Former Miss Black OU and Miss Black Oklahoma USA, Carlisha Williams, is setting out to prove she not only has the beauty, but the brains to manage her own company.

Williams, CEO of Women Empowering Nations, travels the world hosting seminars on self-esteem and female empowerment.

Most 24-year-olds are trying to find their directions on life’s road map, but, Carlisha Williams took advantage of her opportunities, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Williams, who now calls Gambia home, said OU prepared her for her career in public service. She said there was always something going on to get involved in that contributes to bettering the lives of others.

“I actually started at OU as a business major because I wanted to be the CEO of a big company and make a lot of money,” Williams said. “While I am the CEO of a company it is a non-profit organization and my focus isn’t to make a lot of money, it’s empowering as many women as possible.”

Jeanette Davidson, African and African American Studies director, said Williams started her research for her non-profit organization during her Independent Studies class.

“Carlisha was the first student to receive both our student of the year and leadership award,” Davidson said. “She’s very committed to making a difference, and whatever she chooses to do she’s going to do with excellence. We are very proud she’s a graduate of our program.”

This love of hers has enabled her to become the spokesperson for many mentor programs such as Children of Promise, and has also inspired younger women to pursue their dreams.

Ciara Amir, public relations senior, said she participated in the Miss Black OU pageant when Williams was director. Amir said she noticed how well spoken and inspiring Williams is.

“Carlisha is my life-coach. When I was in the pageant I discovered myself; she has this gift of noticing someone’s vision and bringing out to fruition,” Amir said.

These qualities ignited her to want to start her own non-profit organizations called Women Empowering Nations, an international organization that was created to enhance education through self-esteem development and empowerment.

“Women Empowering Nations aims to improve self-esteem of women while aiding them with resources to transform their communities to reach its fullest potential,” Williams said.

This past summer, Williams globalized WEN with the Gambian Girls Literacy and Empowerment Program. Along with teaching the girls English. She also taught empowerment sessions each day.

The Gambian Girls Literacy Empowerment Program dealt with young girls who were well below the U.S. poverty rate, most of whom came from homes where it is not in their culture to celebrate female academic achievement.

“During my sessions with the girls I continually used words of affirmation and asked them questions about their perspective of who they were, their dreams, what they like and want out of life,” Williams said. “Many of the ‘I don’t know’ answers grew into great dreams because they were engaged in an environment that allowed them to believe.”

Williams said she enjoyed watching the ladies experience the beauty of believing in themselves and their ability to achieve academically.

“In their eyes I found myself, reaffirmed my dreams and chose to commit my life to empowering women around the world,” she said.

Williams urged students not to take the gift of education for granted and to always use their education to help someone else along the road to success.

“Traveling internationally, I have seen firsthand how valuable an education is and that it is nothing to take for granted,” Williams said. “There are children around the world who would give anything just to know how to read or to have a free public school to go to because their parents can’t afford to send them to school; to have text books in their classrooms and to have the chance to go to college,” Williams said.

“Every time I step off the plane I think about how happy I am to be home. The warm air, the smiling people, the smell of the salt water from the beach, the drumming ... It all makes me so happy. My whole mood changes when I get here. I am at peace,” said Williams.