Precious L. Williams: The Killer Pitch Master Who Slays Every Stage

Precious L. Williams grew up being told she was worthless and feeling unwanted. But even as a little girl in St. Louis, she knew she was destined for more. Her grandmother is a big part of her life as the first person to believe in her. Today, she is a 13-time national pitch champion, a five-time bestselling author, and the founder of Perfect Pitch Group. Known as the Killer Pitch Master, Precious has made it her mission to teach others how to own their stories. Her journey is raw, real, and electrifying proof that no matter where you start, you can write your own ending and master any stage. 

1. How did your childhood shape you into the person you are today?

As hard as it was, my childhood shaped everything about who I am. Imagine growing up with a mother who told me every day she wished I was never born. A father who was addicted to drugs. Being the ‘ugly’ sister in a family that wanted nothing to do with me. Yet there was always this voice inside me that whispered: ‘I’m a star. They just can’t see it yet.’

At five years old, I knew I was going to host a talk show. I knew I’d be on billboards in Times Square. I knew all of these things, even though I was in the inner city, the hood, the ghetto, whatever you want to call it. I held onto that vision because it was the only thing that made sense in a world that kept telling me I was nothing. When your own parents don’t want you, it scars you deeply. But in my case, it didn’t just scar me; it made me hungry.

Everything they said I couldn’t do, I did. I’ve been an actress, a talk show host, a speaker, appeared in documentaries and films, and spoken on some of the world’s biggest stages. At 46, I’m proud that I never gave up. And so, do I have a relationship with my parents today? Yes, we’re growing a relationship, but it’s not lost on me that their limitations had no limits on me.

2. At what point did you discover that public speaking and storytelling are your true calling?

I discovered my gift through pain. When I was 12, my mother beat me so badly, they pulled me out of her custody, and I went to live with my drug-addicted father. It was one of the darkest periods of my life. But then, when I was 15, my grandparents took me in. I didn’t want to go at first, but it was the best decision of my life. The first time I stepped into their home, I didn’t have to worry about food, love, or being seen. My grandmother told me, “When you speak, people listen. That’s how you’re going to make your money. Oprah’s going to know your name.”

At 16, my high school principal asked me to speak at an event in front of the mayor of St. Louis. I was young and did not understand the gravity of this request and how it would shape my life for years to come. My teacher wrote my speech. I stepped up to the podium, opened my folder, and instantly felt something click inside me. I knew exactly what to say. I got a standing ovation.

From there, it snowballed. I started speaking at political events, fundraisers, and other big gatherings. I’m 46 now. For 30 years, speaking has been the one constant in my life. I’m a five-time #1 bestselling author. I’ve had three billboards in Times Square. And I’m living the life I dreamed of as that little girl. Back then, I didn’t know you could make money speaking, especially if you were a Black girl from the hood. But here I am, running a global business as the Killer Pitch Master, and there’s no ceiling in sight.

3. What’s one mistake most people make when trying to differentiate their brand?

The biggest mistake brands make is in trying to look, sound, and act like someone else. I grew up at a time when if you didn’t have the right tennis shoes, Nikes, for example, you weren’t considered anything. I never had Nikes. My clothes were from J.C. Penney. And yet, nobody teased me. Why? Because I knew who I was.

When people told me I was too fat, too Black, with no Ivy League degree, I said: “That’s what you need to succeed. I’m about to wipe the floor with y’all.”

That’s exactly what I did. I’m a 13-time national pitch champion. I slayed on Shark Tank Season 8–I’m not confused about who I am. I’m a tall, curvy Black woman with a Midwestern accent. And like Visa, I’m everywhere you want to be. If you want to look and sound like everybody else, go ahead. You’ll be average, random, and ordinary. I dare to be extraordinary, and I’ll go toe-to-toe with anybody on any stage.

4. How do you tailor your pitches for different audiences?

Pitching is not one-size-fits-all. There are six types of pitches: elevator, media, investor, sales, speaker, and interview pitches. Each one demands a different approach.

When I’m pitching to investors, there’s no fluff. They want numbers and the story behind those numbers. When I’m pitching the media, it’s all about personality and what makes me different. I remember telling journalists: “Have you ever met a full-figured diva taking the business world by storm? Well, now you have.”

I teach students how to craft stories that make them the only choice that matters. I’ve been through things that would break most people– homelessness, psych wards, losing the love of my life– but I kept going. I tell young women: “There’ll be people telling you no, don’t you ever tell yourself no. Your purpose is waiting on the other side of those.”

