Claim OwnershipLife & Leadership with Kim Williams
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Kim Williams is a multi-faceted woman. She is an introvert who loves to write and podcast. A happy wife of 28 years to her husband and best friend, Rawleigh, and the proud mom of her three accomplished children, Rawleigh III, Brian, and Alyssa. Professionally, Kim is a nonprofit CEO and executive coach with over 30 years of leadership experience. She's raised nearly $50 million dollars to fight poverty and homelessness in Dallas as CEO of Interfaith Family Services while simultaneously running Kim Williams Consulting, an executive coaching and consulting firm that specializes in change management for nonprofits. She is a two time-finalist for CEO of the year and her organization is the local outcomes leader in its field. Kim is also a woman who has battled insecurity, self-doubt, and high levels of stress for many years. She understands what is like to be a woman whose public persona does not always match her personal struggles. She shares how she overcame insecurity and found the power and peace of authentic leadership in her book, Diary of An Insecure CEO.
Kim created the Life and Leadership with Kim Williams to share her stories and strategies to help you to successfully serve others without sacrificing yourself. While anyone can listen, learn, and be inspired by this podcast, it is specifically designed for leaders who work in the nonprofit and ministry sectors. We spend our days valiantly serving others while secretly struggling not to sacrifice ourselves, our happiness, physical health, and mental health in the process. Kim believes our situation is unique and our voices deserve to be heard in a safe space that is curated especially for us. That space is Life & Leadership with Kim Williams!
Kim created the Life and Leadership with Kim Williams to share her stories and strategies to help you to successfully serve others without sacrificing yourself. While anyone can listen, learn, and be inspired by this podcast, it is specifically designed for leaders who work in the nonprofit and ministry sectors. We spend our days valiantly serving others while secretly struggling not to sacrifice ourselves, our happiness, physical health, and mental health in the process. Kim believes our situation is unique and our voices deserve to be heard in a safe space that is curated especially for us. That space is Life & Leadership with Kim Williams!
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Hello leaders! How is life treating you? If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Right now, life is hectic, but I’m doing my best to navigate it all while sticking to the strategy God has given me for this season. And trust me, I learned the hard way not to ignore divine direction.When I first stepped into my CEO role at just 38 years old, I took over an organization that was struggling financially and operationally. I was new to the board, new to the staff, and trying to prove myself. I received critical advice on how to set boundaries and lead well—but I ignored some of it. While I eventually turned things around, the personal cost of that mistake was high.That’s why in today’s episode, “Mistakes & Leadership: How to Rebound After Making the Wrong Call,” I’m sharing five key steps for bouncing back after a leadership misstep.Mistakes are inevitable in leadership, but how we recover from them makes all the difference. Tune in now to hear the full story and these practical steps to help you rebound stronger than before.
In this episode, I share how I navigated a packed schedule filled with leadership demands, unexpected challenges, and external disruptions—all while striving to maintain focus and peace. From adjusting strategies in response to unforeseen changes to managing weather-related closures and political shifts impacting my team and clients, January was anything but smooth.Despite the chaos, I found ways to regain clarity, sift through distractions, and ensure that I stayed aligned with the right opportunities. Tune in as I discuss the strategies I used to maintain focus in a season of uncertainty and how you can do the same in your leadership journey.
