AI Technologist. Award-Winning Storyteller. Systems Architect.
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Shirley Williams-Toney is an award-winning storyteller, AI technologist, and systems architect operating at the intersection of media, technology, and cultural impact. With more than 15 years of experience across film, television, branded content, and digital media, she has shipped work inside complex organizations for brands including AT&T, Microsoft, Dentsu, Kroger, Buick, Vice, Refinery29, and Condé Nast — generating over 100 million global views.
She is the founder of Willie B. Studios, a premium content studio of the future, designing serialized stories that shape behavior, culture, and identity. She is also the co-founder of AI & The Culture, a 450+ member community of Black & Brown technologists, innovators, and entrepreneurs — bringing the knowledge of artificial intelligence and cutting-edge tools to a thriving, forward-moving community.
Through this platform, Shirley has hosted live AI workshops in partnership with organizations like Salesforce and Dow Jones, facilitated more than 700 cohort seats across in-person and virtual trainings, and taught applied AI to founders, operators, engineers, students, executives, and brand teams.
Her work includes building and deploying custom tools for storytelling, workflow optimization, and decision support — reducing internal productivity waste by approximately 60% through AI-enabled systems and narrative alignment.