Freddy Williams: Boys & Girls Clubs Alum, now CEO of one of the largest clubs in the country

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Freddy Williams was named CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter County in 2012, when he was 28-years-old. Four years later he was CEO of the youth-focused nonprofit in Pinellas County. And now he’s at the helm of a Boys & Girls Club operation that stretches through Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. On this episode Freddie chats with Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon about his first summer at a Boys & Girls Club — it wasn’t necessarily voluntary; his five pillars of intentional leadership; and why Denzel Washington is the one person, dead or alive, he’d love to have dinner with.

3 Takeaways

1. (14:45) A strong moral compass and a spirit of continuous improvement are key leadership characteristics

2. (16:50) A board is powerful if you can tap into their expertise

3. (17:30) Never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself

Timestamps

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) Introducing Freddy Williams, CEO of Boy & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast and Tampa Bay

(01:30) Rapid Fire Questions

(05:05) How did you discover the Boys & Girls Clubs?

(07:40) Kids hold on to your every word

(08:40) Freddy’s leadership style

(10:05) What does Boys & Girls Clubs do?

(11:20) Strategic Merger

(14:45) What do you look for in leaders?

(16:10) Becoming a CEO at 27

(17:20) Leadership advice

(19:25) How do you manage leading as a CEO and being involved in the programs

(21:25) What is coming up in 2025?

Originally Posted: January 23, 2025