Black Belts & Boardrooms: How Taekwondo Helped Shelby Williams-González Become a Nonprofit CEO

Inner City Arts CEO Shelby Williams-González believes her leadership philosophy was forged on the taekwondo mat.A first-degree black belt at age 12. A silver medalist at the National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships her freshman year at UC Berkeley. A career that, until college, entailed training and competing primarily against boys and men.Shelby's never been afraid of getting kicked in the face, literally or figuratively.During this week's conversation with Bonnie, Shelby shares how martial arts and professional dance shaped the resilience, discipline, and confidence that now define her leadership as a nonprofit CEO. She reflects on a childhood where sports were a way of life, sparks a lively debate over whether dancers are athletes or artists (or both!), and explains what it feels like to be in the zone as a dancer, known as "catching the ghost."Shelby also reflects on a mental health challenge during the pandemic that crystallized the importance of staying active long after competition ends, and offers thoughtful advice for athletes who are contemplating stepping away from sports. Whether you're an athlete entering your next chapter, a nonprofit leader building resilience, or someone balancing multiple passions, this episode is a reminder that the life skills developed through sports can become the foundation for lifelong leadership.Topics covered:Shelby Williams-González, CEO of Inner City ArtsLeadership lessons from taekwondo and martial artsBecoming a black belt at age 12National Collegiate Taekwondo ChampionshipsAthlete-to-artist career transitionDefining dancers as athletes or artists"Catching the ghost" and being in the zone as a dancerNonprofit leadership and arts educationMental health, resilience, and staying activeShow Notes and Socials:Donate to Inner City Arts: https://inner-cityarts.org/donate/Inner City Arts: https://inner-cityarts.org/staff/shelby-williams-gonzalez/[email protected] Williams-González:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-williams-gonz%C3%A1lez-4490a352/@shelbywillgonzThe Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:instagram.com/BonnieBernstein  https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein     twitter.com/BonnieBernstein     https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/