South Africa, Aug. 13 -- Her philosophy was shaped early. A mentor told her that her reputation was her greatest asset and it is a principle she has carried into every client meeting, every pitch and every leadership decision since. That groundedness has defined how she leads.

Williams is candid that progress for women in sales has been real but uneven. Early in her career there were moments where she had to prove herself more than peers and she chose to meet those moments with preparation rather than protest. Today she brings the same standard to developing her team, creating an environment where people feel supported and challenged in equal measure.

Her definition of success has shifted over the years. Earlier it was about targets. No...