Williams is the President of Williams & Associates and received his B.A. and M.B.A. from UCLA. Until 1985, Mr. Williams worked as a senior executive for Sperry Corporation, where he held several positions, including Vice President for Strategic and Business Planning and Vice President and General Manager for Worldwide Operations.

Most recently, he has taught business courses in policy and strategy and consults in this area. Williams is currently on the UCLA Board of Governors and a member of the Gill Foundation's OutGiving Advisory Committee.

Williams' inaugural donation of $2.5 million to the UCLA law school to found the Williams Project on Sexual Orientation Law, is the largest donation ever given to any academic institution in support of a gay and lesbian academic program in any discipline.

Williams has been recognized by various LGBT organizations and publications. In 2002, the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association honored him with their Co-President's Award, and OUT magazine named him one of their "Out 100" in the December issue. In October 2003, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center presented Williams with its Board of Directors Award.