By Betsy Vereckey

Krystal Williams T’03 is the founder of Providentia Group PLLC, a law firm that exists at the intersection of social entrepreneurship and systemic change. Built with the mission to provide accessible legal and strategic support to underrepresented entrepreneurs, Providentia Group PLLC is more than a law firm—it is a force for empowerment and equitable change.

Williams explains, “I started Providentia Group because I wanted to create a platform for myself where I could take risks and solve complex issues that matter.” Launched in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, Providentia Group PLLC helps founders of micro and mid-size closely held companies grow. She places a particular emphasis on supporting underrepresented business owners in navigating legal complexity and capital access, setting a new standard for community-driven legal services in Maine.

Williams’s career is defined by a strong focus on service, starting with her pre-Tuck experience as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in the Dominican Republic. “Peace Corps taught me the importance of developing practical solutions that fit with the current context and provide a foundation to build toward a future goal,” she explains. This ethos has been a hallmark of her work since.

A native of Chapel Hill, NC Williams credits her upbringing with shaping her commitment to purpose-driven work. Reflecting on her formative years living in a Habitat for Humanity community, she says, “I didn’t grow up with a strong sense of how the world worked. I had to build that knowledge and my own confidence over time.”

For Williams, enrolling in the Tuck MBA program represented a professional and personal turning point. Reflecting on her time at Tuck, she recalls, “It was the kindness of the Tuck community that made it my top choice. The academic excellence was a given, but I also wanted to be part of a community that valued decency.” Tuck’s rigorous academic environment combined with its supportive community cultivated a resilience that Williams continues to draw on in her work.

Attending Tuck confirmed Williams’s belief that business can and should serve as a force for good. It is, then, no wonder that she worked at Deere & Company after graduation. Initially recruited into Deere’s strategic management program, she went on to lead strategic projects that resulted in Deere’s corporate restructuring in 2009 and its introduction of hybrid loaders in 2011.

In 2011, Williams also fulfilled a lifelong dream by thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, a six-month journey she describes as a “walking meditation.” This trek, completed mostly solo, Taught her to confront fear head-on, both physically and emotionally.

“I summitted Katahdin on a clear, windy October day. And, I felt every bit of that wind as I climbed,” she recalls. “The wind was blowing against me, making it hard to stay steady. I was on an exposed ledge about a mile from the summit when I legitimately thought, ‘Just turn around.’ But, I pressed through the fear like I often do.”

The hike reinforced her commitment to pushing through fear and uncertainty, qualities that serve her well in her mission to empower others.

Williams recently celebrated the fourth anniversary of Providentia Group PLLC and characterizes her current work as “synergistic.” By combing her business and legal skills, Williams helps underrepresented founders navigate uncertainty and pursue growth. Her current focus “feels good personally,” says Williams, “but it also makes a positive, multiplicative impact in the community. I’m equipping other businesses to grow and make a positive impact, too.”

This month, Williams also celebrates the fifth anniversary of the Alpha Legal Foundation, a nonprofit she founded to bring more diversity into Maine’s legal profession.

Williams credits her Tuck education with giving her the confidence to start both organizations, adding, “No matter the insecurities I have personally, I can look myself in the mirror and say, ‘Girl, you have literally been trained to run businesses.’ It reminds me that I’ve been well-equipped to do this work.”

Q+A

Tuck Professors I Still Think About: Tuck professors possess world-class intelligence, a deep knowledge of their field, and they are fun people to be around. Mary Munter taught Managerial Communications for our section. She had a quiet and strong presence—and offered very specific and detailed feedback on our work. I am now an adjunct professor at Maine Law, and I still rely on the principles she taught to craft compelling and effective presentations.

First Job After Tuck: My first job after Tuck was at Deere & Company in their strategic management rotational program. I stayed with the company for over a decade and worked on various growth projects, including a stint living in Germany to support their growth in the EMEA market.

Good leaders … keep learning. Learning is a journey of humility (knowing that you need to learn), curiosity (identifying what you need to learn), and courage (actively engaging in acquiring new skills).

This story originally appeared in print in the winter 2025 issue of Tuck Today magazine.