Five Questions with Kiersten Wolf Williams

August 22, 2024

Meet Kiersten Wolf Williams, Cleantech’s Development Manager!

Williams works with Greg Gangi, IE’s associate director for Clean Technology and Innovation, to produce the UNC Cleantech Summit, the largest event of its kind in the Southeast. In this role, she leads outreach efforts to multinational and regional companies that are driving the cleantech economy. She also co-leads the IE Cleantech Corner and student internship program, a storytelling initiative that connects industry with students. Williams is an award-winning communication and marketing professional who has led communications strategies for publicly held and private companies in the fintech, sustainability, and professional services sectors. She serves on the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Southeast District board of directors and is the immediate past president of the North Carolina Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA).

Tell us about your career so far.

My career has been centered on various roles in communications, public relations and development. Over the years, I’ve worked with global organizations, publicly traded companies and startups to help them leverage communication and outreach strategies to help educate, influence, and motivate people to act. I’ve had opportunities to work with people all over the world on product launches and corporate projects in finance, cleantech, fashion, and more. Recently, I started PR for Good, a pro bono initiative for North Carolina members of the Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA). During my role as NCPRSA president, I saw a growing number of local nonprofits struggle to tell their stories and value propositions to help drive their missions forward. Launching this give-back program has not only been very rewarding both professionally and personally, but it has benefited nonprofit organizations and provided an outlet for communication professionals to give back.

How have you seen the UNC Cleantech Summit evolve and change over the years?

I began working with Dr. Gangi on the event in 2018, so the event has grown a lot over the past six years. Most notably, the size and scale of the Summit has grown exponentially; we are now up to 240+ speakers with more than 1,100 attendees for the two-day event. All aspects of the event have grown, including the career fair and mentor match program for students and industry professionals to meet and learn from each other in an informal setting at the Summit. Through Dr. Gangi’s leadership and outreach, we now have participation from a number of international consulates, which has added new dimensions to the event. In addition, we have expanded the Summit to include a week of cleantech events, including the Transatlantic Marketplace for global and regional entrepreneurs and funders. And the opportunities for students have expanded with the creation of the IE Cleantech Corner Initiative, where I serve as an advisor. This initiative gives student interns hands-on experience to work directly with speakers and on the actual planning and execution of the event. Another area of growth has been the diversity of topics. It’s been exciting to showcase them at the Summit such as agriculture, energy, hydrogen, policy, maritime, circularity, wind, and more. Our partners at IE and the ACES program at the Kenan-Flagler Business School have also contributed to the successful growth of this event.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

While raising sponsorships and producing an event of this magnitude takes a full year of planning and coordination, I’d have to say that working with students is the most rewarding part of this role! Each year, they are so excited to see the months and months of hard work pay off – and each year, they can’t believe how it all comes together. As an advisor of the IE Cleantech Corner Initiative, my work is part mentoring and part providing opportunities for students to learn and shine in real-world ways. Working side-by-side with Dr. Gangi has also allowed us to create an event with a shared vision for the Summit and help it improve every year.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing a similar career path to you?

Network, join a student group or professional organization, and just jump in! This role of event planning and development is very social and meeting new people will almost always be a help to your current role or lead to your next opportunity.

What is something not many people know about you?

I currently serve on the Southeast board of directors for the Public Relational Society of America, a national organization, and have served as president of the North Carolina Chapter. Also, I’m a twin!