27 Feb Embracing Disruption and Authentic Leadership
Marisa Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts River Valleys, joins the Menttium Matters podcast to discuss embracing disruption and authentic leadership. From grassroots activism at 11 years old to leading transformative cultural change within organizations, Marisa shares how leaders can challenge the status quo, embrace failure and drive meaningful impact.
Authentic Leadership: Leading with Purpose and Passion
Marisa defines authentic leadership as bringing your full self to your role. This means:
- Staying true to your values and experiences
- Accepting failure as an essential part of growth
- Challenging outdated norms to create positive change
Her leadership journey began when she organized a movement in middle school to address the lack of Black History Month recognition. This experience shaped her disruptor mindset, which she now applies in her leadership at Girl Scouts River Valleys.
Embracing Disruption for Positive Change
Marisa believes disruption isn’t about breaking things—it’s about leaving places better than you found them. She draws inspiration from Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, who challenged societal norms in 1912 by teaching girls survival skills, leadership and self-reliance before they even had the right to vote.
Today, Marisa is ensuring that Girl Scouts remain a force for courage, confidence and character, far beyond just cookies and crafts.
How to Manage Change with Clarity and Confidence
Change is inevitable, but great leaders know how to navigate it. Marisa shares her key strategies for managing change effectively:
- Surround yourself with aligned people who support and challenge you
- Fail fast and learn quickly—see failures as lessons, not roadblocks
- Practice clarity is kindness—being direct eliminates confusion and builds trust
After moving to Minnesota, she had to adapt her leadership approach. She learned that clear, repeated communication is essential to ensure alignment, especially in new cultural environments.
Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
Marisa believes that young leaders need to be heard. She encourages asking the right questions instead of making assumptions. Referencing The Anxious Generation, she stresses the importance of understanding what today’s youth truly need to feel supported and empowered.
Her vision for Girl Scouts is bold: transforming it from a cookie-selling organization into a leadership incubator for future change-makers.
Balancing Work and Life: The Glass Ball Analogy
Marisa rejects the myth of work-life balance and instead prioritizes what truly matters using her glass ball analogy:
- Glass balls (must never drop): Herself, her son, and her husband
- Rubber balls (can bounce back): Work, emails and other commitments
She emphasizes that rest is a requirement, not a reward—a lesson she actively teaches young girls to prevent burnout and foster well-being.
Advice for Emerging Leaders: Disrupt and Empower
Marisa shares two critical lessons for aspiring leaders:
- Pour from an overflowing cup—give from your surplus, not at your own expense
- Ask for help—seeking support is a strength, not a weakness
She closes with her favorite quote from Toni Morrison:
“If you are free, you need to free someone else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
Conclusion: The Power of Embracing Disruption and Authentic Leadership
Marisa Williams demonstrates that embracing disruption and authentic leadership can create lasting impact. By leading with clarity, courage, and purpose, she continues to empower the next generation of leaders.
About Marisa Williams
Marisa Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts River Valleys, where she leads efforts to empower young girls through leadership development, advocacy and community engagement. A disruptor for good, Marisa is passionate about embracing disruption and authentic leadership to drive cultural transformation within organizations. Through her leadership, she is redefining the mission of Girl Scouts, ensuring that the organization remains a powerful force in preparing young girls for college, career and life success.