William White on Steadiness as Your Foundation

What I’ve Learned

For Walmart CMO William White, reinforcing his foundation as a leader has come less from dramatic turning points and more from how he handled pressure in everyday moments.

Early in his career, he thought leaders had to always have the “right answer.” Over time, he realized what mattered most wasn’t perfection—it was steadiness. That shift reframed how William saw himself as a leader. 

“Leadership isn’t about being flawless. It’s about showing up with steadiness people can trust.”

How I’ve Sharpened

William has reinforced that foundation through simple but deliberate habits:

• Align words and actions. He learned credibility comes not from volume but from follow-through. “Trust is built in the smallest moments when people see you do what you said you’d do.”
• Stay grounded under pressure. In tense moments of uncertainty, he centers himself first so he can bring calm and steadiness to the room or situation. “There are a lot of moments where the heat has been turned up and staying even keel has kind of been my sweet spot. Maybe that comes from running marathons where you can’t let yourself get too hot—you’ve got to grind it out.”
• Listen with humility. He reinforced his foundation by realizing he doesn’t need to have every answer, but rather he needs to seek out the right ones.
• Lead with gratitude. He makes recognition a discipline, reinforcing his values by reminding people that their work matters.
• Return to core values. He regularly grounds decisions in the principles that matter most to him, ensuring he leads authentically.

Why It Matters

William’s story reminds us that the strongest foundations are not built all at once. They are reinforced again and again in how you show up every day. Because showing up with clarity and consistency no matter what's going on around you is the key to having a strong foundation and building trust.

“The steadier you are, the steadier your team becomes. That steadiness is the foundation of leadership.”

About William White

William White is Chief Marketing Officer of Walmart U.S. With senior leadership experience at Coca-Cola and Target, he has built his foundation as a leader through consistency, trust, and clarity. He is recognized for showing up with steadiness in uncertain times and for reinforcing leadership through values and presence.