Hidden Gems: Meet Kirk Williams of KW3 Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirk Williams.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles – Baldwin Hills area.

I went to Escuela Elementary School in Westchester, CA. I went to Audubon Junior High School for 7th grade and for the 1st semester for 8th grade. I then transferred to Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) Magnet School where I graduated high school. In high school, I was involved in a number of activities – Junior Class President, Senior Class President, Leadership, LACES Young Black Scholars (a part of the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles’ Programs) High School Club President.

I attended UCLA, where I majored in Mechanical Engineering. During college, I had a number of internships – TRW Aerospace Systems, 3M Corporation, Cornell University Research Program. At UCLA, I was a Resident Assistant in the UCLA dormitories and served as President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – UCLA Chapter. During the junior year of college, I realized that engineering was not my lifetime career goal. I wanted to get into business and do my own thing. During my senior year at UCLA, I interviewed for jobs. I learned about business consulting. I had to decide between an engineering job or take a leap of faith and do business consulting. I chose business consulting.

After UCLA, I worked for Accenture (formerly Anderson Consulting). I was with Accenture for 13 years. I worked as a Senior Manager where I led large transformation projects in the banking and high technology industries. Clients included Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Visa, Walt Disney Company and Sprint. After parting ways with Accenture, I was at key decision point – look for another job or venture out and do consulting on my own. I chose to venture out at start KW3 Consulting.

As the chief executive officer of KW3 Consulting, my background in program and project management, organizational development and change management has allowed me to build the structure that provides clarity to executives and simplicity in accomplishing complex programs. KW3 Consulting has won clients, including Cisco Systems, Banc of. California, Callaway Golf and University of California, due to its unique ability to manage and deliver large-scale transformation programs, improve processes and provide visionary strategic planning.

Shortly after Accenture, I decided that I wanted to give back more to the community. I reached to the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles to inquire about membership. I was involved with its Young Black Scholars Program in high school. As I talked with some of its members at that time, some of those members were the same folks that I knew and interacted with in high school. I was soon accepted into membership. After one week with the organization, I was asked to take on the Chief Financial Officer Role. I accepted. I served in this role for ten years. Two months ago, I was elected to serve at the President and Chairman of the Board for the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles. This is full circle for me – being a student apart of the program in high school and now leading the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles organization. I am honored to serve. My son who is in 11th grade and my daughter who is in 7th grade are both students in the Young Black Scholars Program. Full circle. The Young Black Scholars Program has been in existence for 35+ years.

Kirk and his wife are previous franchise owners of the Wingstop brand. Their restaurant resided in northern San Diego County area. After four years, we decide to sell.

Kirk currently serves on the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles and Board of Advisors for the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center. Kirk previously served as a Board of Trustees member for the California Science Center, The Fulfillment Fund, National BDPA and Wilson Global Communications Corporation. Kirk has also served as a guest lecturer at Loyola Marymount University. Kirk is a member of the UCLA Alumni Association.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Challenge along the way:

– Learning corporate America and the politics that goes along with it

– Understanding that I cannot be good at everything. For the areas that I am not good at, seek help and support.

I have learned that I have 150% good at everything I do in order to achieve my goals.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about KW3 Consulting LLC?
In today’s business world, success is dependent on a company’s ability to accept change—and navigate through it. In order to harness change and its transformative power, company executives need to execute programs that are complex, expansive and crucial to the organization’s success.

At KW3 Consulting, we understand the importance of delivering on what has been promised, especially when the fate of a company’s success hangs in the balance. That’s why we evaluate each organization, each goal, each stakeholder and each program individually in order to achieve the results that the client wants and needs.

We specialize in orchestrating complex programs and bringing them to fruition—we serve as the “conductor” of your team for programs such as:
New organization adoption
New business process adoption
Software implementation
Operational initiatives
Sourcing and vendor management
Senior executive pet projects

Our team provides:
Leadership
Active management of timelines, milestones and deliverables
Executive-level status
Communication of high-level trade-off scenarios
Navigation of siloed thinking
Operations outside and above company politics

We orchestrate high-priority and complex initiatives by creating simplicity and clarity to achieve the required results. KW3 Consulting’s clients have achieved over $20 million in cost savings through initiatives we’ve executed.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe that if you do the right things on a continuous basis, success will fall into place. NOTE – when opportunities present themselves, you need to be ready to accept and take advantage of it.

I do believe that all things happen for reason – good and reason. Out of every challenge, there is a shining light and opportunity. Have to seize it.

Contact Info:

• Email: Kirk.a.williams@kw3consulting.com
• Website: www.kw3consulting.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KW3-Consulting
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KW3Consulting
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHaGoCMSHbTikBRUgppnfgQ