By Cait Anderson
Katherine Williams (promotion of 2026) understands that the business world can learn a lot of the arts, in particular by acting with pressure grace and by making you in your best in difficult circumstances.
His references? Williams’ 16-year career in dance, more recently as a soloist with the prestigious American Ballet Theater (ABT), talks about himself.
Now bringing his talents to the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Williams embodies the power of reinvention and the value of the adoption of new career opportunities.
Ballet start
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, the mixed energy and adventure of Williams’ childhood. Having grown up with three sisters, she was initiated into dance at the age of 4 to channel her abundant energy and learn discipline – particularly important for her family, because her father served in the United States Marine Corps.
Dance quickly became his passion. She found a love for tap dance and discovered her talent with ballet. From the age of 6, Williams began to build a foundation for a career in professional dance by studying at the Ballet Royale Academy where she practiced eight hours a day after school.
“I did a lot of external training,” she said. “I understood what my strengths and weaknesses have become very self -aware and have had a lot of performance in performance.”
Go to the challenges of a dance career
The Williams path to the soloist in ABT – a highly sought -after role in one of the most distinguished companies in the world – was anything but easy. With a career extending over a decade, his journey was defined by perseverance, resilience and countless hours of training. After 10 years of constant determination and intense practice in ABT, she achieved her main objective, winning a promotion in Solist in 2018.
Williams made around 2,000 shows during his 16 -year -old career. (c) Gene Schiavone.
Becoming a soloist means assuming main roles in major productions, recognized as one of the best dancers in the company for exceptional skills, a presence on stage and an emotional depth to captivate the public on a world scene. Winning this title amounts to being promoted to a senior business manager, each representing the height of success in their respective fields.
Allowing approximately 2,000 shows during the 16 -year -old career in Williams has inevitably led to physical setbacks. Williams learned that ballet is not a question of strength, but also of mental force. Overcoming injuries and constant pressure to occur at the highest level have taught its priceless lessons.
“It took a lot of grain, perseverance and self -awareness, dealing with failures and setbacks, and learn to come back stronger.”
Katherine Williams
One of these injuries put Williams on his way to Darden.
After tearing off his patellar tendon during a performance and undergoing a nine -month recovery, Williams found himself thinking about his career and what could come. “I said to myself, Wow, I don’t fail to be on stage. What does that mean? ” She explained. “He sort of turned the wheels.”
A second act: enter the business world
By looking for advice, Williams turned to his mentor Kara Barnett, the executive director of Abt and a graduate of the Harvard Business School, who helped her start her diligent research. “I looked for all the dancers I knew who had gone to the MBA programs, I did a lot of networking, then I decided the following year, ok, I think I’m ready to retire, ready to move on,” she said.
Although making the jump to get into a new trip can be intimidating, the Darden community warmly welcomed Williams. The school immediately felt at home.
“Darden was just the best,” she recalls. “After obtaining my acceptance, I was tense by so many people in the Darden community. It was simply overwhelming, the little welcome box, so many beautiful personal touches, and it was just like the right fit. ”
Williams going to life in Darden.
Williams obtained a summer internship with Davita, a kidney care and dialysis company that will bring it through a rigorous leadership development program. She hopes to receive a return offer to finally become an administrator of establishments carrying out a team of nurses and nephrologists to improve clinical operations.
While creating his way to a business career, Williams remains passionate about the arts and aspires to stay connected to the arts community in the future. To start, she hopes to start by joining the board of directors of an organization.
“I think it would be a great way to restore,” she said. “I know that artists need a lot of support.”
The final curtain: Advice to adopt the change
Although Williams thinks that she “started her studies to such a deficit”, she relied on the right resources and trusted the persistence she had developed in her dance career to quickly adapt to the academic rigor of Darden.
His advice to future Darden students from unconventional environments?
“Trust yourself. Even if you think you know nothing, work ethics will really wear you, very far. ”