Pitch Live with Amy Summers

Pay it forward: #PitchPro LaShelle Williams-Franklin

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This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features LaShelle Williams-Franklin, a powerhouse attorney, changemaker, and co-founder and CEO of the Williams-Franklin Foundation, an award-winning nonprofit that has raised nearly $1 million to support students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) facing financial hardship. A proud Howard University alumna and recipient of the Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the Williams-Franklin Foundation, LaShelle brings a powerful blend of legal expertise, business acumen, and a deep commitment to social impact. Together with her husband, Dwight Franklin, whom she met at Howard, she co-founded the foundation to do more than just fund education. Their mission is to build futures by providing scholarships, mentorship, and professional networking opportunities that help HBCU students graduate debt-free and step confidently into leadership roles.

 

Key pitching takeaways from LaShelle Williams-Franklin on this episode of “Pitch Live”:

  • Always find ways to pay it forward.
  • Build a circle of people who share your passion.
  • Do your homework before pitching — know your audience and why they matter.
  • Turn every “no” into a chance to learn and pivot. 
  • Stay aware, but don’t let distractions or doubt pull you off mission.
  • Keep mentorship simple — check in with a quick text or 15-minute chat.

    • Join Amy Summers for #PitchLive with #PitchPro LaShelle Williams-Franklin to access LaShelle’s pitching strategies and success stories that prove the power of #ThePitch ☎️🤩

     

    Connect: 

    Follow and connect with Amy Summers:

    Instagram | Bluesky | TikTok | Facebook: @amysummersnyc 

    X: @PitchAmy 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysummersnyc 

     

    Follow and connect with Williams-Franklin Foundation: 

    Instagram | X: @WFFScholarship

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wmsfranklinfoundation 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wffscholarship 

    Website: www.wmsfranklinfoundation.org 

     

    Follow and connect with Pitch Publicity #PitchStars 

    Instagram and LinkedIn @pitchpublicity 

     

    Follow and connect with #INICIVOX for #VirtualMentorship 

    Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn: @INICIVOX

    Website: www.INICIVOX.com 

     

    Be sure to hit that subscribe button and give us a rating or review. Your feedback helps us plan future episodes. As a bonus, join us at www.INICIVOX.com where you can get motivated, hone your communication skills and binge as much mentorship as you want, whenever you need it.

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    Pitch Live with Amy SummersBy Amy Summers