• Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo

855-997-4652 LOGINTRY A FREE CLASS

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo

855-997-4652 LOGINTRY A FREE CLASS

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
March 8, 2020 by Lindsay Brown Trending Topics 0 comments

Geisha Williams – The First Latina CEO of a Fortune 200 Company

Geisha Williams is a woman who defies all odds. Ascending through the ranks while shattering multiple glass ceilings, Mrs. Williams has become a source of inspiration for women—especially Latinas—who seek leadership positions in business. 

The truth is, it’s not easy for women to reach top positions in “a man’s world” of business professionals. Nevertheless, Geisha Williams proves that this dream is attainable by becoming the first Latina CEO of a Fortune 200 company.  For International Women’s Day, it’s only appropriate that today we celebrate Geisha Williams!

Rise to 1%

Business professionals who rise to the top of their respective industries face cut-throat competition and varying challenges. This hurdle poses even more of a challenge for women and minorities. Within today’s male-dominated corporations, women comprise a mere 14.2% of top management positions. What’s more, Latina executives hold a dismal 1% of these positions. 

So, what made Geisha Williams stand out and rise above all the rest? As you will see, her story serves as a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and self-confidence for women who wish to succeed in business.

From Cuba to College

Geisha Williams (born Geisha Jimenez) embodies the classic immigrant success story. Born in Cuba, the daughter of a political prisoner, she and her family wished for a more promising life outside of poverty. Thankfully, the United States granted them entry in 1967 as political refugees after her father’s release from prison. 

She grew up in Miami, Florida where her parents opened a grocery store. Her passion for success led her from being a cashier in her parents’ store as a child to finishing a master’s degree in engineering from Miami University in the 80s. 

PG&E

Soon after graduation, she began working for Florida Power & Light (FPL), where she started in an entry-level position as a residential energy auditor. It was during these formative years of her career that she connected with a mentor who encouraged her to believe that she could be CEO one day. Eventually, Geisha Williams joined the company Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and within a 10 year period, she rose to the top of the ranks. In her own words, Mrs. Williams says:

women in business spanish

I’m the first person in my family to go to college and the first to be in any sort of position in corporate America. I’m the first in a lot of ways. I am an immigrant who came to this country without being able to speak English and somehow—only in America, right?—I became the CEO of a Fortune 200 company.

“Why Not Me?”

Despite all of her colleagues being men, Geisha Williams felt secure in her abilities as a female leader. She grew comfortable with the fact that some men saw her as an unacceptable outsider. “I didn’t let them bully me,” she explains, “I just took it in and decided to respond very professionally and respectfully.” 

With a tact for leadership and a strong desire to overcome adversity, Mrs. Williams convinced the board of PG&E to select her as the CEO. At first, she was shocked that they had nominated her. She realized soon afterward that “a lot of them had engineering degrees. Well, I had an engineering degree. I thought to myself, ‘Then why not me?’”

Success Is Your Best

While powerful women like Geisha Williams teach us the potential of hard work, they also inspire us to find our own goals we wish to accomplish. By sharpening our focus onto the target we have in mind, we are more likely to understand the steps we need to take in order to achieve greatness. Take your first step today, identify your goal, and reach for the stars! Sign up for a free class at Homeschool Spanish Academy if speaking fluent Spanish is a goal you’re ready to aim for!

Would you like to read more cultural news about Latin America? Check these out!

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Lindsay Brown
    Lindsay Brown
    Director of Content at Homeschool Spanish Academy
    Lover of words and a foreign language fanatic, I'm fluent in French and Spanish, with BA degrees in Linguistics, French, and Psychology, plus a TEFL certificate and 10+ years of teaching experience to boot. I blissfully share Spanish-learning tips, best-idea-ever travel advice, and at-a-glance cultural guides. When you can't find me writing spiritedly from my home office in Antigua, Guatemala, I'm probably outside playing games and exploring nature with my two bilingual kids.
    Lindsay Brown
    Latest posts by Lindsay Brown (see all)
    • Spanish Food and Cooking Words for Your Preschooler - January 10, 2021
    • Rooms in Spanish: Extensive House and Furniture Vocabulary - January 4, 2021
    • Celebrate Thanksgiving in Spanish! Vocabulary for Kids - November 19, 2020
    business spanish Geisha Williams Latin American business Latin American economy Latin American success stories
    0

    Related Posts

    learn spanish

    When You Learn Spanish, You Gain 5 Important Brain Benefits

    January 6, 2018
    Read More
    Key Benefits of Learning Soanish

    3 Key Benefits to Being Bilingual in the Workforce

    March 1, 2018
    Read More
    Spanish Foods

    Food for Thought: 6 Spanish Foods to Learn About (and try!)

    June 5, 2018
    Read More
    bilingual brain

    Brain Rewiring: How Speaking Spanish Rewires the Brain

    May 30, 2018
    Read More

    Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Celebrate Foreign Languages Through Film During NFLWPrevious Post
    Spanish Spring Words for Your PreschoolerNext Post

    About Us

    HSA offers Spanish curricula for all ages. Schedule classes on any day of the week – you can take them on your own, or share a class and save money! We make it easy to learn at your own pace. LEARN MORE >

    Resources

    • About
    • Get a Transcript
    • Take a Free Class
    • FAQs
    • How it Works
    • Partners

    Recent Posts

    • Bilingual Smart Voice Assistance: Does Alexa Speak Spanish?
      Bilingual Smart Voice Assistance: Does Alexa Speak Spanish?
      March 4, 2021
      Does Alexa speak Spanish? I had to do some...
    • 8 Spanish Homeschool Activities You Should Do ASAP
      8 Spanish Homeschool Activities You Should Do ASAP
      March 4, 2021
      Spanish homeschool activities are major...

    Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Contact UsSitemap© 2021 HSA. All rights reserved.