Lisa Williams

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University and a master's degree in Manufacturing Management from The Pennsylvania State University. She began her career at Dow as a design and construction engineer supporting capital projects, before transitioning into supply chain where she took on a series of global planning and improvement leadership roles. Over the course of her career, Lisa has led complex, large-scale transformations. In 2010, she led a global team supporting Dow's $1 billion SAP upgrade across three regions. She later moved into Global Procurement, serving as Senior Category Leader responsible for more than $1.1 billion in spend across equipment, logistics, and terminal services. In 2021, Lisa was selected to lead the creation of Dow's first-generation contract labor strategy, building the governance system and operating model for a multi-billion-dollar annual investment. Following the successful launch of that work, her role expanded in 2024 to lead the development of a comprehensive global strategy for Manufacturing and Engineering Operations talent, impacting more than 22,000 current and future employees. Lisa is a Six Sigma Black Belt and holds APICS CPIM and CSCP certifications, as well as Prosci ADKAR change leadership certification. She is a recognized advocate for talent evolution in a skills-first world, focused on designing inclusive and equitable employee experiences that drive business performance. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Prairie View A&M University Distinguished Alumni Award, the Staffing Industry Analysts Game Changer Award, and the International Energy, Food, Water, and Climate Thought Leader Award. In addition to her corporate leadership, Lisa is a published author, TEDx speaker, and a frequent keynote speaker and panelist across industry, academic, and nonprofit forums. She also serves on several advisory boards, including the Greater Houston Partnership's Upskill Houston initiative, the Houston City College Corporate Advisory Board, and the Florida A&M University Industry Cluster.