Wil Johnson
Educator, Coach, and Culture Curator, Mukilteo Washington
“It doesn’t have to be perfect to start.”
Meet Wil - The Full Human Being
Wil is an interdisciplinarian. He is always on a quest to uncover the synergies that exist between life’s enormous concepts like leadership, communications, inclusion, and more. Through this interconnected thinking, Wil empowers individuals and organizations to see and act beyond the obvious
A master bridge-builder and culture curator, Wil blends his strengths in community outreach, advocacy, and justice work with a powerful heart for authenticity, vision, and connection. He is unwavering in his mission to cultivate spaces where voices are not just heard but valued, and where unique ideas are celebrated and nurtured.
Wil's perception of leadership is far from ordinary. He sees a leader not as someone who simply makes decisions but as one who genuinely cares for the team, unlocking their potential and encouraging their growth. His philosophy is centered on cultivating a loving workplace that prioritizes the needs of the people, helping them to become their best selves. His perspective is as empathetic as it is strategic.
If you're ready to take a leap toward a more loving, human workplace, reach out by connecting with him here.
Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Advocacy
If you're looking to transform your organization into a place where each individual is encouraged to be their authentic self, where diversity is celebrated, and where everyone has an equitable opportunity to thrive, Wil is the coach you need. He is an innovative educator, a masterful facilitator, and a skilled architect of inclusive cultures. He is a connector at heart and has a passion for social equity and personal development. Known for his community outreach and advocacy, his mission is to create cultures where everyone feels valued, included, and able to contribute their authentic selves.
Drawing from his time in the military and his role as the Director of Equity and Inclusion, Wil's coaching presence is deeply rooted in empathy, emotional intelligence, and his belief in the power of human connection. He has a distinct ability to unpack complex concepts and illuminate the interconnectedness of our various identities like race, age, gender, sexual orientation, personal history and more. His inclusive approach opens dialogues and perspectives, creating a sense of belonging for all.
Wil expertly threads together principles of leadership, communication, inclusion, and justice to create engagements that are strategic, insightful, and don’t just include, but actively seek, the voices and needs of everyone. His interactions with everyone, from students to executives, are marked by genuine engagement, openness, and respect.
To learn more about how Wil's expertise in DEI+J (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Justice), community building, or culture transformation can help your organization, reach out to him here.
Wil’s Story
Wil’s life journey has been enriched by an array of experiences and influences that have crafted his interdisciplinary mind and worldview. From his military service, to his years creating special education programs, to his consultancy focused on equity and inclusion, Wil has nurtured a passion for helping others through their most vulnerable moments.
Wil attended Pierce College at Fort Steilcoom studying Liberal Arts and Sciences during which he researched community service opportunities while serving as the President of the Honor’s Society. It was through this initial exposure to community-based work where he noticed that many organizations had overlapping missions but limited resources creating solvable gaps. He quickly identified that collaboration and shared communication could powerfully enhance the collective impact of these noble pursuits. To actively bridge these gaps and step into transformative leadership, Wil studied Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Communication from the University of Washington Tacoma
Wil graduated with this advanced degree in 2008, where he and his cohort faced barriers to finding employment in their fields of study. This trying time led Wil to pivot in education where he served as a paraeducator and special needs teacher to students with autism. While not initially what he expected to do, Wil found his advanced studies empowered him to help meet the needs of his learners, improving access and inclusion.
Wil further pursued his teaching certificate in special education and after great success in various roles throughout Washington State School Districts, Wil decided to broaden his reach by accepting a role as the Director of Equity and Inclusion Snohomish schools. This has widened his sphere of influence, positively impacting the lives of students from diverse backgrounds, including different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, neurodiverse students, and more.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Wil now resides in Mukilteo Washington, where he enjoys the therapeutic sight of mountains and water. Much like the mountains and water that he admires daily, Wil is a beacon of stability and tranquility to the people in his life, providing support and guidance to those around him. His story serves as a reminder that life is a series of interconnected paths that lead us to unexpected destinations.
“Attitude reflects leadership, captain”
– Julius Campbell, Remember the Titans
Everything Else You Wish You Knew About Wil
To Wil, home is both a beloved sanctuary and a daily vacation. He regularly likes to lounge on his deck, enrapt by the magic of a setting sun over the PNW mountains. A man of many tastes, Wil most enjoys the allure of southern comfort food like barbequed ribs and a glass of lemonade or sweet tea.
As in his work, Wil’s interdisciplinary mind extends to his hobbies. His eyes look for interconnectedness everywhere from nature to movies. He holds a deep appreciation for life's grand, unified essence. As woods, turn into mountains and mountains turn into waterfalls and waterfalls turn into oceans, we are all a part of nature's profound beauty and diversity.
A film enthusiast, Wil loves the Marvel Universe with its intricate webs of connection and multifaceted plots. He sees the truths of life playing out through the connections made between heroes: “Our world is like a Marvel movie. We are all superheroes in our solo missions, doing our best. But then we have rare opportunities to come together and face truly monumental challenges. This is always where the magic happens.”
"Wil has the innate ability to bring folks together. His thoughtfulness and personality creates a safe space for people with differing ideologies to discover they have more in common than not. Watching Wil create this space and witnessing the outcome of people opening up through conversation is truly amazing."
- Dr. Kent Kultgen, Snohomish School District Superintendent
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