Meet William Ward | CEO, Flexie Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with William Ward and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi William, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. From my teenage years, I remember organizing teams, whether nonprofit organizations, community organizations, or groups, to solve a specific problem. In my professional career, I was always put in a brand new department, built something that didn’t exist, or looked for new innovative ways to solve problems. I also always wanted to build a business that would have a positive impact on the lives of others, so when deciding what type of company to form, Flexie was a natural choice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Flexie is the ultimate “Future of Work” platform that provides access and flexibility to high schoolers and youths looking to enter the workforce, build skills, and embark on careers that help them earn a livable income. We also include tools that help them become financially responsible while earning so that they get on a pathway to financial independence. Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI), Flexie provides a single platform that helps young people get quick access to both traditional (internships, full-time, part-time, etc.) and non-traditional (flexible gigs, apprenticeships, etc.) jobs, with tools to build social and financial capital. You can think of Flexie as the “Indeed for youth talent” – helping companies instantly access local untapped youth talent to fill staffing needs now and in the future and build a diverse talent pipeline.

Before Flexie, I worked at large corporations (United Technologies and Honeywell), leading global technology projects. However, getting there was a challenge. I immigrated to the US as a refugee in my teens, fleeing war in my home country, Liberia. It was a rough start trying to better my life in the US. I spent nearly five years completing a two-year community college degree because of limited financial support and other financial struggles that almost caused me to become homeless. I persevered through these circumstances and finished community college and obtained a bachelor’s in Information Technology, a master’s in Computer Information Systems, and an MBA from Northeastern University. I went to work for Fortune 50 and 100 companies and later had the conviction to build a tech startup to help others succeed and thrive financially.

Flexie uses technology and AI to solve a $15B annual labor shortage problem. The way we work has changed, and companies need to adapt. There are over 10 million open jobs, and it costs $1.5K on average to fill each position. Over 3M jobs will go unfilled because people are looking for new ways to work. Meanwhile, over 50 million teens and young adults seek job opportunities to gain experience and become financially independent, but they need access and flexibility. This problem is prevalent among high schoolers. Over 70% of high schoolers are not prepared for the workforce after graduating, and over 50% face financial stress and feel unprepared. This creates a substantial socioeconomic problem for many young people 18 and older who are neither employed nor enrolled in school. Flexie bridges this gap by connecting young people to local job opportunities based on their lifestyle and interests while helping companies adopt and meet the demands of the future talent pipeline.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m not very outgoing, but here’s my best shot at showing them a good time. First, they’ll have to taste my wife’s authentically made Liberian cuisine, prepared by her catering company, CookedIn Inc. Then they’ll have to visit one of Charlotte’s most incredible destinations, the Optimist Hall. The Optimist Hall features various fast-casual food and drink options and a rich blend of culture and ambiance. They’ll also have to visit the Nascar Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte and experience one of Charlotte’s ultimate nightlife scenes, the NC Music Factory.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well – without God, I am nothing, so I’d love to thank the almighty God for entrusting me with a business vision and always providing divine guidance. I want also to recognize my parents, especially my mother, for instilling in me the courage to persevere and never give up. I want to thank my wife for her patience and support as I embark on the entrepreneurial journey. I want to thank my team for supporting me through the most challenging times in this journey.

Mr. Rob Rogers firmly believed in Flexie’s mission and has supported our business endeavors by being an early adopter of our services and a key advocate. Amos Schwartzfarb and his Techstars team believed in me and my team and gave Flexie a shot at being a Techstars portfolio company. Last but not least, NC Idea ecosystem for all they do to support entrepreneurs in North Carolina.

Website: goflexie.com

Instagram: @goflexie

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goflexie

Twitter: @goflexie

Facebook: @goflexie