Candace Williams

Vice President of People & Culture

Fight or Flight

May 2026 - Current (6 months)

Global Head of Talent, Culture & Inclusion

Webflow

Jan 2023 - Aug 2024 (1 year 8 months)

Led Webflow’s first global DEI and employee engagement strategy, aligning people operations with company goals and scaling inclusive practices across a high-growth, remote-first organization. Acted as a strategic advisor to the executive team, driving culture, engagement, and performance through data-driven programs, equitable practices, and operational excellence, positioning the company for IPO readiness. Key accomplishments include:

Developed and executed Webflow’s first global DEI strategy, aligning it with business goals and embedding equity and inclusion across the employee lifecycle.

Served as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership, playing a key role in executive-level decision-making on talent s

Director, Talent, Culture & Inclusion

Webflow

Jan 2023 - Aug 2024 (1 year 8 months)

Led Webflow’s first global DEI and employee engagement strategy, aligning people operations with company goals and scaling inclusive practices across a high-growth, remote-first organization. Acted as a strategic advisor to the executive team, driving culture, engagement, and performance through data-driven programs, equitable practices, and operational excellence, positioning the company for IPO readiness. Key accomplishments include:

Developed and executed Webflow’s first global DEI strategy, aligning it with business goals and embedding equity and inclusion across the employee lifecycle.

Served as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership, playing a key role in executive-level decision-making on talent s

Head of Culture, Inclusion & Employee Experience

Vimeo

Oct 2021 - Sep 2022 (1 year)

Led the next evolution of Vimeo’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy while expanding its focus on employee experience, culture, transparency, and social responsibility. Served as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, embedding DEI into core business functions and building the foundation for scalable, measurable impact across the company.

Led the evolution of Vimeo’s global DEI strategy, expanding its focus to include employee experience, culture transparency, and internal communications across a $2.75B organization.

Advised the CEO and executive team on embedding inclusive practices into leadership development, talent planning, and employee lifecycle strategy.

Spearheaded the f

Global Head of Inclusion & Belonging

GitLab

Apr 2019 - Oct 2021 (2 years 7 months)

Pioneered and built GitLab’s global Inclusion & Belonging function as the company’s first executive DEI leader. Partnered directly with the CEO, CPO, and senior leadership to integrate inclusion into business strategy, talent programs, and operational culture—positioning the company for IPO readiness. Established scalable infrastructure, governance, and analytics to support a remote-first, global inclusion strategy.

Designed and launched GitLab’s first company-wide Inclusion & Belonging strategy, operationalizing equity across all stages of the employee lifecycle.

Built foundational governance models for Team Member Resource Groups (TMRGs) and the Inclusion Council, creating the infrastructure for accountability and re

Talent & Culture Strategist | Inclusion Communities Manager

Red Hat

Nov 2017 - Apr 2019 (1 year 6 months)

Talent & Culture Strategist

Red Hat

Nov 2017 - Apr 2019 (1 year 6 months)

Drove strategy and execution for Red Hat’s global Diversity & Inclusion communities, building scalable engagement programs and infrastructure to embed inclusion into people practices. Operated at the intersection of culture, learning, and organizational effectiveness—consulting across departments to align talent, engagement, and DEI initiatives.

Launched and scaled global D+I Communities, growing to 5 groups ranging from 100–850 members and designing a new governance structure to support sustainable growth and strategic alignment.

Developed targeted D+I focus groups to gather culture and talent feedback from both leaders and individual contributors—informing broader people strategy and internal communications.

Inclusion & Collaboration Project Manager | Talent Strategy

Cisco

Jun 2015 - Nov 2017 (2 years 6 months)

Led enterprise-wide programs to drive engagement, inclusion, and connection across Cisco’s global workforce. Managed large-scale ERG infrastructure, launched scalable mentoring initiatives, and partnered with cross-functional leaders to translate employee insights into strategic actions that shaped culture and performance.

Managed and scaled 10 Employee Resource Organizations (EROs) and 18 employee networks, strengthening culture, connection, and talent development across diverse communities.

Launched Cisco’s first global mentoring platform, expanding access to mentorship and career development, and implemented Single Sign-On (SSO) integration for the Glassbreakers platform to improve user adoption and experience.

HR Business Partner | M&A & Change Management

WCG

Apr 2013 - Jun 2015 (2 years 3 months)

Managed all HR-related activities during periods of organizational change, including M&A integrations and policy revisions, while also developing and delivering leadership training and employee engagement programs. Focused on optimizing talent management strategies to support employee integration, productivity, and morale.

Led HR processes during multiple M&A transactions, ensuring smooth transitions and successful integrations of teams, policies, and practices, minimizing disruption, and fostering alignment with the company’s strategic goals.

Developed and delivered comprehensive training programs on leadership, team-building, performance improvement, conflict resolution, and legal compliance, supporting employee grow

Regional Diversity & Inclusion Manager | People Strategy

Nationwide

Feb 2007 - Apr 2013 (6 years 3 months)

Led the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) program for Nationwide’s NC region, managing a team of 25 associates and engaging around 1,500 employees. Collaborated across various teams to foster an inclusive culture, recruit diverse talent, and ensure D&I initiatives aligned with broader corporate goals.

Launched and managed the regional D&I program, overseeing a team of 25 associates and impacting 1,500 employees across the NC region. Drove employee engagement through consistent communication and the implementation of initiatives that fostered inclusivity and diversity.

Facilitated quarterly meetings and regional D&I initiatives, including in-person visits to branch locations, teleconferences, and monthly activity planning wit

Regional Inclusion Manager | People Strategy

Nationwide

Feb 2007 - Apr 2013 (6 years 3 months)

Led the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) program for Nationwide’s NC region, managing a team of 25 associates and engaging around 1,500 employees. Collaborated across various teams to foster an inclusive culture, recruit diverse talent, and ensure D&I initiatives aligned with broader corporate goals.

Launched and managed the regional D&I program, overseeing a team of 25 associates and impacting 1,500 employees across the NC region. Drove employee engagement through consistent communication and the implementation of initiatives that fostered inclusivity and diversity.

Facilitated quarterly meetings and regional D&I initiatives, including in-person visits to branch locations, teleconferences, and monthly activity planning wit

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Candace Williams

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