Williams joined the Tippie College of Business and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Center from Cornell University. She researches how people build social relationships that facilitate cooperation and performance in entrepreneurial, corporate and family firms. Williams mentors and researches the relational side of new ventures. She focuses broadly on early stage startups, student accelerators, and women-owned businesses. Her work on women-owned businesses is published in the Journal of Business Venturing and was featured on the PBS program “To the Contrary.” Williams has consulted on effective relationship development for public and private organizations such as Booz•Allen & Hamilton and Massachusetts General Hospital. She is co-author of the Four Capabilities Assessment—a 360° assessment used by organizations to enhance the leadership abilities of high potential managers.