Rachel Williams | Head of Inclusion & Diversity @ Yelp!

TL;DR

Rachel Williams recounts how a high school teacher told her she lacked writing talent, which crushed her dream and redirected her career. Years later, she coincidentally met the same teacher, who did not remember her, revealing the asymmetry of impact. Her message: do not let others define your limits, and be mindful of how your words affect others.

Key insights

• Williams’ mother had “the talk” about race with her at age five (before kindergarten) and again before high school, framing her attendance at a prestigious private school as a diversity-for-education
• A creative writing teacher’s blunt statement “You don’t have that talent” caused Williams to abandon creative writing entirely, despite it being her passion since age five.
• Williams later became Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Yelp, a role that involved public speaking; she was approached by a publisher at South by Southwest to write a book, but initially refused due to