Bianca Williams ’22, already had an established career when she arrived at Oregon State to study business. Leveraging lessons through her career and journey from Ipswich, England, through North Carolina before ultimately landing in Portland, Williams used her experiences to become a mentor.  

“I was partnered with new students who shared similar life stories, whether it be first-generation students, the LGBTQ community or common interests,” Williams said.  

After earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration, Williams is now a senior business strategy consultant in the financial industry.  

“I implement strategic initiatives that align with business plans and goals,” she said.  

This includes influencing organizational behavior, leading the adoption of change and fostering a culture to ensure sustainable changes occur within the company. She untangles challenging issues and processes while building relationships with people where change, advancement and evolution are possible. 

“Pursuing a strong ecosystem where the integration of AI and organizational transformation can lead to effective change while keeping human creativity, integrity and ethics is at the top of mind for me,” Williams said.  

She analyzes data trends, identifies process breaks and brainstorms new ideas. Williams’ approach is consistent with her values.  

“I focus on building trust,” she said. 

She doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Williams often finds herself running towards what is scary or hard.  

“I have embraced the view that where adversity exists, so does the incredible opportunity for growth,” she said. “It’s where some of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences are felt.” 

Williams had these attributes before college. Oregon State is where she sharpened her skills and gained new knowledge, tools and techniques to navigate the professional realm. Balancing work and her studies taught her discipline, time management and prioritization.  

“OSU challenged me in the best way,” she said. “I was tapping into the resilience that I had quietly built throughout the years.” 

Now, Williams is finishing a master’s degree in management, strategy and leadership at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State. She lives in Portland, where she enjoys good food, listening to and collecting music and watching sports. She trains with a boxing team and spends time at the driving range with her best friend, Justin, whenever possible.  

Williams is active in alumni and networking events with the College of Business. She wants to support the inclusive environment that drew her to Oregon State. 

“I knew it was somewhere and something I wanted to be a part of,” she said.  

Through mentoring, she’s excited to watch students create their path to success.  

“I am impressed with the brilliance of the students I have had the fortune to connect with,” Williams said.  

She encourages them to lean into authenticity, to be the exception and not the echo, and to use their voice instead of fearing failure. View rejection as redirection, she likes to say.  

Williams embodies the very best of what it means to be a College of Business graduate from the past decade, said Kate Papinsick, assistant director of advancement, who leads alumni engagement strategy for the college.  

“Bianca’s journey is a powerful reminder that resilience, authenticity and a commitment to lifting others up aren’t just qualities we admire, they’re the very foundation of our alumni community,” Papinsick said. “When I think about the role alumni play in elevating the College of Business brand, Bianca is front and center. Her story continues to inspire current students and fellow alumni alike to lead with purpose both personally and professionally.” 

Learn more about volunteering with the College of Business at: https://beav.es/cobvolunteer.