Meet
Katie Williams:
Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Ideal Living
Breaking Barriers: Katie Williams’ Rise to Marketing Greatness
“My parents taught me about social consciousness from a very early age and instilled values that guide me to this day.”
— Katie Williams
Early Boldness
What compelled Katie Williams to hop on her bike and become the first girl in her upstate New York hometown to have a paper route? Probably the same reason she cycled all the way to Nova Scotia at 17 and braved two weeks of snowshoeing in the Adirondack Mountains in subzero temperatures. Adventurous and values-driven, Katie’s early choices foreshadowed a life defined by curiosity, resilience, and a desire to make an impact.
“My parents taught me about social consciousness from a very early age and instilled values that guide me to this day.”
— Katie Williams
Education & Entrepreneurial Drive
Katie graduated from Cornell University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and jumped into direct response marketing soon after. By 1987, she had founded Williams Television Time, Inc., becoming the first woman to own a direct-to-consumer TV marketing agency. Just five years later, she launched Williams Worldwide Television, which quickly grew into the largest women-owned business in Los Angeles. What set Katie apart was her ability to blend storytelling with sharp marketing instincts—connecting products with audiences in ways that felt authentic and engaging.
Career Achievements & Mentorship
Over the course of her career, Katie helped build multiple products into $100+ million successes. Her work earned her numerous accolades, including induction into the Direct Response Hall of Fame and the Electronic Retailing Lifetime Achievement Award. Yet, what she values most isn’t the awards—it’s the mentorship. Katie has guided countless women, men, immigrants, and people of color, many of whom went on to create their own thriving, impactful businesses.
A Lasting Legacy
Today, as co-CEO of Ideal Living, Katie continues to innovate in the wellness industry—always eager to test new ideas and dive into data to uncover what works best. Beyond the numbers, her greatest joy comes from leading a diverse, mission-driven team and supporting initiatives that change lives, from empowering entrepreneurs to expanding education for over 60,000 underprivileged girls in India. For Katie, success is measured not just in business growth, but in the communities uplifted along the way.
Empowering Communities and Changing Lives
Fostering growth among women, men, immigrants, and people of color—helping launch successful ventures.
Advancing education for more than 60,000 underprivileged girls in India, supporting them from first grade through graduation.
Closer to home, when wildfires devastated Los Angeles, our home city, we acted fast. The AirDoctor team distributed over $325,000 in air purifiers, offering steep discounts and hosting donation pop-ups in hard-hit areas like Altadena.
A legacy defined not only by business success, but by lives transformed.
