Women Leaders Podcast, Episode 38: Andrea Williams

Today, we’re chatting with Andrea Williams, the newly named chief operating officer for the College Football Playoff. We recorded this episode in late July, just a week after Andrea’s new job had been announced so the timing couldn’t have been more perfect!

Andrea grew up in a very athletic family. She started her career as a big-time athlete at Texas A&M, playing basketball and volleyball—yes, two sports—and both teams advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament! Two of her older siblings also played college sports so, for her, it was “just the way the world works,” she says.

Andrea parlayed her love of sports into a 16-year career at the Big 10 Conference—where she took on many different roles, eventually becoming the associate commissioner—and then to two really successful years as the Big Sky Conference commissioner, which she left only because her dream job at the College Football Playoff became available.

Andrea shares so many great tips she received from her mentors that she lives by today, and she is an example of how being a rock star where you are is the best way to get you where you want to go.

Enjoy, and remember, We Are Women Leaders!

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