions.

Diversity in Staffing and Career Transitions

Founded in 1989, SIA is the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. SIA’s proprietary research covers all categories of employed and non-employed work including temporary staffing, independent contracting and other types of contingent labor.

For the past four years, Ursula has been responsible for SIA’s global strategy as well as overseeing the teams responsible for Marketing, Operations, Conferences, Technology and Digital Solutions. In the podcast, Ursula explains what the future holds for SIA and the critical role she’s taken to help make those plans a reality.

In addition, Ursula touches on the topic of diversity and the debate the recent “40 Under 40” list sparked once it was published. She talks about what steps the industry can take to make sure people see the value in submitting for these lists, and the importance of putting themselves out there, which in turn could help on the diversity front.

Prior to her role at SIA, Ursula was the Executive Vice President for Randstad Finance and Accounting, where she was responsible for the creation, development and management of the organization’s national accounts division. She discusses making the career transition from the corporate side to her role at SIA and why, even though it may be scary to leap into the unknown, it’s important to push yourself outside of what’s comfortable. She reflects on lessons learned throughout her career and shares advice for the next generation of staffing leaders.

Mentorship and Role Models

With a career dedicated to the staffing industry, Ursula has had the unique opportunity of working with a number of celebrated and impressive leaders along the way, citing those experiences as being part of what’s defined her as an executive. Ursula has learned from and studied the leadership style of people like Barry Asin, Joyce Russell, and Teresa Creech and has applied them to her own leadership style. She talks about how she sees herself and why it’s important to keep evolving.

Motherhood and Executive Leadership

Ursula shares her experiences about being a working mom, striking a balance between work and life and why she feels motherhood has made her a better leader. She also talks about her daughter, Dana, and shares what she wishes she’d known as she was starting out in her career, just as Dana is about to embark on her own journey as a journalist.

With a surprise guest star joining the conversation between Leslie and Ursula, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss. Tune in now.

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