Empowering Individuals Through Motivational Storytelling

William Smith is a dynamic executive leader and organizational strategist with more than two decades of progressive experience in human resources, labor relations, and strategic operational management. He currently serves as Chief of Staff for the City of Seattle Department of Information Technology (Seattle IT), where he plays a central role in shaping technology strategy, governance, and organizational effectiveness for one of the City’s most critical municipal departments.
 

Public Sector Leadership and Strategic Operations

For nearly a decade, William has demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and large-scale organizational leadership within the City of Seattle.

As Assistant CTO and Chief of Staff, he oversees the coordination of executive priorities, manages complex inter-agency relationships, and ensures alignment between departmental strategy and the City’s broader mission. His effectiveness in this role was further demonstrated during his earlier tenure as Interim Chief of Staff, where he successfully guided the department through periods of significant organizational transition and change.

Concurrently, William serves as Director of Human Resources for Seattle IT, maintaining hands-on leadership of the department’s human capital strategy. In this capacity, he is responsible for the development and execution of comprehensive HR policies, talent management frameworks, labor relations strategy, and organizational development initiatives tailored to the demands of a large, unionized IT environment.

Expertise in Human Resources and Organizational Development

William brings deep, end-to-end mastery of the human resources function, having led HR efforts across public, private, and nonprofit sectors with a consistent focus on building resilient, compliant, and high-performing organizations.

Since 2016, he has also served as Owner of Smith Consulting & HR Solutions, where he advises organizations on complex HR challenges including policy development, compliance, performance management, organizational design, and leadership strategy. His consulting work has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor capable of navigating high-stakes people and governance issues.

His nonprofit leadership experience includes senior HR roles at Plymouth Housing Group and Lifelong (formerly Lifelong AIDS Alliance), where he managed diverse workforces, operated within unionized environments, and aligned human resources strategy with mission-driven objectives. Earlier in his career, William built a strong technical foundation through specialized roles such as Retirement & Benefits Specialist at Providence Health & Services, as well as HR and organizational development positions at Lakeside Industries and Allstate.

Academic Excellence and Commitment to Mastery

A strong advocate for continuous learning, William’s academic achievements reflect both intellectual rigor and practical application.

He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University, with a focus on human behavior, leadership, and workplace performance. He also holds an Executive Juris Doctorate and a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane University Law School, providing him with a specialized legal foundation in labor relations, union environments, EEO and affirmative action compliance, and internal investigations.

His academic background is further complemented by a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Virginia State University, enabling him to bridge leadership, law, business, and technology with ease.

William is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Tomorrow program, underscoring his commitment to civic engagement and leadership development. He is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and currently serves as Board President for D.A.D.S.

OUR MISSION

Smith Enterprises empowers people to grow forward by offering practical wisdom, meaningful content, and intentional experiences that challenge them to think, act, and live to their purpose.

We meet people where they are, help them identify what is holding them back, and walk with them as they move into the life they are called to live.