As we kick off 2025, I’m excited to introduce a new monthly feature on Life & Leadership with Kim Williams: “Ask Kim.” Once a month, I’ll dedicate an episode to answering listener questions about leadership, strategy, and everything in between. If you have a question, I’d love to hear it! Send me a direct message via Instagram at Leadwithkim or on my Kim Williams Consulting LinkedIn page.This month’s question came from a leader friend who reached out during the holiday break. She’s in the process of disbanding and restructuring an advisory group that has played a key leadership role in her organization for years. After prayerful contemplation and consulting her leadership team, she decided it was time to move forward with the change—but wasn’t sure how to communicate the decision.Here’s her question:“Should I send an email to the advisory group informing them of the disbanding of the group, host a group meeting, or schedule individual calls? I do not want this to be a debate or major discussion because I am confident in my decision. However, I do value their partnership and contributions and I fear a letter may be too informal. What is the best way to go about informing the advisory group that I am ending it?”In this episode, I explore her question and provide practical strategies for navigating difficult leadership conversations with clarity, respect, and confidence. If you’re facing a similar situation, tune in for actionable advice on handling these transitions with grace and professionalism.Listen now to Episode 40 of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams: Navigating Tough Leadership Conversations on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
In this episode, I reflect on the challenges of casting a vision in the face of uncertainty. At first, I hesitated to create a long-term strategic plan for the next five years—a practice we’ve traditionally followed—due to the unpredictable landscape shaped by the pandemic and a new administration.However, I recognized that the absence of a clear and compelling direction could harm organizational culture and productivity. To address this, I immersed myself in research, studying industry trends, future predictions, and the evolving needs for our services. I also took time to pray and seek clarity about the path ahead.Through this process, I realized that in unprecedented times, a refined approach to visioneering is essential. In this episode, I share my updated strategy for creating and casting a vision that aligns with today’s challenges and opportunities.Let’s talk strategy and how to lead boldly into the future.
Do you know your leadership superpower? Most leaders struggle to confidently and quickly articulate what they bring to the table—myself included, even a decade into being a CEO. In this episode, we’ll explore why this is a problem and how getting clear on your unique strengths can transform not just your confidence but your entire organization. I’ll share my journey and help you step into 2025 with a stronger sense of who you are as a leader. Don’t miss this game-changing conversation about identity and impact!
Let me let you in on a little secret. Not everyone is optimistic at the start of the new year. Social impact leaders in particular may be overwhelmed with the sense of uncertainty, lack of clarity, and even self-doubt regarding whether or not you have what it takes to lead your agency into the unknown. Your first instinct may be to hide that insecurity by putting on a brave face for your team, board, and donors. I've done that before and I'm going to tell you something it's a mistake. In this week's episode of life and leadership with Kim Williams, I'm going to challenge you to face your fears. I have found that admitting, exploring and addressing your greatest fears is not only liberating but, it can be the catalyst for some of your greatest achievements.
Episode 77: Creating a Calm Culture in Chaotic TimesIn this episode of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams, Kim shares why calm, productive cultures do not happen by accident. Drawing from her experience leading through betrayal, HR challenges, downsizing, a capital campaign, and rapid growth during COVID, she explains how her organization achieved over an 80 percent client success rate, five consecutive years of year-end surpluses, and a highly tenured leadership team.Kim outlines three leadership practices that stabilize culture in uncertain times. Leaders will learn how to create a strategy for deliberate communication, provide counsel before correction, and follow through on consequences that protect high performers.This episode is for leaders navigating employee stress, cultural strain, and organizational change who want to lead with clarity and calm.
In Episode 76 of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams, Kimberly Williams equips leaders with a practical framework for preparing for uncertainty without becoming distracted or overwhelmed.Contingency planning is not about expecting the worst. It is about leading with wisdom, discipline, and clarity when conditions change. Drawing from her experience guiding organizations through funding volatility, crisis, and rapid growth, Kim breaks down the three non-negotiable essentials every leader must have in place before disruption hits.In this episode, you will learn how to:Identify the risks you must plan for versus the ones that create unnecessary fearBuild contingency plans that protect your mission without sacrificing momentumLead your team with calm, confidence, and credibility when plans shiftKim reinforces that strong leaders do not wait for certainty to act. They prepare for multiple scenarios while staying focused on their core work. Through mindset, method, and management insights, this episode helps leaders replace anxiety with action and reactivity with readiness.This episode is especially relevant for CEOs, executive leaders, and change-agents who want to remain steady, strategic, and effective no matter what the future brings.
As we step into a new year, optimism is natural. New goals. New plans. New energy. I feel it too. But after thirty years of leadership and even more years of life, I know something else is also true. Every year holds both promise and pain. Progress and pressure. Celebration and sorrow.And in 2026, the leaders who flourish will not just be the hopeful ones. They will be the prepared ones. In this episode, we are going to talk about 3 ways nonprofit leaders can be prepared for anything in 2026.
