Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Freddie Mac; McLean, VA
Children: Chloe, 19; Charity, 16 ♦ Husband: Charlie Williams, Jr.

Why We Love Her
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who enjoys her work more than Tujuanna. She travels the country speaking at diversity and inclusion events to educate professionals and others about the importance of fairness and equal treatment in the workplace. She tells us, “I’m invigorated by the rewards of seeing people look at things in a different way and have opportunities they didn’t even know existed.” Her compassion extends beyond the office: She raised more than $2,500 participating in the Avon Walk for Breast cancer in memory of her grandmother and aunt, who succumbed to the disease, and her mother, who’s a cancer survivor.

Q: What’s your best advice for a new mom returning to work?

A: My best advice for a new mother returning to work is not to feel guilty about leaving the baby. Enjoy the camaraderie of your colleagues and the company of adults. Give yourself fully to your work while at work contributing to the success of the organization. When your day has ended in the office leave your work physically and mentally there and begin to anticipate the joy of seeing your new bundle once you arrive at home. You will feel so accomplished as a new mother to know that you are your very best for your baby and you are also successful outside of the home. Although I can honestly say this took a while for me to figure out, it really is the answer.

Q: What’s your best tip for keeping your home life running smoothly?

A: My best tip for keeping my home life running smoothly is to live by a “wall calendar” — if it is not on the calendar it does not exist. Travel schedules, banquets, vacations, meetings, late days at school are all on a master calendar that we as a family review every Sunday evening to ensure that we all know the plan for the week ahead.

Q: What does balance mean to you?

A: Balance means maintaining a healthy temperament as I execute. It also means that you can’t do everything. Doing things that are important to me, like spending quality time with family, friends, church and serving others is very important to my well being. I spend my life sharing that joy with others.