By: Zach Miller
Dr. April Willis is the Founder and Lead Consultant of April Willis Consulting; she specializes in business consulting and nonprofit support. Having worked as a leader for more than 15 years in business, finance, leadership, and operations, she leads April Willis Consulting (AWC) and the National Nonprofit Collaborative (NNC). Her mission is to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs nationwide in maximizing their impact across their communities. In this interview, Dr. Willis speaks about her experience, client-oriented approaches, and vision for the coming years.
Please tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue your current role.
I’ve always been committed to helping others—it’s been a constant in my life. Ever since middle school, I’ve found myself drawn to organizations that focus on community service. That passion just kept growing through high school, college, and into adulthood, where I’ve stayed involved with the Chamber, the Rotary Club, local women’s groups, and young professionals’ organizations. There wasn’t really one defining moment that pushed me toward a career in service—it’s just always been part of who I am. It’s something that’s shaped both my personal and professional life.
Dr. Willis’s journey is an illustration of her lifelong commitment to service. Her presence in several organizations that focused on community service created a foundation for her work today; where she combines passion with a strategic approach to consulting.
What methods or principles do you use to help individuals and businesses achieve their objectives?
When working with individuals and businesses to help them achieve their objectives, I focus on a few key principles and methods:
- Active Listening and Understanding Needs: I start by truly understanding their goals, challenges, and what success looks like for them. This involves active listening and asking the right questions to get a clear picture of their unique situation.
- Tailored Strategies: I believe that one size doesn’t fit all. I develop customized strategies that align with their specific objectives, whether it’s personal growth, business expansion, or organizational effectiveness.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: I rely on data and analytics to guide decisions. By tracking progress and analyzing results, I ensure that the strategies we implement are effective and adjust them as needed to stay on course.
- Collaboration and Empowerment: I work closely with clients, empowering them to take ownership of their goals. I see my role as a partner in their success, providing the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive.
- Continuous Improvement: I encourage a mindset of continuous improvement. Whether we’re working on personal development or business strategies, I stress the importance of learning from experiences, adapting, and evolving to meet changing circumstances.
What are some common challenges you encounter in your work, and how do you assist others in overcoming these difficulties?
In my work, I frequently encounter several common challenges that clients face. One of the most prevalent issues is the struggle to set clear, actionable goals. Many individuals and businesses have broad ambitions, but lack specific direction, making it easy to lose focus. To address this, I help clients clarify their objectives by breaking down the big picture into smaller, measurable steps. This approach provides a clear roadmap, making their goals more attainable and ensuring they have a structured path to follow.
Another challenge I often see is resistance to change. Change can be daunting, and even when it’s necessary for growth, it’s not uncommon for people to push back against it. I assist clients in overcoming this resistance by fostering a growth mindset and encouraging them to view change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Throughout the transition process, I offer real-world action steps that help them navigate uncertainty and build confidence in new approaches.
Finally, sustaining motivation over time can be difficult, especially when progress is slow. I help clients maintain their momentum by setting up regular check-ins, celebrating small wins, and providing ongoing encouragement. I also emphasize the importance of connecting daily efforts to their bigger purpose, which often reignites their drive and keeps them moving forward.
Dr. Willis’s approach of sub-dividing daunting tasks makes her approachable and her dedication to helping her clients reach their goals keeps them motivated throughout the process.
Can you share a success story or case study that demonstrates the impact of your efforts?
I love seeing the real impact our work has on clients, and we’ve got plenty of success stories to share. For example, we helped one client secure over $3 million in grants, which was a huge win for their mission. Another client saw a significant boost in revenue after we presented at key conferences on their behalf.
We’ve also worked with clients who have important messages to share, building courses and guiding them through the publishing process to get their voices out there. Our social media campaigns consistently deliver strong results, and we’re proud of the high open and click rates we achieve with the newsletters we create for our clients. Plus, we’ve secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in pharmaceutical sponsorships, giving rare-disease organizations the financial backing they need to make an impact in their community.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see how our efforts translate into real success for our clients, and it keeps us motivated to continue delivering results.
These success stories are examples of concrete outcomes achieved due to Dr. Willis’s leadership and consulting, including the acquisition of massive funding, increasing revenues, and extending the clients’ outreach.
What are your future goals or plans for advancing your mission and continuing to support your clients?
Moving forward, one of my main goals is to expand our services and stay on top of emerging trends by offering innovative solutions that go above and beyond what our clients expect.
I’m particularly focused on making better use of data and advanced analytics. By leaning into these tools, we can provide even more tailored support, helping our clients hit their goals with greater accuracy and efficiency.
Another big focus is expanding our network and building partnerships in areas that can bring extra value to our clients—whether that’s new funding opportunities, cutting-edge technology, or specific industry expertise. This way, we can open up more doors for success and make sure our clients have everything they need to thrive in a fast-changing world.
But above all, I want to keep fostering strong, collaborative relationships with each client. It’s important to me that they feel supported and empowered at every step. Whether we’re navigating challenges together or celebrating their wins, I’m committed to finding new ways to help them grow and succeed.
Ultimately, my goal is to keep pushing our mission forward—making a real, lasting impact on the people and organizations we work with. I want to help them not only reach their goals, but set even loftier ones for the future!
Looking to the future, Dr. Willis’s focus on innovation, teamwork, and personalized client support remains at the forefront of her mission. She makes sure that her clients are well-prepared to deal with any challenges that might come in the future.
Through The National Nonprofit Collaborative and April Willis Consulting, Dr. Willis has been helping various businesses and nonprofit organizations in transforming the lives of the communities and individuals they serve. Her long-term perspective and determination support clients in achieving their goals, not only in the present but in the future as well.
Published by: Khy Talara