EPISODE 74 SUMMARYLife and Leadership Lessons 6–10 from 2025In Episode 74, Kim Williams concludes her year-end reflection series by sharing the final five Life and Leadership Lessons that shaped her personally and professionally in 2025. These lessons reflect not only strategic growth, but spiritual grounding, emotional maturity, and the kind of wisdom that is forged in the places where leadership and life collide.Kim explores why leaders must know their numbers, stay informed without becoming overwhelmed, and work with what they have in an unstable workforce climate. She also unpacks the importance of studying people and organizations more deeply rather than trusting surface impressions. Each lesson is filled with practical insight from her decades as a CEO and change management strategist.The episode culminates with her most profound and personal lesson of the year: Trust God through it all. Without revisiting the private details of her journey, Kim shares the universal truth that some years are not defined by external accomplishments but by internal endurance. Some years grow your résumé. Some years grow your soul. And in both, God is faithful.This closing episode invites leaders to embrace the wisdom woven into their own journeys, honor the unseen work God has done within them, and enter 2026 with renewed clarity, courage, and spiritual strength.Listen as Kim offers a powerful final word for the year and invites you to return in January for Season 3 of Life and Leadership with Kim Williams.
Life and Leadership Lessons 1–5 from 2025In Episode 73, Kim Williams continues her year-end reflection series by walking leaders through the first five Life and Leadership Lessons that shaped her in 2025. These lessons were forged through real challenges, deep internal work, and moments of clarity that strengthened both her leadership and her faith.Kim unpacks why slowing down and strategizing with fresh eyes is essential, even for leaders with years of experience. She shares the importance of setting and respecting boundaries, the non negotiable value of prioritizing family, the discipline of discerning where to invest your gifts, and why alignment matters more than adaptability in unstable times.Each lesson is paired with practical wisdom, real-world insight from her role as CEO and transition strategist, and a spiritual perspective that reminds listeners that leadership development is not only external. It is deeply internal.This episode offers a reflective but actionable blueprint for entering the new year with clearer priorities, stronger discernment, and a more grounded approach to leadership.Tune in if you want to close 2025 with greater focus and begin 2026 with intentional, aligned momentum.
The Power of ReflectionIn Episode 72, Kim Williams opens the final stretch of the year with a practice that has shaped her leadership more than any strategy or system: intentional reflection. Recording during her birthday week, Kim shares how she uses this sacred time to pause, look back over her year, and identify the lessons God wove into every high, every hardship, and every quiet moment in between.This episode explores why reflection is essential for leaders, especially in seasons marked by challenge, grief, unexpected transitions, or rapid growth. Kim offers practical questions to guide your own year-end review, paired with biblical wisdom from Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”If you find yourself moving fast, carrying heavy responsibilities, or simply needing clarity before entering the new year, this episode will ground you. Kim shows how reflection strengthens your decision-making, deepens your self-awareness, and positions you to lead with confidence in the months ahead.Tune in for a thoughtful, faith-filled reminder that some of your greatest breakthroughs begin with simply pausing to pay attention to what God has already done.
When everything feels urgent, every decision starts to feel overwhelming. But the truth is, not everything is equally important, and when leaders lose that perspective, burnout isn’t far behind. Today, I’m answering one of the most common questions I get from leaders: ‘What do I do first when everything feels urgent?’
How do you lead your staff when everything feels urgent?What do you do when the workload triples, but your resources don’t?How do you keep your team motivated when morale starts to slip?When chaos hits your organization, leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about managing better.In moments of mayhem, your team doesn’t need more meetings. They need clarity, calm, and care. Today, I’m going to teach you how to mobilize your team under pressure without burning them out.
