Early Life
Evan Clark Williams was born in Clarks, Nebraska, on March 31, 1972. Growing up on a farm, he developed a strong work ethic and a practical approach to problem-solving. He attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for a year and a half before leaving to pursue his career in technology.
Rise to Success
Williams's career began in various tech jobs. He moved to Sebastopol, California, where he worked for O'Reilly Media. There, he started blogging on EvHead.com. In 1999, Williams co-founded Pyra Labs with Meg Hourihan, which created project management software. However, a note-taking feature spun off as Blogger, one of the first web applications for creating and managing weblogs. Williams is credited with coining the term “blogger” and popularizing the term “blog”. In 2003, Google acquired Pyra Labs.
In 2006, Williams co-founded Twitter with Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, and Biz Stone. He served as CEO from 2008 to 2010 and was a member of the board until 2019. Twitter quickly grew into a global phenomenon, revolutionizing real-time communication. Williams stepped down from Twitter after Elon Musk took over the company in 2022.
After leaving Twitter, Williams founded Medium, an online publishing platform, in 2012. Medium allows users to publish personal essays and other writings. He served as CEO of Medium until July 2022, when he stepped down but remained chairman.
Key Business Strategies
Williams has consistently focused on creating user-friendly platforms that simplify publishing and amplify individual voices. His strategy involves identifying gaps in online communication and building accessible tools to meet those needs. His ability to adapt to the changing technological landscape and focus on simplicity has been key to his success.
Philanthropy
In 2014, Williams co-founded the venture capital firm Obvious Ventures, which focuses on investing in companies that can make a positive change in the world. Through Obvious Ventures, he has invested in several companies focused on sustainability, health, and ethical practices.
