Cynthia Williams

About Cynthia Williams

I am a former CEO and public company board director with more than 20 years of experience scaling global consumer and technology businesses. I have held P&L leadership of $1B+ enterprises across Amazon, Microsoft, Wizards of the Coast, and Funko. I am open to board opportunities.I have driven business impact at the intersection of operational rigor and brand complexity — scaling Fulfillment by Amazon to serve entrepreneurs globally, leading iconic IP-driven franchises to billion-dollar milestones, and restructuring a globally recognized consumer products company for long-term supply chain resilience. I hold a US patent in fulfillment network operations.I am passionate about how to govern responsible AI in creative and IP-driven businesses — where the stakes for brand trust and franchise value are high and where governance frameworks must be both rigorous and commercially informed. I built this type of framework inside a global gaming and entertainment company and believe this will be a defining question for boards.Some of my proven capabilities include: Scaling complex global businesses with hands-on P&L accountability — $1B+ enterprises across consumer products, gaming, and digital platforms. Establishing governance frameworks for responsible AI experimentation within a global IP-led organization — brand alignment, IP protection, and disciplined innovation at scale. Restructuring supply chains for resilience — reducing China-based production from ~30% to under 5% and diversifying across Southeast Asia ahead of broader market disruption. Building and governing IP-driven businesses where products customers love, creative integrity, and commercial performance must be held in balance. Serving as a public company board director — Compensation Committee Chair and member of Audit and Nominating & Governance Committees, Aterian (NASDAQ: ATER). Partnering with boards on strategy, capital allocation, governance, and leadership performance — from both sides of the table, as CEO and as director.

Experience

1. Executive Advisor

   Mana Up

   Jan 2018 — Present · HI, US

   Provide guidance on organizational scale, leadership development, and go-to-market strategy for mission-driven Hawaii-based founders scaling to global markets.

Education

• University of Oxford

  Economics

  1994 — 1994

• Wake Forest University

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), Strategy and Finance

  1993 — 1995