Feminist Legal Scholar & Director at Center for WorkLife Law; Author of "Bias Interrupted" & "Outclassed"

San Francisco, CA, USA

Joan C. Williams Biography

Joan C. Williams is a Distinguished Professor of Law (Emerita) at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco, where she also serves as the Director of the Center for WorkLife Law. With a focus on combating discrimination and promoting equality, Williams founded the Equality Action Center in 2024 and WorkLife Law in 1998. Her contributions to the legal profession and work-family field are recognized in her receipt of multiple awards, including the Myers Outstanding Book Award in 2001 and an honorary degree from the University of Utrecht in 2017.

Williams' scope of work extends beyond academia to encompass practical interventions in corporate settings. In 2014, she introduced "bias interrupters," a data-driven approach to interrupting bias in organizations. This concept is further expanded in her book "Bias Interrupted: Creating Inclusion for Real and for Good," which seamlessly merges evidence-based research with actionable advice. Her proficiency in this field is validated by the widespread viewership of her TED talk, "Why corporate diversity programs fail -- and how small tweaks can have big impact," which boasts over 1.3 million views.

An influential author, Williams has penned several books that address various aspects of work, family, and class dynamics. Titles such as "White Working Class: Overcoming Class Cluelessness in America" and "What Works for Women at Work: Four Patterns Working Women Need to Know" offer insights into the unique challenges faced by different societal groups. Her book, "Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back," was published in 2025. Williams' expertise and perspectives have been sought internationally, as seen in her feature on the Korean public television documentary, “A Conversation with Joan Williams,” discussing South Korea's low fertility rate.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/27/2025.

Joan C. Williams Videos

Why the Left Lost Working-Class Voters | Joan Williams | Capitalisn’t

Why the Left Lost Working-Class Voters | Joan Williams | Capitalisn’t

What really drives the culture wars? In this clip, UC Law San Francisco professor Joan Williams explains how class conditions shape values,...

Why corporate diversity programs fail -- and how small tweaks can have big impact | Joan C. Williams

Why corporate diversity programs fail -- and how small tweaks can have big impact | Joan C. Williams

Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Companies in...

Disrupt the Course of American Politics | Joan C. Williams ...

Disrupt the Course of American Politics | Joan C. Williams ...

Social class expert Joan Williams reveals what is most misunderstood about the U.S. working class and what steps need to be taken to make ...

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  • What topics does Joan C. Williams speak about?

    Joan C. Williams is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Bestselling Authors, Education, Feminism, Government, Law, Women
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Joan C. Williams is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Joan C. Williams for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Joan C. Williams generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Fawzia Koofi, Elisabeth Ovesen, Katie Novak, Rebecca Bratspies and Jasmine L. Harris. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Joan C. Williams for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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