Our Background
WNT is an Austin-based consulting firm committed to building the capacity of social sector networks, collaborative initiatives, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to develop cultures that support sustained collaboration, data-driven decision making and equitable processes and implementation.
Sam Woollard and Kelly Nichols founded Woollard Nichols & Associates now DBA Woollard Nichols Torres Consulting (WNT) in 2013 to support cross-sector collaboration and build the capacity of the social sector. Andrea Torres joined the company as a managing partner in 2021.
Our clients face complex challenges in a variety of social sector arenas including behavioral health, criminal justice, education, health and human services, housing and homelessness, and workforce and community development.
We provide services in three general areas: sustained collaboration, facilitating strategic decision making, and coaching for impact.
Our Guiding Principles for Client-Based Work
WNT is a women-owned and led company committed to advancing equity and justice in all aspects of our work. These beliefs inform the guiding principles we have developed for working with clients:
Local Knowledge: Understanding that local communities are best suited to addressing local challenges, and seeking out partners and knowledge from within the local community.
Inclusion of Impacted Stakeholders: Ensuring that those with both lived experience and professional knowledge, as well as front-line staff in additional to executive leadership, are included, speak and heard in decision-making settings.
Asset Orientation: Helping groups move from a scarcity or deficit-based model to one of abundance and focusing on strengths to help individuals and teams maximize their potential.
Shared Ownership: Acknowledging that no one person owns the vision or has all the answers for a project, but rather that collective ownership will result in the best outcomes.
Accountable Spaces: Serving as conveners who are trusted to guide groups to have critical conversations that foster inclusive and impactful dialogue.
Bias for Action: We encourage entrepreneurial approaches to germinate new ideas and practices in the group, as long as they align with our mission.
What We Believe
(with acknowledgement to the National Equity Project)
- Our current systems perpetuate inequity by design.
- It is possible to achieve more just, equitable, and liberating systems.
- We need one another - our fates are linked.
- Transforming power and co-creation are core tenets of equity.
- We can lead by example.