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About The Above Average School
Terri Williams
For over two decades, Terri has helped leaders become more effective by channeling their best and most authentic selves. As a U.S. Army Veteran and survivor of the September 11th Attack on the Pentagon, Terri has served in several roles including as the Chief Learning Officer at the Federal Aviation Administration; Special Assistant to the 20th Secretary of Defense for Quality-of-Life Issues within the Military Community and Family Policy office; and senior roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Intelligence Community (IC), and the United States Space Command.
As a learning and development practitioner, Terri serves as an Executive and Leadership Coach; Adjunct Professor at American University’s Key Executive Program; a Guest Lecturer at Georgetown University’s Strategic Management Program; and she is a Senior Advisor at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Institute for Hope and Healing.
Her coaching specialty areas are DEIB, Vertical Leadership Development, Leadership Presence, Women’s Leadership Issues, Multicultural Leadership, Generational Differences, Team Development /Effectiveness, Navigating Uncertainty, Navigating Grief and Supporting Others in Grief, Well-Being Habits, Positive Psychology, and Behavioral and Mental Health Issues (depression, anxiety, trauma).
Terri specializes in servicing the defense, technology, and healthcare industries. Her client portfolio includes both public and private organizations, inclusive of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Defense, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Space Force, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Intelligence Community. Private Organizations include Apple, General Motors, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, Christus Healthcare, Cerner Government Services, USAA, and State Farm.
She is completing doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of Education and Human Development with a focus in Leadership and Learning in Organizations. Terri completed her executive education, graduate school, and undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, American University, Averett University, National-Louis University, The Aspen Institute, Federal Executive Institute (FEI), University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, and The Office of Personnel Management Senior Executive Development Program (SESCDP). She holds certifications in several methodologies including the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC), CoachDiversity Institute Certified Professional Diversity Coach (CPDC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Global, Senior Practitioner. She is a certified facilitator in Leadership Presence, Emotional Intelligence (EQI 2.0/360), Outward Mindset™, Cultural Intelligence™, Conversational Intelligence™, Dare to Lead ™ research-based leadership work of Dr. Brené Brown, and the Grief Recovery Method®.
Additionally, she is an alumnus of the NeuroLeadership Institute, the Grief Recovery Institute®, Google’s Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI), The Arbinger Institute, and the Institute of Coaching (IOC), McLean Hospital Affiliate Harvard Medical School.
Terri has received numerous military and civilian awards including the Department of the Army Meritorious Public Service Medal, the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and the Legion of Merit. She was selected to appear on the Women In Military Service for America (WIMSA) Postage Stamp (1997), as the US Army’s representation, purchased by more than 37 million citizens. Terri and her husband are active US Army retirees and Blue Star Family Members, as they have a son currently serving on active duty in the US Army. Terri’s hobbies include French cooking, bicycling, and yoga.