I wanted to succeed like my next breath, and I had something to prove; not just to my parents, but to myself and to God, who created me for a purpose.

5. What’s the best pitch you’ve ever heard (not your own) and why did it stick with you?

There was a man named Paulo who stood up and said, “I’m a firefighter. I fight for families’ dreams.” when he sold insurance. Not exactly the most exciting topic. But the way he pitched it? He said, “I don’t run into burning buildings. I save families financially.”  He painted such a powerful picture that even I, the Killer Pitch Master, was blown away.

Afterward, I told him: “You just blew me away, Paulo.’”He smiled and said, “I know I’m that good.” And I loved that confidence. Boring speakers is a crime I never committed, and neither did he that day.

6. You’ve empowered thousands of women to own their voice. What advice do you have for women who feel overlooked or underestimated?

My advice is simple: find yourself a network of kings and queens who remind you who you really are. Your network doesn’t have to be huge. Sometimes it’s five people who each hold you up in different ways. And if people don’t bring respect to the table—exit stage left. And don’t show up trying to sound like everyone else. I walk into rooms like Miley Cyrus: on a wrecking ball, and corporations love it because I’m not boring. You don’t have to come from money. You can build it. I built it, and I’m still hungry.

7. What invisible parts of your business or story deserve more visibility?

People see me slaying stages and think that’s all there is. But behind the Perfect Pitch Group is my soul, and a community that saved me more than once. I’ve been homeless, in psych wards, battling addiction. My friends showed up every day. That’s invisible work people never see. My network has made me the Rolls-Royce of my industry. But they didn’t know how to help me until I told them who I really am and who I serve. Business isn’t just money; it should have heart. And I’ve built my empire by being real, authentic, and unapologetic.

8. What does confidence mean to you today?

Confidence is showing up and showing out. It’s knowing who you are, and teaching people how to say your name and how you want to be addressed. In my 20s, confidence was ‘fake it till you make it.’ Now? People have seen me with makeup and without makeup. And guess what? They’re all me.

If you can only like me when I’m all dolled up, you don’t deserve me as a friend, or as a client. Confidence comes from repetition. From doing things, even if you’re scared. It doesn’t have to be a massive action. Sometimes it’s just putting one foot in front of the other. And remember this: You might hear 120 no’s before you hear that one yes. But once you get that yes? You won’t even remember the no’s.

9. Who were your mentors, and how has that shaped how you mentor others?

My grandmother is my first and biggest inspiration. She’s been gone for 25 years, but I still hear her voice telling me: “When you speak, people listen.” I’ve had amazing mentors, Barbara Washington, Cate Luzio, Ingrid Vandervelt, and so many others. They saw something in me even when I couldn’t see it in myself.

Everyone counted me out. But GOD whispered to me: “Your second chapter will be better than your first.” Today, my clients include Verizon, BMW, Blackstone; and I’m Black on both sides. No Brazilian butt lift. No six-pack abs. I got it out of the mud. And I’m proud of that. So when I mentor others, I push them. I pull them forward. Because somebody did that for me.

10. What’s the one lesson you teach your mentees that you learned the hard way?

Dream big, and ask bigger. Most people keep their dreams small because they’re afraid of rejection. I teach my mentees to ask bigger of themselves and their networks. And if respect leaves the table, exit the stage. I tell them to bring other women forward. 

Not everyone is ready for certain rooms. But when they are, pull them in. I’m the Killer Pitch Master. The atmosphere-shifter. The rain-making speaker. The G.O.A.T. Precious L. Williams, founder and CEO of the Perfect Pitch Group. We teach you how to make it rain and slay the game. Period.

11. How do you unwind after high-energy events?

After big events, I eat well with my friends, then I disappear. I go back to my hotel, close the curtains, turn off my phone, and just breathe. I binge watch makeup declutter videos, especially eyeshadow palettes. I love watching true crime. And I write poetry. I need quiet to refill my cup. The stage is electric, but offstage, I’m quiet.

12. If you weren’t the Killer Pitch Master, what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t the Killer Pitch Master, I’d probably work in a museum, surrounded by art—paintings, sculptures, oil on canvas. I’d be around creativity, things that start in someone’s mind and come alive. That’s what fuels me.

Precious L. Williams turned wounds into wisdom and silence into a booming voice that commands any stage. She’s built an empire on authenticity, power, and unapologetic presence. Her message is simple yet radical:

“Dare to be extraordinary. Show up and show out. And remember—if they don’t know your name yet, they will.”