Today we’d like to introduce you to Laquisha Williams.
Laquisha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The journey began some seven years ago. I was the “girl” that hosted amazing theme events for my girlfriends. I started with just seven of my girlfriends in my living room and within a year, grew from 7 to 44 women attending themed empowerment events at my home. It wasn’t until my friend, Maxine that was visiting from out of town happened to be in town during one of the gatherings said to me; Laquisha, I think you are on to something.” I never thought it was a business, but it continued to grow just by word of mouth. All I knew was that I had a passion to see women come together and share in their personal breakthroughs. It was something that became easily and effortlessly for me to do.
There was a demand for more types of gatherings like what I hosted. The news got around quickly. Women traveled from Miami, Palm Beach and Atlanta to be apart. (I didn’t even have a name for it). I remembered one gathering, my neighbor came knocking on my door saying that they are towing cars; my community association was very strict on parking on the lawn, but there wasn’t anywhere else to park. It was at that point, I remembered what my friend, Maxine said. Sometimes you have to believe in someone else’s believe in you before your belief manifests. Not knowing anything about planning events, I went to the closest Marriott Hotel and inquired about meeting room space. I booked a room for 40 women (playing it safe), but 67 women attended and paid. I think I cried the whole night as the staff had to bring in chairs. That’s when Girl Connection – Embracing the women within was birthed.
The Girl Connection movement began to grow so quickly, up to 200 women from around the United States and The Caribbean began attending my events. I started off being the face of the Girl Connection events without being a speaker because believe it or not, I was extremely shy (still a bit shy). As time progressed, I launched a Women’s membership group called The Purpose Circle Elite Society. Invited nine of my girlfriend, shared the vision and within a year, grew that membership to 100 members.
Took a break from the membership group. As I began to evolve, I started to invest in personal development and began to connect with next-level coaches and mentors, I had a new mission and that was to reach one million women around the world where I would educate, empower and help them to elevate to where they were to where they need to be. The World-class Movement was born and the rest was history. The movement reached the ear of the United States Congress where I was recognized for the work I was doing with women in the community, I was nominated one of 100 Successful Women in Broward County, Honored by my Mayor as 1 of 12 women of distinction, graced the cover of I am queen Magazine, featured in numerous magazines, received The Humanitarian Award for my givebacks and work I do with the community and Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, lastly I received an Honorary Doctoral Degree during the pandemic of April 2020. I believe that you don’t get caught up in your last success. You celebrate and quickly move on to the next. As I continually state, “It’s only the beginning, I am just getting started… I believe that if you’re not growing or evolving, you’re dying so the key to success is to keep moving forward even though at times you want to stop and throw in the towel. Becoming your best self takes work daily. My story is still being written.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In the beginning, it seemed to have been a smooth road. All I knew was that I was hosting gatherings at my home and women were showing up and inviting their friends. The struggle began when I knew that I had to stop playing small and challenged by mentors to “be the change I want to see in the world.” It was very hard as I was becoming someone I had never been, so everything was new to me. The new me began to scare me.
Although the journey had its ups and downs, I am grateful for mentors and coaches. My advice for other women is to seek other women who are doing what you want to do and who are getting the type of results you want to do and connect with them and invest in yourself. Personal Development is a game-changer. I’ve learned so many new things and had to unlearn a whole lot as well. My conversations started to change, how I looked at things began to change as everything began to align.
So, women, get out your own way. When I started, no one around me were hosting gatherings or events. I played it safe being scared and shy to go big. No longer do you have to wait or be afraid of the opinions of others, JUST TAKE THE LEAP and when I’m at a crossroad I would ask myself, what would Jesus do and then what would the World-Class do?
I’ve realized that challenges/obstacles are going to happen, that’s life. It’s how you look at it that matters. Wayne Dyer says that when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. So when an obstacle arises, I also know that whatever my decision that I choose to make my character is being built. If one thing doesn’t work, try it another way. One thing I do know is that I am closer to my goal than I was yesterday because I REFUSE TO QUIT!!
Please tell us about World-Class Woman Network.
The World-class Woman Network is here to serve the woman. The woman of all different races and ethnicity. The overworked and underpaid, the woman who is struggling with self-worth, the woman who is always putting others before herself, the woman who is seeking to discover her purpose, the woman who lack financial freedom. I am your mentor that will help you to get from where you are now, to get you to where you want to be.
This is done through my World-class Woman Network and compose of five pillars – The World class Institute, World class Women Mastermind, Tribe of world-class women, World class LIVE events and private accountability group. I believe that if you’re in business, it should not be done for you to benefit, but that those who you serve can also benefit. I am very grateful to see because of my yes, other women said yes and became authors, business owners, hosting their own events and collaborating with other women to create change and impact in their world.
If you know it’s your time to step out and get seen and become the top percenters in the world, I will help you. If you want to level up in every area of your life, which I called my FAB5 are which we walk through are Faith, Finances, Fitness, Family and fun. This is a safe space to create for your ideas, a community that will help you to be challenged. A challenge provides breakthroughs to your next best self. At the World-Class Woman Institute, we believe that you’re not truly winning if you’re not WINNING FROM WITHIN!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would not do things differently only because God had given me something that I had inside of me, but I was not aware of and because of hosting those events and witnessing the breakthroughs of hundreds if not thousands of women that my purpose was birthed. There’s a quote that says, “the whole is greater that the sum of it’s parts, meaning that I would not have been where I am today if I only took out the good. So I would have to take everything; the lessons and the wins. Life is a journey filled with ups and downs, highs and lows but you are never counted out unless you count yourself out. Every new level requires a new me, so I am here for it!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.worldclasswomaninstitute.com
- Email: iamlaquishawilliams@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladylaquisha/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladylaquisha
Image Credit:
Spex Photography, Cute photos and person camera
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