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Name:
Phillip Williams
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Residence:
Cheverly, Maryland
Graduation Year:
1993
Majors:
Communication/Theatre Arts and Political Science
Why did you choose SJC?
I had originally thought about attending a large
university to play football, but a recruiter from SJC excited me by talking
about some of the opportunities available there. He said, "If you enjoyed
your high school experience, then Saint Joseph's College could help you
build on that and provide you the individual attention needed as a student
and athlete." I wanted to be more than a social security number or a number
on the field, and I felt SJC could be the place where I could play football,
receive a good education, and begin building my career. As a student, what were you involved in?
I was a four-year letterman in football and track,
D.J. for WPUM, the campus's radio station, produced some of the commercials
that aired on TV-6, the campus's television station, and served as a student
worker for one of my professors. I also worked in the College's recreation
center and was involved in many talent and entertainment shows. What are you doing now?
I'm the Executive Producer for BET.com, the number
one African-American Web site in the United States. I manage the overall
creative vision for the site and act as one of the producers for the BET
network show "BET.com Countdown." I also manage all interactive programming
for all BET shows such as "Rap City," "Spring Bling," and "106 and Park."
A big part of day-to-day duties include managing BET's creative team, meeting
with internal and external clients, and setting production timelines. I
also give motivational talks for youth groups, athletic teams, and students
at high schools, colleges, and universities. One of my talks is called,
"Every Day is Game Day," which compares life to an athletic game and is
based on my professional and athletic experiences. I always say, "Sometimes
you're playing and sometimes you're not, and in life, that's not determined
by a coach. Either you're playing to win at work or school, or you're sitting
on the bench watching other people play. I never liked the bench, so I'm
always playing to win, whether it's at checkers, the stock market, or work.
I play to win. I deserve to win." Before coming to BET.com, I spent three years as a Project Manager at CBS.com and as a Page Assistant at NBC Television, where I worked for the station's Executive Vice President, Tom Rogers. I received my first job as a Production Assistant at FOX News Chicago two weeks after graduating from SJC.
How did SJC prepare you for the "real world"?
More than anything, SJC taught me a special form
of thinking. It took me a minute to learn and understand some of the things
that were being taught to me, but I realized that there is a system to everything,
and once you understand it, it's easy to correct it, work, and find a way
for it to work for you. My instructors in the Core Program showed me that
even though I needed to have a plan, I also needed to be flexible. My career
path is truly an example of what can happen when you're flexible and determined.
Saint Joseph's College was also a small reflection of the real world for me. I'm going to be a minority wherever I go, and I knew that if I could make it at SJC, I could make it anywhere. I was able to play football and run track for four years and become a DJ. I always thought that if I was able to do that at SJC, why couldn't I try and do it on a larger scale? Graduating from SJC was a small step toward my big dreams.
I wear my college class ring every day, and it's a constant reminder of where I came from and the sacrifices my family and I made to get it. With every step I make, I bring my education and experiences with me.
