William D. Will Burns

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT WILLIAM D. WILL BURNS

Leadership for me is about doing the work, earning trust, and showing up when it’s hard. I lead with political acuity, respect for relationships, and a bias for getting things done. Real influence isn’t loud - it’s earned quietly, through consistency and integrity.At the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, that meant preserving and strengthening access to high-quality public school options - shaping legislative strategy in real time, rebuilding political infrastructure, and engaging across the aisle to bring both attention and change to a movement too often misunderstood.Those moments - where policy meets people - have shaped every step of my career. From the Illinois General Assembly to City Hall, from early-stage startups to national coalitions, I’ve solved the complex problems and built strategies that bridge lawmaking and advocacy to deliver measurable, lasting impact.I’m driven by systems change - and deeply committed to social justice, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. I still believe government can be a force for good - when it’s built and led by people who understand both its levers and its limits.Although based in D.C. now, Chicago will always be my home - it’s in my bones. You don’t eat hot dogs with ketchup, you respect dibs in the winter, you call a cold hard wind the Hawk, and you do the work. Community, integrity, loyalty. We don’t complain about the challenge - we know what we signed up for. That same clarity and grit drives my mission: to bring value, voice, and momentum to causes that serve those too often left out or overlooked.Always open to meaningful conversations - with fellow changemakers and policy leaders solving real problems.