Fireweed turns 1!
Hello friends and colleagues,
The world feels especially challenging right now. There is a lot to be scared of, a lot to grieve, and a lot that feels uncertain. And still, I believe that the answer lies in community and in choosing to move toward building something more just, more humane, and more hopeful together.
I am glad you are here. This is my first Fireweed Consulting newsletter, and I plan to send these quarterly as a gentle way to stay connected, share what I am learning, and offer a few updates from the work I am doing alongside leaders and organizations.
A look back at the year
While I have been doing consulting work for many years, this past year marked a meaningful shift. I officially founded Fireweed Consulting. It felt scary and exciting, and it turned out to be deeply fulfilling.
Over the past year, I had the privilege of working across a wide range of spaces, including climate tech, health care, workforce development, affordable housing, financial services, advocacy, and with B Corps. I remember standing at the decision point, wondering whether to make Fireweed official. I am glad that I did.
What grounded me was the chance to work alongside thoughtful people who care deeply about their work, their communities, and the systems they are trying to change. A sincere thank you to my clients for taking a chance on a new company and trusting me with work that matters.
A few of my favorite Fireweed moments from the last year.
A brief hello, if we have not met
If we have not crossed paths yet, my name is Andrea Prebys-Williams. I am an organizational development consultant, coach, and leadership educator with twenty years of experience working alongside mission-driven organizations.
My work focuses on strengthening communication, collaboration, decision making, and organizational culture, especially in spaces navigating growth, change, or tension. I design and facilitate processes that support strategic direction, help teams work through conflict with care, and align structures and practices with shared values.
Through coaching, training, and multi-stakeholder project support, I work with leaders and organizations to build clarity, purpose, and effectiveness in complex environments. I am especially drawn to work that invites reflection, shared learning, and honest conversation about power, responsibility, and care.
Looking ahead
As I look toward the new year, I am focused on continuing work that helps people and organizations navigate complexity with clarity, care, and shared responsibility.
I will continue offering coaching, trainings, retreats, and project support, with a particular focus on leaders and teams navigating growth, tension, and transition. I currently have two openings for new coaching clients. If you are feeling curious about coaching or are at a moment of reassessment in your work, I welcome you to reach out.
I am also booking trainings for Q2 and beyond. Much of this work centers on building practical leadership capacity, including navigating tension, giving and receiving feedback, clarifying roles and expectations through organizational charters, and strengthening communication in motion. Trainings range from 90-minute sessions to multi-day engagements and focus on leadership and workplace practices such as conflict navigation, feedback, resiliency, boundary setting, and facilitation.
A few words from clients
Here are a few reflections from clients I worked with this past year:
“Working with Andrea unlocked entirely new ways for me to collaborate with my team. I felt supported, challenged, and equipped to navigate difficult conversations with care and clarity.”
“Andrea has a rare ability to hold complexity while helping groups move forward with intention and trust.”
“Andrea’s leadership coaching has been invaluable as she’s helped me navigate a new role, company dynamics, and challenging conversations. Investing in myself in this capacity has paid off in confidence and left me more empowered to lead. “
A resource to share
One practice I have been working on with several clients this year is facilitation, particularly how we hold space with care in moments of learning and tension. I am sharing a handout I created on holding space with care, which reflects many of the practices I return to when supporting groups through learning, dialogue, and tension.
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For my one year anniversary, I created social media accounts! Connect with me:
