Kim Williams, Transition Strategist

When I stepped into my first CEO role, I thought I was prepared. I had years of nonprofit experience and a good reputation. But within months, I faced resistance from staff, financial instability, and the weight of expectations I wasn’t sure I could meet. I questioned myself. I wrestled with imposter syndrome. I even wondered if I would last.

 

Fourteen years later, I’m still standing. Under my leadership, Interfaith Family Services went from a $500,000 deficit and a 40% graduation rate to more than 9 months of reserves, a new endowment, and a 33% increase in our annual budget. 80% of families consistently graduate with livable wages, and permanent housing.  Altogether, I have raised over $50 million to fight poverty and homelessness, completed an $11 million capital campaign, and led my organization to become one of the top outcomes leaders in Texas for fighting family poverty.

 

Those experiences, and the ones prior, make up the 30 years of nonprofit leadership that have shaped me into what I am today: The Transition Strategist. I know what it’s like to be a new leader of an established organization. I know the challenge of leading through crisis and the courage it takes to push through staff and board resistance. I know what it is like to launch a bold vision with uncertainty, enthusiasm, and hope. Most importantly, I know what it takes to come through it all stronger and more successful than you imagined.​