Celebrating Black History Month: A Story of Legacy, Leadership and Purpose

Black History Month is a time of reflection, celebration, and forward momentum. It is a moment to honor the stories that shaped us and to spotlight the leaders who are shaping what comes next. 

This month, we are proud to celebrate Abani Varner-Williams, Field Marketing Specialist in the Campus segment whose journey is rooted in legacy, powered by storytelling, and guided by purpose. 

 

A Role Rooted in Community

Since joining Sodexo in 2023, Abani has served as a Field Marketing Specialist supporting Campus Dining. She currently leads marketing initiatives at Lipscomb University Dining in Nashville, TN, and previously supported Fisk University Dining. 

From day one, she stepped into a role that required both strategy and execution; managing campaigns, building cultural programming, creating digital content, and leading high-impact events that strengthen brand presence and student engagement. 

Her work does not simply promote dining programs. It creates experiences that bring people together. 

Abani’s background in Broadcast Journalism and storytelling laid the foundation for this impact. Her early experience in media production, live events, and brand storytelling sharpened her ability to translate ideas into immersive, meaningful moments. Today, she channels that foundation into purpose-driven marketing that feels human, inclusive, and rooted in community. 

 

What Black History Month Means to Her

“Black History Month is both remembrance and responsibility,” she shares. 

For her, it is not simply time to look back. It is a moment to honor brilliance, resilience and contributions of black communities while continuing the work that lies ahead. It is about truth-telling, celebration, and pushing legacy forward. 

That legacy begins with her family’s roots in Alabama.

She reflects on her grandmother, who was born and raised in Alabama during the era of Jim Crow. Despite living in a time designed to limit opportunity, her grandmother pursued education and became an educator herself. 

She also reflects on her mother, born at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Within her mother’s lifetime, history shifted in visible and personal ways. 

Their perspective laid the foundation Abani stands on today. 

“I am deeply grateful for their hard work and sacrifices, which have given me a place to stand on their shoulders in my own lifetime. Their perseverance allows me to move forward with purpose, honoring where I come from while contributing to what comes next.”

For Abani, Black History Month is deeply personal. It is gratitude. It is responsibility. And it is momentum.

 

Creating Impact at Sodexo

When asked what she enjoys most about working for Sodexo, her answer is clear: “The ability to create meaningful impact while still staying closely connected to the communities we serve.”

She values leadership trust, collaboration and creative autonomy that allow her to bring ideas to life. Through development opportunities aligned with her strengths and long-term goals, she has expanded her skill set and stepped confidently into leadership. 

That balance, empowerment paired with accountability, has allowed her to grow in ways that feel both intentional and sustainable. 

Her work across campuses reflects her commitment to inclusive brand building, cultural programming, and student-centered engagement. Each initiative is designed not just to inform, but to resonate. 

 

Finding Belonging Through AALF

In 2025, Abani joined our Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG), the African American Leadership Forum (AALF), drawn to its intentional commitment to community, development and representation within the company. 

She was inspired by a space that not only acknowledges the experiences of black employees, but actively creates opportunities for connection, growth and leadership. 

“AALF represents a place where culture and professional development coexist.”

Through AALF, she has built meaningful relationships with leaders and peers who value authenticity, equity, and collective growth. It has affirmation in moments of challenge and accountability as she continues to grow within the company. More importantly, it has deepened her sense of belonging at Sodexo. 

 

Legacy in Motion

Abani’s story is one of generational strength, professional purpose and community centered leadership.

She carries forward the legacy of those who came before her, women who pursued education, equity and the opportunity in times when those paths were not guaranteed. She honors that history not only in reflection, but in action.

This Black History Month, we celebrate Abani for the impact she makes every day, on campus, within Sodexo and through AALF. Her journey reminds us that Black history is not only something we commemorate each February. It is something we continue to build through leadership, representation, and purpose. 

And through voices like hers, that legacy moves forward. 

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