We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, appreciate you joining us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?

I worked with an amazing individual for 8 years that provided me daily and weekly opportunities to grow. When I first started the job, he’d ask me, “What do you want to learn today?” The small gesture of asking (whether I had something on my mind or not) continued to remind me to never settle, always keep learning, and that he was willing to teach me anything to increase my growth. It was always “we” not “I” and it made me feel like I had a place of belonging, my hard work meant something, and I was needed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Amy Williams (Van Duyne), CSEP. I’ve been in the Event Industry for 20+ years planning non-profit conferences, galas / fundraisers, corporate events and weddings. I’ve had first-hand experience in event management, audio-visual production, decor, floral design, catering, and business operations and alignment. What I’ve found over the years is that my passion is to bring structure and efficiency to your every day work.

I’m a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) who values the ability of being well-rounded within the events industry so that I can provide the best customer service and knowledge to each business that I work with to grow their processes, systems, and efficiencies. Collaboration vs Competition is my motto.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Networking and Building Relationships has been the best source of new clients. It’s all about building bridges, shaking hands (or virtual equivalents), truly listening to what people need and providing them a solution. Relationships are the secret sauce that keeps the client pipeline flowing. It’s not just about who you know, but how well you listen and engage.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

With an always learning mindset, books are my favorite way to tap into different perspectives, management styles, and continue to increase my knowledge that I can share with others. Brave, not Perfect by Reshma Saujani, Good to Great by Jim Collins, Leadership is Language by L. David Marquet is just the tip of the iceberg of books that have gotten me to where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://afficientconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afficientconsulting/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afficientconsulting
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afficientconsulting