2018-2019 WLP Annual Report

BE FEARLESS
SPIRIT ALIVE AT WLP FALL SYMPOSIUM
Standing before a crowd of more than 1,000 at
the 14th annual Women in Leadership and
Philanthropy Fall Symposium, Karlene Williams
described her younger self as introverted, shy
and full of self-doubt.
“Because of fear, I almost lost my ambition and my
purpose altogether,” said Williams, a senior English
education major and second-year WLP scholar.
But none of these traits were on display during her
speech at the October 4, 2019 event, as she held
the audience in thrall with the details of her journey
to become fearless.
“Education was quite obviously Doretha’s life
purpose, and it afforded Linda the pathway to
opportunity and success,” said Williams, referring
to WLP Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
Doretha Edgecomb ’73 and Community Leadership
Award recipient Linda Simmons ’75.
And education is significant in Williams’ life as well,
empowering her to reach heights she never thought
possible.
After finishing high school, her fear and self-doubt
almost kept her from pursuing a higher education.
But thanks to her grandmother, who had been an
educator, she enrolled in community college, where
an English professor helped her find her voice through
writing.
“I realized I had an ability to communicate and
present information in a way that was fearless, bold
and different from my normal personality,” she said.
Williams would eventually enroll at USF and become
a WLP scholar pursuing a degree in English education.
Attending WLP events and interacting with other
students from a wide variety of backgrounds and
majors helped her to realize she was not alone in
her fears.
“No matter how brilliant and accomplished we all
are, we all face some sort of challenge. Adversity is
no stranger to any of us,” she said.
Following Karlene was no easy feat. “While I’m very
happy to come and talk about Be Fearless and the five
principles outlined in the book, it’s very clear they’re
alive and well here at USF,” said keynote speaker
Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation, chairman of
17 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT