Sonya Medina Williams

Ms. Sonya Medina Williams is the Founder of SMW Consulting and an accomplished public affairs strategist with expertise in value creation, brand management, and social impact leadership.

Medina Williams has served on the Board of Directors for Papa John’s International (NASDAQ: PZZA), the world’s third largest pizza maker, since 2015. She began her career in government where she spent seven years as a White House advisor, most notably serving as Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush for Domestic Policy and Director of Projects to First Lady Laura Bush, the first White House staffer to serve in this dual role.

Medina Williams served as Director of the AT&T Global Foundation and later as Vice President of Community and External Affairs for Silver Eagle Distributors, at the time, the nation's largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products.

Medina Williams is a change leader in advocating for opportunities for women and minorities to serve on boards and in high level positions within corporate and government institutions. She is the Founder of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Latina Leadership Institute and the Chief Strategist for The Nuff, a global campaign empowering women and girls to know that they are enough.

Medina Williams serves on the Advisory Council of the NASDAQ Next Gen Board Leaders, which highlights the value next gen leaders can bring to the boardroom. She serves on the Advisory Board for Teach for Uganda, a Teach for America effort in Africa and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Briscoe Western Art Museum and The Texas Tribune. Medina Williams has received numerous honors, awards and printed recognition based on her work and leadership worldwide.

Medina Williams is a graduate of Texas A&M University and received a Masters in Public Health from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.