Marli Williams is an international speaker, leadership trainer, and master facilitator with a Master’s Degree in Education and 20 years of experience. She first fell in love with transformational leadership as a camp counselor. Marli brings her passion for building community and creating meaningful experiences to the Lesbian Culture Club. She hosts the Let’s Lead Together Podcast, which ranked in the Top 5% globally within a month of launching, and created The Connect Deck, a card deck for easy and meaningful conversations used worldwide. Join us as we learn about Marli's story, exploring her motivations, drive, and the impact she makes in every community she touches.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Portland?
I grew up outside Chicago and traveled around in my 20’s pursuing my Outdoor Education dreams as a wilderness guide. What brought me to the PNW was grad school at Western Washington University up in Bellingham, WA. I remember moving there and feeling at home in the Pacific Northwest. The people, the culture, the vibe and the beauty captured my heart. I moved to Portland in 2017 after starting my own business to surround myself with like-minded and like-hearted people who would inspire me to grow and become a successful coach, speaker and entrepreneur.
How did you first become involved in your current field or community?
When I was 19 years old, I went on a 50 day Outward Bound Course in the wilderness of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I had never experienced anything like it and I was hooked. That experience changed my life and it is where I discovered my mission to help people realize their full potential. That has essentially been my mission ever since. So for the past 20 years I have been studying the field of transformational facilitation and leadership and love sharing my passion with others, building community and creating experiences that change people’s lives.
What are some of your proudest achievements or milestones?
I think I am the most proud of the impact I have had on other people through the retreats I have facilitated and events I have had the honor to speak at. I love planting the seed of what is possible for people and being a catalyst for them changing their lives for the better.
How has your identity influenced your work and contributions to the community?
One of the things I love about my work as a speaker is that I walk into rooms of people who are sometimes very different from me, possibly more conservative or from rural communities. I think that exposure is a huge key to creating empathy and understanding and being an example for people to be more accepting is an underlying reason why I do the work that I do. My hope is that my positive presence has the potential to change people’s minds to be more open, kind, loving and compassionate towards others.
What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
When I was in grad school, I created an Outdoor Orientation Trip program for incoming freshmen. I poured my heart and soul into building this program and continued to run it on the side of my full-time job because I believed in it. My initial goal was to get to run this program full-time and when it came time to hire someone to actually run the program (because it became so successful), they hired someone else to manage the program that I started. It was a huge punch in the gut and I was devastated. I told myself in that moment, “I am never going to create something that can get taken away from me.” Which then began my journey as an entrepreneur and learning the skills I needed to to go out on my own and create my own programs and retreats.
What advice would you give to others facing similar challenges?
One thing that I learned from that was even if you are meant to create something, it doesn’t mean you are meant to run it forever. Entrepreneurs usually see a need and have a desire to meet that with a solution. What I know now is that I was meant to create that program but that I wanted to create a bigger impact beyond the university. One of my quotes/mantras is: “What is meant for you won’t miss you.” And I try to remember that.
How do you stay connected with the local LGBTQ+ community?
I love having a pulse on what’s going on and enjoy attending community events like Queer Wine Fest and Queer Courts (pickleball). I have friends who enjoy going to different events as well and invite me to go to things around town. One of the reasons I am stoked to be a part of LCC is to create community and stay even more connected.
Who or what inspires you the most in your personal and professional life?
I am inspired by people who do work that lights them up and have a desire to make a positive impact on the world. Specifically, Mel Robbins and the impact she has made as a speaker. She is a role model for me and who I want to be and where I want to take my career.
My partner inspires me to be the best version of myself and to be kind, loving and generous to those around me. She is pretty much the best person I know.
How do you hope to impact the community through your work and actions?
I hope to create meaningful moments and experiences that help people build deeper relationships and connections with others. I am passionate about creating transformative programs that inspire, move and empower people to connect to themselves and others in meaningful ways that brings out the best in everyone.
What are your future goals, both personally and professionally?
Professionally, my future goals are to speak on big stages all over the world on leadership, personal empowerment and the power of human connection and to have a hit show on Netflix that empowers women in midlife to stop settling for mediocrity and redefine themselves by saying YES to what they truly want.
Personally, I want to buy a beautiful house that is a space for community gatherings. Travel to amazing places with my partner and live life to the fullest!
How do you see the community evolving, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?
I hope to see the community evolve into the go-to place where people know they will meet amazing people, have meaningful experiences and make connections that will last a lifetime.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love hiking on the trails with my two dogs Summit and Journey, Camping in my 1992 Toyota Warrior Winnebego with my amazing partner, spending time with friends, eating and cooking delicious food and making the most epic “Snacklebox” for boat days and paddle boarding adventures.
Can you share a fun fact or something people might not know about you?
I was voted “Most School Spirit” and was on prom court in high school, and that was also the last time I wore a dress.
Keep up with Marli by following her:
Instagram @marliwilliams
Podcast: https://podcast.marliwilliams.com
Website: www.marliwilliams.com