Title: Owner, Chief Executive Officer
Company: Laurel Ashley Off The Rack
Location: Oakland, CA United States

Aided by her ability to connect with others, Danette Williams has experienced much success along her professional journey. She started her career in retail merchandising before transitioning into the health care arena, where she served as a registered nurse for a number of years. Seeing a need for fashionable clothes of good quality for plus-size women in the area, Ms. Williams recently went back to her roots and opened her own business, Laurel Ashley Off The Rack. Although the retailer focuses on plus-size clothing, there are also accessories and options for women of all sizes.

To prepare for her career, Ms. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing and utilized hands-on experience. She has also taken a number of business classes so that she is fully capable of running every aspect of Laurel Ashley Off The Rack. Thus far, Ms. Williams considers her greatest accomplishment to be graduating with honors while working full-time and raising her son as a single mother. She attributes her success to her ability to navigate her way through new places.

Ms. Williams is inspired by the fact that she never forgets where she came from. She grew up in a rural town with a high degree of alcoholism and teenage pregnancies, and decided to make a better life for herself. This background enables Ms. Williams to wake everyday seeing the greater purpose in her life. Looking forward, she hopes her current entrepreneurial endeavors will allow her to transition out of health care completely.

When Ms. Williams isn’t working, she enjoys hiking and photography. She also supports the missions of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, donates to her local food banks, and maintains affiliation with The International Women’s Leadership Association. In the future, Ms. Williams would like to get more into philanthropy, as helping others is her dream.

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