When the rules keep changing, great leaders don’t panic. They plan.In this episode, Kimberly Williams shares how nonprofit and social impact leaders can prepare for sudden disruptions such as government shutdowns, funding freezes, or policy shifts. Drawing from her experience leading Interfaith Family Services through the recent SNAP benefit delays, she offers a practical 3-step framework for building organizational resilience:Assess Exposure. Identify where your organization is most vulnerable and where demand will spike in a crisis.Allocate Reserves. Strategically reallocate resources to sustain mission-critical services.Align Communication. Keep staff, board, and donors informed and unified when uncertainty rises.Kimberly also explains the difference between “baseline attrition” and “crisis attrition,” helping leaders anticipate how people and systems respond under pressure.You’ll leave this episode with practical tools and renewed confidence to lead with calm, clarity, and preparation. No matter how often the rules change.
WHEN EVERYTHING FEELS URGENT, HOW DO YOU STAY STEADY?How do you lead with focus when fear is all around you?Six months after completing our $11.5 million capital campaign and opening our new Family Empowerment and Childcare Center, the pandemic hit. Overnight, calls for help tripled, resources were stretched thin, and every plan we had was suddenly uncertain.But panic didn’t get us through that moment. Perspective did.My background as a change-agent had prepared me for this storm, and instead of shrinking, we rose. We served more families than ever before, raised record annual support, and even launched an endowment in the process. What could have taken us out, fortified our future.In this week’s episode of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams, I am talking about what it means to lead with calm in crisis. You will learn how to1. Guard your mind when anxiety rises2. Ground your perspective when plans fall apart3. Guide your team with presence instead of panic4. Grow your faith so peace becomes your anchorIf you are facing uncertainty in your organization, this episode will remind you that your peace is not the absence of problems. It is the presence of perspective.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW TO RECOVER FROM A BIG MISTAKE? Or how some leaders seem to manage it all without falling apart? Or maybe you’ve struggled with how to set priorities with your board and leadership team when everything feels urgent?I’ve wrestled with all three. Early in my leadership, I made mistakes that I thought would ruin my credibility. I’ve had seasons where “managing it all” felt impossible. And I’ve had tough conversations with boards and teams where it seemed like every priority was on fire.In Episode 67 of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams, I’m answering your questions in this month’s Ask Kim segment:How to recover after a big mistakeHow to manage it all without burning outHow to set and discuss priorities with your board and teamThis episode also wraps up our monthly theme on resilience and clarity in leadership. If you missed the last three episodes, I encourage you to go back and listen. And don’t forget—this is the last week to get my free leadership resource. Just email help@kimwconsulting.com to grab it.
For many leaders, managing people is the hardest part of leadership, especially during change. That’s because change creates stress, and uncertainty fuels resistance. But if our teams don’t adapt, our missions can’t move forward.In this episode, Kim unpacks three principles every leader needs when managing through transition:Make Things Clear – Clarity is kindness (1 Corinthians 14:8). Leaders must ensure their teams understand not just what they’re doing, but why it matters.Monitor Progress – Monitoring isn’t micromanaging—it’s stewardship (Proverbs 27:23). It builds accountability and reminds staff that their work matters.Motivate Your Team – Motivation without monitoring leads to chaos; monitoring without motivation leads to discouragement (Hebrews 10:24). The key is balance.Kim shares practical tools to help leaders create stability in uncertain seasons—like quarterly role reviews, consistent check-ins, and weekly motivational touchpoints that connect every task back to the mission.
In this new era of nonprofit leadership, passion isn’t enough. If your systems aren’t working, neither will your strategy.In Episode 65 of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams, I’m breaking down the five systems every organization needs to stay strong in uncertain times: evaluation, observation, efficiency, effectiveness, and inspiration.Leader, systems don’t replace passion. They sustain it.
This is Part Two of our October series on thriving in the new era of nonprofit leadership. Last week in Episode 63, we introduced the challenges and opportunities of this moment. Today, we focused on mindset. Next week, we’ll dive into methodology—the strategies leaders need to employ to succeed in this era.If you missed Episode 63, go back and listen. And don’t forget to download my free resource: The CEO Survival Checklist: 7 Essentials to Lead with Clarity in Times of Change.
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