Pay it forward: #PitchPro LaShelle Williams-Franklin

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 

 

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