Staff Highlight: Lana Williams

Lana Williams recently joined Two Ten as our new Education Program Manager, where she leads education grant initiatives, including scholarships and upskilling programs that expand economic mobility in the footwear industry.  

We sat down with Lana to hear more about her background, what drew her to Two Ten, and what she is most looking forward to in her new role.  

Q: Can you share a bit about your background and the path that led you to Two Ten? 

A: In grad school, I took a class called Making a Difference. It was a required class at the beginning of my program, and I thought it would be an easy class, but it truly challenged me to think critically about the nonprofit world’s impact on society and all the things that are possible through social impact work. I learned that societal change can’t happen in a vacuum and lasting impact is made through collaboration.  I am passionate about fostering inclusion and upward mobility by forging partnerships between nonprofit organizations and their corporate counterparts, which is exactly what we’re doing here with the Education programs at Two Ten. This helps us empower individuals working in the footwear industry and strengthen the sector overall.  

Q: What about Two Ten's mission resonated most with you? 

A: Two Ten was founded to uplift and strengthen a community, and here we are nearly 100 years later and it’s still the guiding principle of the organization. Now more than ever, we need to support one another and the best way to do that is by rooting ourselves in our various communities to care and enrich each other to the best of our ability. By helping when a community member is facing a hardship, a disaster, or looking to grow in their career, Two Ten is impacting and modeling true dedication to a community. 

Q: As you step into this new role, what are you most excited to learn or experience? 

A: I am so excited for all of the possibilities that we can do as an Education team to expand the impact of our scholarships and grants program. There are so many ways for us to think creatively and model inclusive programming and opportunities that ensure that no one gets left behind and that everyone who is a community member can not only grow within the field but also better the lives of themselves and their families.  

Q: What does meaningful work look like to you, and how do you see that showing up in this role? 

A: I strive to leave the world a bit better than I found it, so I’ve dedicated my career to doing just that. If I can make a difference in the life of at least one person and help someone else, then I think my work is meaningful. By providing opportunities to encourage individuals to follow their dreams and creating educational opportunities for folks to further their career through upskilling, I think I am in turn making a difference in their lives. I choose to believe that the scholarship or grant that they receive from Two Ten helps them continue the path to success and that I am making a positive impact. 

Q: Outside of work, how do you enjoy spending your time? 

A: I am an avid traveler and love to experience the world through arts and culture. If I’m not exploring a new locale, you can find me checking out a new restaurant in the DC area, which I am proud to call home, or cuddled up on my couch with my dog and a good book.  

Q: What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned about the shoe industry so far? 

A: I don’t think I knew how truly vast the shoe industry is. There are so many intricate parts and pieces to design, craftmanship, and the physical creation of each pair of shoes. There are so many people who are involved in the creation of something that we just tend to throw on to walk the dog or use to jazz up an outfit. Now, when I’m picking out my shoes, I think about all of the folks who were involved to get me the perfect pair, rather than just thinking about if Carrie Bradshaw, my favorite shoe fiend, would like the shoes I’m wearing.  

Learn more about our scholarship program and upskilling and development programs for the footwear community.