Job: Chief impact and operations officer, YWCA South Hampton Roads

At work: Key executive leader responsible for aligning YWCA South Hampton Roads’ operational infrastructure with its mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. I integrate strategic program leadership with internal operations, ensuring mission-driven excellence, organizational efficiency and measurable community impact. I work closely with the CEO and executive team to build systems, scale innovation and steward a trauma-informed, equity-centered workplace culture. I am responsible for all programmatic portfolios, including domestic violence, housing, racial equity and economic empowerment, as well as operational leadership in areas such as staff development, compliance, facilities, contracts and data evaluation.

Volunteer activities: Board service: Women United; The Up Center; Virginia Ed Strategies; and Regent University MBA Association Board. I also participate in various task forces and workgroups. In 2024, I was appointed to the Virginia governor’s Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault.

Home and family: I am originally from Houston and now live in Chesapeake with my husband, who is a Navy captain, and daughters ages 23 and 16.

Motivating factor: Family and the opportunity to contribute my talents to achieving more favorable outcomes for people in our community.

Advice for women in business: Balancing professional endeavors with self-care is not a compromise, but an investment in sustainable success and fulfillment. Taking care of oneself redefines what success truly entails. It shifts the narrative from external validation to internal peace, from relentless hustle to balanced growth, from sacrificial labor to sustainable productivity. It validates the idea that success is in the journey as well as the destination and in thriving as much as achieving. (Quoted from Elizabeth Leiba.)

The one thing I would change about Hampton Roads: Diversity of thought and voices — our community’s leadership, boards and donor base often draw from the same small circle of individuals. While their contributions have been invaluable, we know that true innovation requires broader engagement. To grow and remain relevant, we must intentionally diversify who is at the table and create space for new voices, new perspectives and new ideas.

Professional goal in five years: To serve as a CEO, leading an organization where I can drive meaningful impact and advance mission-centered work.

Downtime: I love traveling with my husband and making memories with our family.

What really gets under my skin: When small problems go unaddressed until they become big ones. I’m naturally proactive, so I prefer to identify and resolve issues early. I’ve learned to approach those situations by asking solutions-focused questions and helping set up systems to prevent them.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/15/women-in-business-2025-leah-williams-rumbley/