In this episode of Career Gems for the Journey podcast, Leah C. Murphy is joined by Arika Pierce Williams CEO and founder of Piercing Strategies, for a powerful conversation on leadership, confidence, and claiming your space.
Arika shares her journey from corporate law to leadership coaching and breaks down how women, especially women of color, can step fully into their power — without waiting for permission. This episode is filled with gems about personal branding, speaking up, and navigating career pivots with clarity and purpose.
✨ “You don’t have to wait for someone to hand you a seat — claim it and bring your own chair if needed.” — Arika Pierce Williams
In this episode, we discuss:
💎 How to build leadership presence before you have the title
💎 Why self-advocacy is a career non-negotiable
💎 The difference between mentorship and sponsorship
💎 How Arika found her voice and purpose after leaving corporate
💎 Encouragement to stop playing small and own your impact
Whether you're early in your career or leading a team, this episode will challenge you to speak up, show up, and take action.
Make Your Journey Work For You!
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About Our Guest
Arika Pierce Williams is an award-winning leadership strategist and best-selling author who helps organizations build human-centered leaders that drive growth and retain top talent. With over 15 years of leadership experience—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—she brings deep insight into what it takes to lead effectively at scale. A former Senior VP of Growth and Strategy, Arika reached her first VP role before age 30 and has led cross-functional initiatives across industries.
She’s the author of I Can. I Will. Watch Me., and a sought-after speaker for organizations like the American Bankers Association and General Mills. Arika’s approach blends strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and a passion for equipping leaders with skills that technology can’t replicate.
