Williams, Les

Les Williams is a Certified Risk Manager with over 20 years of experience in strategic enterprise risk management, engineering, enterprise sales and marketing, and M&A. Mr. Williams’ expertise is advising organizations on cyber risk, including developing response plans leading to more resilient outcomes. His unique background enables him to help businesses of various sizes, geographies, and complexity manage risk with a focus on shareholder value. His work has gained international attention as a frequent contributor on the radio broadcast BBC Business Matters, where he discussed emerging issues impacting global economies. Mr. Williams is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Enclave Holdings, an M&A Firm focused on defense contractors in the Intelligence Community. Before this role, he was the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Risk Cooperative (acquired by Ensurise), a minority-owned risk management and insurance brokerage firm specializing in helping clients navigate emerging risks such as cyber, healthcare, political risk, regulatory reform, and other complex domestic and global risks. With over $20 Million in annual premium managed, he led the firm’s governance and served as a trusted advisor for clients, adding value in diverse industries including defense, hospitality, real estate, retail, technology, higher education, and healthcare. His knowledge of succession planning, human capital management, and risk management design was an integral factor in helping clients scale. A sought-after thought leader, he was a featured “Risk Insider” and wrote frequent columns in the publication Risk & Insurance, and has been a contributor in The Institutes’ CPCU online risk management curriculum. Mr. Williams’ multi-industry experience has delivered value to well-known brands. At Ford, he led a cross-functional team of over 20 engineers and field technicians dedicated to resolving vehicle stalling on a popular car model. His work led to the composition of a Technical Service Bulletin providing repair instructions to 3,000+ North American Ford dealerships. While at IBM, he was placed on a special sales team and was directly responsible for managing high-profile client relationships with Fortune 1000 companies such as Carter’s, Inc (NYSE:CRI) and Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE). At JLL, Mr. Williams was selected to participate in the Protégé Program, a selective program for high potential real estate brokers advising clients like TD Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD) on space planning strategy. In 2020 Mr. Williams received the coveted Bert King Award for Service for his work supporting Harvard Business School (HBS), and in 2021 he was selected as a Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia’s (UVA) engineering school teaching business concepts. He is also an instructor at the UVA | Northern Virginia campus, working with Fortune 1000 companies in Metro DC. He has served on the Data and Technology Committee for the UVA Alumni Association Board of Managers, chaired the Finance Committee for the UVA Engineering Foundation, and served on the Cybersecurity Strategic Council for the Private Directors Association (PDA) where he presented to boardrooms on risk management strategies. He currently serves on the board of fintech firm Sunny Day Fund, and real estate hospitality group Sojourner Glamping. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Mr. Williams graduated from The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology and obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UVA’s prestigious Rodman Scholars Program in 2000. He is also a graduate of HBS, where he served as class co-president. An avid gym rat and reader, he resides in Arlington, Virginia (National Landing) with his wife B.J. Wiley Williams.