Anthony M. Williams, DBA ’25, graduated with a specialization in International Business. He is a business strategist, international entrepreneur, and educator with over two decades of leadership in both ministry and the marketplace. He is the founder of SuiteInc. and serves as a professor of entrepreneurship and strategy, equipping leaders to align purpose with performance. 

Could you tell us a little bit about your professional background? 

I have been in very interesting business and management spaces for some time now through my roles as an Entrepreneur, Business Strategist, and Educator. I’ve always been around innovators, thinkers, and business owners, and because of that, many people would lean into my strategic counsel on the state of their business affairs in relation to economic conditions, seeking direction on how to maneuver effectively. They also turned to me for insights into the entrepreneurial and educational landscapes, especially on which areas of study could lead to in-demand careers; guidance informed by my years in talent acquisition for a Fortune 500 firm. 

I bring years of leadership and management experience from overseeing programs that directly impacted a population of over 100,000 residents across 17 municipalities in the Chicago suburbs. These initiatives focused on business development, education, and workforce readiness, in partnership with local school districts, business leaders, and state elected officials. My work influenced funding decisions and shaped policy direction by consistently demonstrating measurable community impact. 

In 2009, I started my own company, where I advised individuals in their life, education, and workforce development pursuits. Over time, I expanded into entrepreneurial programs that helped aspiring business owners launch and sustain ventures. Those combined experiences contributed to me building my own enterprise as an independent consultant and pursuing further education in business administration. 

How did you choose Walden University for your Doctor of Business Administration degree? 

When I decided to pursue my doctorate, my first task was finding an institution that aligned with both my purpose and my professional goals. I wanted an environment that was rigorous but not intimidating, one that pushed me to grow while offering a sense of inclusion. I researched many programs, and Walden met all of my criteria. As a complement to my heritage, I learned that Walden University conferred a large number of doctorate degrees for African American students (https://www.waldenu.edu/online-doctoral-programs/resource/what-statistics-tell-us-about-doctoral-degrees-today), which reinforced the value I place on access and representation. The program was challenging, diverse in scope, and offered the international business specialization I was seeking. I had already been engaged in philanthropic and global opportunities, and the coursework helped bring those activities full circle. The scholarship I gained at Walden broadened my perspective and equipped me to navigate international contexts with greater clarity and confidence.  

Tell us about your job search for a new higher ed teaching position. 

I held some adjunct teaching roles before acquiring my doctorate degree, with most of the opportunities being in the Chicagoland area; they were fantastic opportunities to work with undergraduate students in business, entrepreneurship, and marketing concentrations. However, when I started my job search, I hit a brick wall; I couldn’t seem to secure full-time or more adjunct opportunities, and I couldn’t quite figure out why that was.  

I spent several years recruiting talent for Accenture LLP within their commercial and federal practices.  Working for such an amazing company, one would think I had it figured out, but I knew I wanted more out of life. I wanted to make an even greater impact. In that time, though very early in my career, I had worked for some amazing companies, and I gained great experience – overall, an outstanding background and an amazing portfolio.  I had put together reels and syllabi, and I wrote a teaching philosophy.  Still, I couldn’t figure out why my approach wasn’t working, until I had an opportunity to connect with Walden’s Career Planning and Development team. That conversation became a turning point. Their guidance helped me reframe my resume and highlight my experience in ways that opened doors, directly leading to the opportunity I have today.  

The advice and counsel that I received on the career advising call helped me strategically position my achievements and experiences on my resume.  I thought about their importance and understood where they needed to be to attract attention. Those were things I hadn’t thought about at all; I had just haphazardly been putting my resume out there without a strategic approach.  

What I learned is that no matter where you are in your profession, amateur through seasoned, do not think for one moment that you have it all figured out, because just like I had to realize, there are resources that will cause you to take off your lens and provide insights and a greater perspective. I took advantage of Career Planning and Development’s offerings available to all Walden students and alumni. That decision led directly to my recent higher ed teaching opportunity, where I now teach entrepreneurship and mentor students in strategy, innovation, and new venture development.  

What approach did you use when looking for higher ed teaching positions? 

I’m a proponent of LinkedIn; I love LinkedIn! Not only was I looking for higher ed teaching opportunities on LinkedIn, but I was also looking at each university’s activity.  Specifically, I’m looking for community engagement, I’m looking for highlights of professors, and I’m looking at different reports and news outlets with impacts that these universities are making regionally or nationally. I wanted to align myself with an opportunity at an institution that aligns with my goals, values, and philosophies. Now, obviously, it’s hard to check off all the boxes, but 3 out of 5 is a good number rather than 1 or 2 out of 5.  That essentially was my methodology in making sure that I align with an institution that complements my values.  

What advice would you give to anyone looking for jobs in higher education? 

I would say their best resource is their networks. I know that’s cliché and people say that all the time, but it really is true. When my career advisor evaluated my resume, she looked at it and said that I had an amazing background. She asked if I have ever thought about talking to some people in my network about what it is that I want to do. That was such a light bulb moment. When we’re searching for work or searching for any opportunity, we are often in such a place of anxiety. We don’t know what’s next, we’re in a place of confusion, and we’re not thinking that our first point of contact and connection could be those around us.  

Because of this advice, I was able to go back to my networks and say, can you give your perspective to someone who’s not in the industry? With the advice and counsel that I received from Walden, in addition to the feedback I received from my networks, I was able to put all of the pieces together and land this amazing opportunity, teaching full-time in a graduate school of business that I could never imagine, here in sunny southwest Florida, 1,299 miles away from where I grew up in the Midwest.  

The Career Planning and Development department thanks Dr. Anthony Williams for sharing his motivational story! 

Resources: 

Career Planning and Development website 
Resumes & More resources 
Interviewing resources 
Career Hubs 
Schedule a Career Advising Appointment 
Webinar (on demand): Landing Your First Higher Ed Teaching Opportunity 

Interview contributed by Walden University graduate Anthony Williams, DBA ’25. 

Edited by Alison Fahy, Specialist, Department of Career Planning and Development, and Dina Bergren, Manager, Career Planning and Development