As a woman of color navigating the worlds of business, academia, law, politics, and multiple branches of government, Avril has curated a portfolio of experience rich with perspective, understanding, and an abiding belief in the unique gifts each individual offers when enabled to discover them.
Avril’s dynamic and inspiring journey through life and work offers a story diverse in its experiences, its challenges, its overcome obstacles – the lessons from which she imparts to women, students, business organizations and nonprofit boards. She helps her audiences develop a roadmap for successfully leveraging the core of their experience, skills, challenges, abilities, passions, and external circumstances in pursuit of both a living and a life.
AUS Success Strategies has sprung from my experience as a leader and mentor, as well as my work transforming organizations. From my earliest days in my career, I have collaborated with colleagues and my extensive network to build and strengthen organizations and to make them more responsive to the people they serve. I believe that this is best done when coupled with a strong focus on and real interest in the people who are stakeholders in these organizations.
“People. Purpose. Perspective. Process.” These are the principles that animate my work; all of these must be considered as we move organizations toward their full potential and the high aspirations of the people who are integral to their success.
An attorney with more than 30 years of professional and community leadership, Avril’s portfolio combines governance and ethics expertise, employee relations and community engagement successes with excellent presentation and negotiation skills, as well as thought leadership regarding the transformation of work and the competition for talent. Her career includes a variety of leadership roles in public policy and state governments. Avril is recognized for her abilities in risk assessment, process improvement and ROI initiatives, innovations in large and mid-size government, business and nonprofit organizations, consulting experience in both Japan and the United States. She couples these with government and regulatory, business, public affairs and legislative experience.
Avril has spearheaded Arlington County’s Framework for Prosperity 2.0- Equity Update providing a strategic framework for the county board’s equity resolution with emphasis on economic development. During her tenure, the National Landing area of Arlington County became the first “smart city” in the United States through a public private collaboration establishing new 5G digital infrastructure, drawing more technology companies to the area.
A frequent speaker and panelist on these and related issues, Avril is a certified Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC) through the Ethics and Compliance Certification Institute (ECCI) and serves on the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Advisory Board for the National Capital Area Chapter. Formerly a North Carolina State Court Judge and Ethics Counsel at the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), she is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley Law School and UCLA.
Message From Avril
Early on, I determined to forge a career that is enjoyable, consequential, and elevates my ideals. While I have more than 30 years of experience as a lawyer, judge and mediator, but I always understood that the law alone would never be enough! To that end, I worked expansively so I could take on the challenges and learn from the varied experiences to which my curiosity and evolving interests led me. My experience ranges from government, non-profit, consulting and community engagements, and both corporate and non-profit board leadership roles. I often took on many responsibilities outside my “official job” so that I could nurture the many sides of myself; I believe it made me a better professional, even though I was often exhilarated and tired at the same time! I am tremendously fortunate to have the benefit of broad exposure to many ways of living and working, and I pull from all of those involvements to inform my strategic and collaborative work with organizations, and in my public speaking.
I have a message to share with you. Most of us will be employed at least part of our lives; for many of us it will encompass the majority of our waking hours. Make it count! Actively endeavor to make the difference you want to see. Consider your choices at every turn. Be the change; leave a legacy. Ease the way for those behind you. Create the conditions that you need to live the life that you want. Narrate your story with empathy and proud recognition of all you have come through. Hard work is good work; we can make it so!
Reach out to me for personalized advisory services and speaking engagements on leadership, career transitions, and maximizing organizational impact. Let me guide you towards building a resilient, inclusive, and impactful future.
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