Alumni Success: Alex Williams Wins Award for Holistic Hyperbarics

Huge congratulations to Alex Williams, one of Royal’s favorite alumni success stories! Alex was recently honored with the: “Young, Gifted & Black Entrepreneurial Award” for Black History Month.

The YOUNG, GIFTED, & BLACK™ (YGB) ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD celebrates individuals who are positive role models, providing inspiration and motivation to their peers. This describes Alex perfectly!

Her success story reflects the power of perseverance, community support, and a deep commitment to making healthcare more inclusive and compassionate.

We caught up with Alex to give her major props on her recent success, as she leads an alternative therapy movement as the CEO of Holistic Hyperbarics, a state of the art hyperbaric facility located in Oakland improving awareness and access to hyperbaric therapy.

Holistic Hyperbarics has quickly become a trusted name in alternative medicine, offering oxygen-based treatments that promote healing, recovery, and overall wellness.

Alex has been busy, recently completed a $20M funding round that will allow her to open two additional facilities in the East Bay and expand her services throughout the region. This growth marks an exciting milestone for both Alex and the Holistic Hyperbarics team, reinforcing their mission to deliver innovative healthcare solutions to more patients in need.

She credits her success to the community that’s supported her along the way, particularly (we are proud to say) her Royal Ambulance family.

The strong professional foundation built at Royal continues to influence Alex’s leadership approach and her passion for patient-centered care.

Alex started as an EMT in 2009 and dedicated the next 8 years of her life, learning, growing and developing her leadership skills, while giving back to other young and aspiring EMTs as a Field Training Officer. Her journey from EMT to CEO is a testament to the growth mindset that Royal Ambulance encourages in all its team members, inspiring many to pursue leadership roles within healthcare.

“It’s no secret, people come to Royal because of the training and development opportunities and stay for the people/culture..” says Alex. “..But what really did it for me was their promise to develop me as a leader.”

That dedication to professional development has helped countless Royal alumni build rewarding careers in hospitals, emergency services, and healthcare startups across California.

Alex was raised in a family business and operates her business like a family. Reflecting on her interactions with Steve and Eve Grau, husband and wife co-owners of Royal, the impacts of positive team culture and precedent that they set towards taking care of team members (and patients), still heavily resonates.

The Graus’ leadership philosophy continues to influence many former Royal team members, fostering a network of compassionate professionals who prioritize teamwork, empathy, and excellence.

“My time at Royal has been the foundation that I have built my professional career on. From the way I speak to my patients, to the way I approach every situation with a gleefully inquisitive mind, to the characteristics I look for when I hire my employees, to the way I now run and operate my own company, my time at Royal has been my compass!”

Her words reflect how Royal’s emphasis on training, mentorship, and purpose-driven work has shaped future leaders in healthcare, creating ripple effects across the industry.

Alex’s relationship with Royal has come full circle. Holistic Hyperbarics now schedules transports from Royal for their patients. Alex hires Royal EMTs as they take the next step along their journey in healthcare, and transition to new opportunities developing their skills, and she is a go-to alumni advisor providing ideas and thought leadership on engagement and culture initiatives, including this month’s Black History Month team member and alumni spotlights.

This partnership showcases the ongoing collaboration between Royal Ambulance and its alumni network, creating meaningful pathways for professional growth and community connection.

“Alex and I have developed a close bond over these years and are fully invested in one another’s success”, says Eve Grau Royal’s VP of Human Resources. “I call Alex for advice and she calls me for advice, as we both navigate the world of healthcare together with a focus on impactful leadership, patient experience and making a positive difference in our community.”

The relationship between Royal’s leadership and its alumni exemplifies the organization’s commitment to lifelong mentorship, innovation, and shared success in advancing healthcare excellence.